[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           OVERRIDE OF MILITARY CONSTRUCTION LINE-ITEM VETOES

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                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 1998

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to praise our 
colleagues in the Senate for successfully overriding the veto of H.R. 
2631, which will restore all 38 Military Construction projects canceled 
by the President late last year.
  As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military 
Construction, I have visited U.S. bases at home and around the world 
and I have been shocked at the deplorable working and living conditions 
we are asking our soldiers and their families to endure. The Military 
Construction Bill funds family housing as well as construction of troop 
barracks, hospital and medical facilities, schools and child-care 
centers for military personnel and their families stationed here and 
abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact is, we did our homework and crafted a 
responsible bill. Every project in this bill meets a validated military 
requirement and every project is executable this fiscal year. The bill 
we sent to the President was $610 million less than last year's bill 
and almost $2 billion less than the level just two years ago. That is 
hardly wasteful spending.
  I have long supported the line-item veto authority and Congress' 
responsibility to correct the President's mistakes when he makes them. 
Within two days of vetoing 38 items on the Military Construction Bill, 
the Administration admitted it made mistakes on two cancellations. 
Hours later, that number was up to eleven and then eighteen. The line-
item veto is a powerful tool and Congress must ensure that this new 
authority is held to the highest possible standard.
  The line-item veto can be a useful tool if it is used fairly, 
carefully and responsibly. Mr. Speaker, we sent a strong message 
yesterday that Congress will accept nothing less.

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