[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 82 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4901-H4913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Nethercutt). Pursuant to House
Resolution 477 and rule XXIII, the Chair declares the House in the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the
consideration of the bill, H.R. 4059.
{time} 1621
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole
[[Page H4902]]
House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill (H.R.
4059) making appropriations for military construction, family housing,
and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes, with Mr.
Pease in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having
been read the first time.
Under the rule, the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard) and the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner) each will control 30
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard).
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I want to begin by expressing my deep appreciation to
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), ranking member of the
subcommittee. He has served for 12 years as chairman of this
subcommittee and has made a great contribution to the Congress. He is
leaving at the end of this year, and it has been a true pleasure for me
to be able to work with him on this subcommittee. I will say more about
that in a moment.
Mr. Chairman, it is a privilege for me to recommend this military
construction bill to the Congress for adoption. It is a very stringent
bill. It does not meet the needs, nor the requirements of military
construction, but it is basically all that we have to work with, the
numbers were given to us.
Actually, the administration presented a budget request that is
considerably lower than last year's appropriated level, about $1.4
billion dollars lower. That is a 15 percent cut from last year's
appropriated level. We have had to add to that level, to the
President's request, about $450 million or we would have never been
able to have met even the most dire military construction needs.
Mr. Chairman, we do not see any controversy on this bill. We feel
that it is a very good bipartisan bill. The minority and the majority
have worked very closely on it in crafting the bill. We also have
worked very closely with the authorizing committee. In fact, this bill
really reflects the authorizing committee bill and we are pleased to
present it to the House.
In conclusion, I want to again mention that we have had the great
privilege of working with the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Hefner), who will be leaving the Congress. And I might mention that we
included in the bill a recommendation that a military highway in his
district be named after him, the ``W.G. `Bill' Hefner All American
Parkway.''
We think that it is important that the gentleman be remembered in
this way for his great contribution to military construction, to the
Congress, and to the United States Government.
Mr. Chairman, I submit the following for the Record:
[[Page H4903]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH22JN98.001
[[Page H4904]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH22JN98.002
[[Page H4905]]
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, first of all, at the risk of forgetting it or letting
it pass, I certainly want to thank the staff on both sides of the
aisle, who I think are the finest staff that I have ever worked with in
the committees in all of my tenure here on Capitol Hill.
They have done yeoman's work. They have worked very, very hard. They
are dedicated people, and I want to thank them very much for their hard
work.
It goes without saying, the admiration that I have for the gentleman
from California (Chairman Packard). He has done a remarkable job. He is
a joy to work with. We worked very closely together, and what we bring
today is a bill that we believe that everyone in this body can support,
even though it does not meet the needs for our men and women in the
service. But it is beyond our reach to do the kinds of things that we
would like to do because of our allocation. Because of budgetary
constraints, we are not able to do the kind of things we want to do in
family housing, but it does provide $8.2 billion for military
construction and the last two rounds of the base closings.
Mr. Chairman, this is one of the bills that comes to this House every
cycle in which we never have enough money to do the things that we
would like to do for quality of life and to make sure that young men
and women coming into our service will want to stay and serve their
country. But we have done the best that we could in putting this bill
together as far as it relates to quality of life and retention in our
Armed Forces.
Mr. Chairman, I want to again thank the gentleman from California
(Mr. Packard) and all the staff for putting together this bill. I would
hope that we would have 100 percent participation, and that all of that
100 percent would vote for our bill when the roll is called and maybe
we will have 100 percent.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished
gentleman from California (Mr. Packard) for yielding me this time for
the purpose of a colloquy.
Mr. Chairman, as the gentleman knows, I am very eager to see design
funding for the P-208 aircraft platform interface, the API laboratory
consolidation project, move forward this year at Lakehurst Naval Air
Engineering Station. I would ask the gentleman, is it accurate to say
that this bill, H.R. 4059, provides the necessary funding for the
design of the API lab and will keep the Navy on track for construction
in fiscal Year 2000?
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, the funding is included in this bill, H.R.
4059, for planning and design of the API lab for fiscal year 1999. The
Navy is expected to move ahead with the planning and design of this
project beginning on October 1 of this year, so that the construction
can take place as scheduled in fiscal year 2000.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank
the gentleman for affording me this opportunity to clarify the funding
situation for the API lab at Lakehurst. There have been far too many
delays with this project already, and H.R. 4059 will finally set the
wheels in motion to begin the construction of the API lab at Lakehurst
in fiscal year 2000.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman would continue to yield,
I thank him for his efforts and leadership and advocacy on behalf of
the API lab project at Lakehurst. The gentleman's leadership on this
bill will help the Navy to meet the challenge of naval aviation.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Olver), one of the members of the subcommittee.
Mr. OLVER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Hefner), our ranking member, for yielding me this time. I want to
thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Packard) a truly ``gentle
man,'' for his leadership and his evenhandedness in putting together
this bill, our bill, H.R. 4059.
{time} 1630
The gentleman from California (Mr. Packard), chairman, and the
ranking member, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner) and
their excellent staff, particularly Hank Moore and Tom Forhan, have
made my 2 years on the subcommittee a learning experience and a
pleasure.
On my side of the aisle, what can I say about the retiring ranking
member that has not already been said in the newspapers here in
Washington and in North Carolina? The gentleman has made a lasting mark
on this subcommittee as both chairman and ranking member, and he will
be greatly missed. We all wish him the best from here.
This bill is as good as I think it can be, given the allocation that
has really been foisted upon the subcommittee by the 1997 Balanced
Budget Act, and I certainly urge its very quick passage.
I must send up a couple of signals, which lie somewhere between
yellow cautionary and red crisis, in relation to the whole subject of
military construction, because this bill, if it were enacted exactly as
it is, would be more than $2 billion below the appropriated level just
four years ago. That is a huge hit on a budget which is really in the
$10 billion category, $10 billion level in the first place.
So one might ask, what does it matter? Some Members think that the
military construction bill is all hangars and armories, but it is
really a lot more than that. It is environmental compliance and
cleanup. It is energy conservation. It is hospital and medical
facilities. It is child development centers. It is family housing for
the growing numbers of our peacetime service personnel who have spouses
and children.
I would like to focus on just that one last category, the family
housing program, for just a minute, pointing out that the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), when he was Chair, and the gentleman
from California (Mr. Packard) in the past several years that he has
been the Chair for the committee, have labored mightily each year to
support the family housing program and do the best they could with the
numbers that we have been given.
But if this bill is enacted, as I am sure, if it is enacted as it has
been proposed here under the constraints of the Balanced Budget Act of
1997, the program for family housing will be down 19 percent, down in
actual dollars by 19 percent since fiscal year 1996, from fiscal year
1996 to the present.
I just would like to address, call Members' attention, call the
membership's attention to the sections in the report on H.R. 4059 on
family housing, a report that points out that military family housing
and the need for that has changed with the all volunteer structure of
the force. Whereas 40 years ago only about 40 percent of our military
personnel had families, now, 40 years later, it is over 60 percent who
have families. Today the family housing program is the quality of life
incentive that attracts and retains, and I am quoting really from the
report, dedicated individuals to serve in the military. The housing
deficiencies are a severe disincentive to reenlistment.
Now, it has been the Department of Defense policy that married
couples will live off base with their families whenever it is possible
and when there is housing available, and a good number of them do live
off base. One out of roughly 8 is living off base in substandard
housing because there is not adequate housing in the area for them. And
in spite of the policy, with that policy, and because there is not
adequate housing available, we have under the Department of Defense a
total of over 300,000 units of housing on base, and the majority of
that housing, the majority of those units are substandard. And in order
to do the replacement and bring up to standard those housing units
would require something like $15 billion.
Now, with the kind of appropriation that we are having forced upon
this subcommittee by the terms of the Balanced Budget Act, it is almost
inevitable that we are not going to be able to catch up on this family
housing
[[Page H4906]]
need, that we are going to fall further behind on that, despite what I
have said is the yeoman effort on the part of the ranking member, when
he was chairman, and the present chairman to try to deal with that.
I just want to speak to that as one issue or problem when that budget
is dropping by as much as it is in the appropriated, final appropriated
levels. In totality, this budget funds training and housing and health
care and child care for the men and women who do our dirty work, and
they deserve every penny that is in this bill and they deserve more.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Edwards), a valued member of the subcommittee.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
time.
No war was ever won with technology alone. Battles and wars, whether
in the 15th century or in the 20th or 21st century, require quality men
and women, dedicated to our country, well trained, capable of defending
our national interest. That is why this piece of legislation is so
important to our Nation and our children's future.
It is important because in this legislation is the funding for
quality of life issues for our military families. In today's all
volunteer force, I can think of few things more important to our long-
term national security than ensuring quality housing facilities and day
care facilities for military families, often split by thousands of
miles as the father or mother are off deployed to other nations, or
even fighting for the interests of our country, while their children
remain at home.
I want to say that I am deeply disappointed that this bill spends $1
billion less before inflation is even taken into account than the
military construction budget of just one year ago. It seems to me that
a Congress that can somehow find $20 to $30 billion for increased
funding for potholes and highways in the recent highway bill ought not
to have to cut day-care centers and housing programs for men and women
willing to put their lives on the line for this country. But that
criticism, that disappointment has nothing to do with the leadership of
the Committee on Appropriations or this subcommittee. That is a
decision made at a different pay level.
I would urge Speaker Gingrich and the leadership of this House and
the Committee on the Budget, who made the decision to cut military
construction funding by $1 billion this year, to reconsider that cut
and that budget as we review the budget in the months ahead.
I must say, as a compliment to those people who did not set the
overall level of spending, no two Members could have done a better job
in fighting for our military families and their quality of life than
the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard), chairman of the
subcommittee, and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), the
ranking member. I want to applaud them not only for their dedication to
military families and a strong national defense, but I want to applaud
them for the bipartisan manner in which they have put this bill
together.
The reason, Mr. Chairman, people will not see a lot of Members on the
floor during this debate, the reason there will not be an visceral
disagreement of debate on this issue is simply because the gentlemen
have done the business of the House and our country the way it should
be done, on a fair, bipartisan basis. For that, we all say thank you to
both of them.
I think the bipartisan nature of Mr. Packard and Mr. Hefner's work
together should be a model, not an exception to the rule, for this and
future Congresses.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, the reason I truly wanted to be on the floor
of the House this afternoon was to say thank you for a lifetime of
service to our colleague and my dear friend, the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. Hefner). In the 7\1/2\ years I have had the privilege to
serve in this body, I have considered no one a better friend than the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), who took this young green
Member from the State of Texas under his wing and helped me as I tried
to learn the process of Congress in my effort to represent Ft. Hood,
which is now the largest populated Army installation in the world.
Not only through his service as chairman of the Subcommittee on
Military Construction for over a decade but also because of his many
years of service as a member of the very powerful military subcommittee
of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Hefner) has made a difference for the military families of this
Nation. He has made a difference in ensuring that America has a strong
national defense. On behalf of my two little boys, who will live in a
safer world because of the service in Congress of the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), I want to express my deep-felt gratitude
to the gentleman from North Carolina. I know in the weeks and months
ahead, many, many of my colleagues will join me in reflecting these
feelings toward the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner) and his
service.
Let me also say beyond the scope of these two important committees on
which he serves, I have seen no Member that has shown greater courage
on the floor of this House week after week, month after month. When one
comes to floor and looks up at Mr. Hefner's light, yeah or nay on a
bill, they may not know the best political vote but they know what the
right vote is. As someone who was not here in 1981, I can only imagine
how difficult it was for a southern Democrat from North Carolina to
vote against President Reagan's tax bill, which, in the opinion of
some, not all, had something to do with the increased national debt
that we face today.
But whether you agreed or disagreed with him, to have the courage to
vote ``no'' on that bill and ``yes'' and ``no'' on so many other
important pieces of legislation, to be motivated by doing what his
conscience told him was right, that is the sort of thing that causes
all of us throughout the country, as well as the constituents of his in
North Carolina, to have a deep and abiding respect for the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner).
So on behalf of my colleagues that serve on the committee and all
others who are here and who will be here in the days ahead to speak of
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), recognizing this is his
last time to come to the floor as part of leadership in bringing the
military construction budget to this House, I want to express my
lifelong respect and gratitude for Mr. Hefner's friendship and
leadership on behalf of our Nation.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Livingston), chairman of the full
Committee on Appropriations.
(Mr. LIVINGSTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Chairman, I first want to rise and congratulate
the chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard), and the
ranking member, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), for
once again doing the outstanding job that both of them are accustomed
to doing on this bill. The gentleman from Texas preceded me by pointing
out a few problems that they had to work with. He failed to mention,
though, that the administration had underfunded the military
construction part of the budget by some $1.4 billion.
I share his concern that we should not deprive the men and women of
the military of the accoutrements that lead to a better quality of life
for them. And for that reason, within our given budget limits, within
the fact that we are living within a balanced budget with very strict
budget ceilings, I am very pleased that we were able to put back in
$450 million into this subcommittee so that they could apply that money
to the needs of the servicemen and women of America.
I am concerned. I share his concern that the administration would
underfund this account by $1.4 billion. That being said, in the same
bipartisan fashion that the gentleman used who preceded me, let me say
that the two gentlemen that manage this bill exemplify the type of
bipartisan spirit that is not only welcomed but is so critically
necessary to the conduct of the business of the House of
Representatives.
[[Page H4907]]
{time} 1645
Together they have worked well on behalf of both the young men and
women of our armed services and on behalf of America. I just want to
congratulate them from the bottom of my heart.
But I want to reiterate and exaggerate those congratulations to the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner) from Concord, North
Carolina, about 60 miles from Fort Bragg, who has represented the
Eighth Congressional District of North Carolina so well since he was
first elected in Congress in 1974.
The fact is that the gentleman began service on this subcommittee in
1981. Whether as chairman of the subcommittee when his team was in the
majority or as ranking member when our team took over the majority, the
fact is that he has been steadfast in his devotion to serve America and
to serve the people who have rendered themselves valiant service in the
cause of America in uniform.
I particularly appreciate the effort that the gentleman has made on
behalf of America's military, but also I want to say that he has
distinguished himself in so many other ways during his service here.
First, he is a great golfer who participated with me in one of the most
memorable golf events in my life, which I did not distinguish myself,
but he certainly did. He played well, and I will let him complete the
record on the rest of it.
Secondly, he is a man of enormous sensibilities and great sense of
humor. He has played host to the chile cookoff, which is a function
that occurs on an annual basis for congressional wives. Try as we
might, we have never been able to come up with anybody who could
compare with him in hosting this event. I must say I saw his
performance this year, and I think he outdid even himself.
The gentleman has got a wonderful sense of humor. He not only is an
accomplished musician and accomplished musical performer, but as a
stand-up comic, he is unparalleled. I want to thank him for his service
to this country. I want to thank him for his spirit of bipartisanship
which contributed mightily to this bill. I want to take this
opportunity to wish him and his family all of the best of luck and
success in everything that he does henceforth.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that we have 2
extra hours.
The CHAIRMAN. The Chair cannot entertain such a request at this time.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, could the Chair enlighten us as to how much
time is remaining for each side?
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner) has
15\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentleman from California (Mr. Packard)
has 20\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member on the Committee on
Appropriations
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I very much thank the gentleman for the time.
I simply wanted to come to the floor to really pay honor to the
gentleman who is managing this bill on this side of the aisle for the
last time, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hefner).
I have known Bill since the first day he walked into this
institution, and I have never seen a day when he did not bring honor to
this House by his service. He has, as our chairman has already
indicated, a wonderful sense of humor. He has a wonderful sense of
music. He also has a wonderful sense of honor.
Those that know him know that religion means a lot to him. But as we
have seen him demonstrate often on this floor, he also has a very
healthy skepticism about the use to which some politicians put
religion, or at least their professed religiosity.
The gentleman has indicated time and time again that he recognizes
all too often the propensity of some people in public life to wrap an
economic or political message in a religious ribbon and call it
religion when it is, in fact, something very, very different, something
which demeans God and demeans religion.
He, I think, understands that there are some things in life that are
too important to politicize, religion being one of them. I have admired
for so long his ability on an issue to be righteous without being
sanctimonious.
He has, I think, demonstrated in countless ways on countless days a
sense of justice, a sense of outrage against injustice, and most of
all, a political courage that we wish would be emulated more often on
this floor than it is.
In addition to being a first-rate legislator, he is a first-rate
human being. I for one will miss him greatly. I will miss his good
judgment. I will miss his good temper. I will miss his wonderful sense
of humor. I will certainly miss the opportunities that I have had
through the years to play my bluegrass harmonica in backup to his
gospel singing. His gospel singing is better than my bluegrass
harmonica, but we have had a lot of fun doing that.
I simply want to say to young people who will be entering this House
in the future, they could do a lot worse than to emulate the style of
the gentleman from North Carolina. He has brought grace to this House.
He has brought determination and courage and guts to this House.
As someone else indicated, I have never heard him ask what is the
political vote. I have often heard him ask what is the right vote. That
is the right question that ought to be asked in this institution.
So, Bill, we are going to miss you, but we know that wherever you
are, you will be keeping an eye on us. From time to time, I think you
will be pulling our leash to let us know when you think we are getting
out of line. It has been a pleasure to serve with you.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time for
closing.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
We still have just a couple speakers, but I did not realize that
these folks were going to say these nice things about me after all
these years. I guess it is just a pent-up exuberance that they have
been building up over the years, hoping one day I would retire and they
would be able to say nice things.
I was kind of hoping for a watch, but I guess that is not going to
materialize. At least, I have a road that is going to be named after
me. I am working with the Governor of North Carolina to see if we can
make it into a toll road which will be some benefit in my old age and
in my retirement.
But serving in this body has been something that I could never have
dreamed about when I was a kid growing up in rural Alabama. I had never
been to the capital of Alabama, Montgomery, let alone to think someday
I would be able to come to the Capitol of the United States and
represent a half a million people. So it has really been a tremendous
experience for me.
I defend this body and I defend the Members in this body, because I
believe that if we take all 435 of us and we put us up to the scrutiny
and put 435 average citizens across this country up to the same
scrutiny, that we would stack up very, very well among the rank and
file of people in this country.
We all want the same things for our country, for our States, and for
our families. We just have a little bit different way sometimes how we
want to get there. But it has been an honor for me to serve in this
body, and it has certainly been an honor for me to serve on this
committee and this subcommittee.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from the 18th
District of Texas, (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from
North Carolina for yielding to me. He took away my momentum. That watch
was coming, but we are checking the gift rule.
But I could not come to the floor for a better occasion than to thank
the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard) as well for his leadership
and certainly the ranking member.
I think that any time someone maintains themselves in this body for
24 years, has seen the conclusion of the Vietnam War, one of the most
tragic periods in our history, watching just a few miles down the road
the return of the 265-plus Marine bodies in the Lebanon tragedy, and
certainly now at one point facing the crisis in Bosnia.
I think the ranking member knows full well the importance of our
military personnel and particularly this committee that helps to house
them
[[Page H4908]]
and respect them for who they are. So I personally, as a nonmember of
the committee, wanted to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Hefner) for his leadership and as well his quiet deliberation.
There is good humor in what he says on many occasions, but there is
also wisdom. I thank the gentleman as a second-term Member for his
wisdom and for challenging the rest of us that we should combine debate
and adversarial activities with knowledge and wisdom and sensitivity,
and I appreciate and applaud him for that.
This bill is an important bill. I am not a member of the community of
those who are on this committee, but as I go about my business in
Texas, I consider Texas sort of a feeder school for the United States
military.
Throughout my district, high school students are enrolled in ROTC.
Many of them look to the United States as a source for their future,
and I applaud them for that and encourage them for that. In fact, as
someone representing what has been termed as a majority minority
district, I go in particular to the inner city schools and encourage
those that are interested in the U.S. military to become involved.
For that reason, this military construction appropriations bill is
very important, because my young people who enter into the military
make it a career, and bring their families there who need the kind of
housing that will be provided by this legislation, troop housing,
hospitals, and medical facilities, NATO infrastructure, and other
activities associated with base closings which Texas knows so much
about.
I would have wanted more, but I applaud the leadership of the ranking
member and chairperson for bringing about the funding that we now have.
It is more than the administration would have provided. I am glad of
that.
Unfortunately, I wish that we could press the button, if you will,
for more money for our family housing; though the $3.5 billion for
family housing is 43 percent of the total, $635 for new barracks, 10
percent more than requested, but, again, we need to do more.
The measure also provides the $1.7 billion for base realignment, $31
million for new construction and improvements to existing day care
centers. If I might, Mr. Chairman, I would like to dwell on that for a
moment.
First of all, in this military construction scenario, I would like to
emphasize the access and the availability of including our local
businesses, our small and minority businesses in assisting with this
construction, whether it is domestically or foreign.
That is a very important economic piece to many of our communities. I
want to ensure that at least my voice is heard to ensure that our
military, knowing that the affirmative action has not been eliminated
in Federal law, that we make sure that we outreach to the small
businesses.
But I really wanted to focus as a member and participant in the
Congressional Children's Caucus on the importance of the increased
money for day care. Let me thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Packard). Let me thank the ranking member as well for having emphasized
something that I have heard from military personnel over and over.
Most critical is what H.R. 4059 does for our children. There are
roughly 300,000 children involved in military day care. So the
additional monies is extremely important. The Secretary of Defense
established a goal of providing quality child care to 65 percent of the
potential need in 1992.
I think we will be there when we are able to provide 80 percent of
the child care need that is so very important. DOD will be conducting a
demonstration project to review ways of providing child care services
by using third-party contracting. I encourage that as a participant of
the Congressional Children's Caucus.
I would also say that we must emphasize and make sure that we have
the right kind of family housing. So let us remember that these men and
women are, in fact, the survival of the freedom of the democratic
principles of our country.
Can we do any less than to provide them with safe housing, good
hospitals, and, yes, protection and protected environment for their
children? I applaud this legislation, and I thank the two gentleman for
their collaborative efforts. Most importantly, let me salute my ranking
member for the highway and byway, but for his leadership and for his
commitment.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today to address H.R. 4059, the Military
Construction Appropriations bill for FY 1999.
In general, the bill provides a total of $8.2 billion for military
construction, including family and troop housing, hospitals and medical
facilities, NATO infrastructure, and activities associated with the
last two rounds of base closings. I am pleased that the bill includes:
$3.5 billion for family housing (43% of the bill's total), slightly
more than the President requested, but 10% less than was appropriated
in FY 1998;
$635 million for new barracks, 10% more than requested, but 24% less
than the current appropriation;
The measure also provides $1.7 billion for base realignment and
closures previously authorized by Congress (16% less than in current
year); and
H.R. 4059 appropriates $31 million for new construction and
improvements to existing daycare centers for military dependents ($8
million more than the administration's request).
As chair of the Children's Caucus, I am very pleased that money is
increased for daycare. In short, the measure goes far in accomplishing
much for the well-being of our military. Most critical is what H.R.
4059 seeks to do for children and their parents. There are roughly
300,000 children involved in military daycare.
First, the Appropriations Committee has recommended an additional
$7.9 million above the budget estimate of $23.15 million for a total
appropriation of (roughly) $31 million for new construction, or
improvements, for child development centers.
In 1992, the secretary of defense established a goal of providing
quality child care to 65% of the potential need in 1992. The Army
proudly met the 65% goal this year. The Marine Corps expects to reach
the goal by 2002, and the Air Force and Navy are programmed to reach
65% by 2003. The Appropriations Committee notes that to optimally meet
the DOD's demand an 80% goal must be achieved.
The Appropriations Committee correctly recognizes the increased
importance of these centers due to the rising number of single military
parents, dual military couples, and military personnel with a civilian
employed spouse. The Committee report states that the DOD is encouraged
to maintain all efforts possible to meet 80% of the child care need.
Second, the DOD is conducting demonstration projects to review ways
of providing child care services by using third party contracting, such
as purchasing spaces in accredited child development centers by buying
down the cost for military families. The Defense Logistics Agency is
testing, for example, the management and operation of a military-
constructed child development center by a private contractor in Ohio.
As a co-chair of the Children's Caucus in the House, I commend these
efforts to secure quality housing and child care facilities for the
children of our nation's fighting men and women.
Another key component of Military Construction Appropriations bill is
family housing for the men and women of our nation's armed services.
The committee report takes note of the changing nature, if you will, of
military housing as our all-volunteer force has led to more service
members with families. This change has coincided with a general decline
in the standard of housing suitable for today's military to create a
severe discincentive to re-enlistment.
Of the amount appropriated for family housing, the bill allocates the
president's request of $2.8 billion to operate and maintain existing
family housing units. The funds are used for maintenance and repair,
furnishings, management, services, utilities, leasing, interest,
mortgage insurance and miscellaneous expenses.
What's more, this measure appropriates $301 million for the
construction of 1,871 new family housing units ($31 million more than
the administration's request). The total includes $105 million from the
Family Housing Improvement Fund.
Furthermore, the bill also provides $7.5 million for the Homeowners'
Assistance Fund for F.Y. 1999 ($5 million less than requested by the
president). The fund helps personnel who have been affected by the
closure of military bases.
Mr. Chairman, I strongly encourage my esteemed colleagues to support
H.R. 4059.
{time} 1700
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I apologize for all the speakers, but the
requests just keep coming in. Far be it from me to curtail anybody
wanting to say a nice word after all these years on my behalf.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Pallone), a very good friend who is one of the finer Members of this
House.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, let me just say about the gentleman from
[[Page H4909]]
North Carolina (Mr. Hefner), I know a lot has been mentioned about his
years of service and his sense of humor and his musical abilities, and
all those are certainly true, but I just want to say, I have only been
here 10 years, but I have noticed on many occasions both within our
Democratic Caucus as well as on this House floor where his statements
have been crucial in swaying the Members of this body to vote a certain
way or to support certain legislation. In many ways he has been one of
those people that is sort of the conscience of this body and
particularly of our Democratic Caucus. I know that has been recognized,
but I do not know if it was mentioned today. We will sorely miss him
because of what he contributes to this body and to our Democratic
Caucus.
Mr. Chairman, I just want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Hefner) again and also the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard)
for this legislation. I also want to thank the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pappas) who cochairs our Save our Fort Committee, which is
a bipartisan committee that deals with two military bases in our two
districts, Fort Monmouth and Earle Naval Weapons Depot.
Two projects for which funding was included in this bill are of
importance to us. One is the addition to the Communication and
Electronics Command Software Engineering Center at Fort Monmouth and
the second is the design study for berthing pier replacements at Naval
Weapons Station Earle. Expansion of Seacom's Software Engineering
Center will allow Fort Monmouth to intensify its efforts to ensure
American soldiers have the types of technological advantages that are
the hallmark of U.S. military forces around the world.
With respect to Earle, Piers 2 and 3 were constructed in 1944, and
after over 40 years the time has come to replace them. Because the pier
complex at Earle is one of the Navy's most important facilities on the
eastern seaboard, it is extremely important that resources be provided
for their upkeep. I am very pleased the committee has recognized the
importance of Earle's mission and thank my colleagues for approving the
first step of the DOD's long-term plan to modernize Piers 2 and 3 at
Earle.
I just want to thank again my colleagues on the committee, and
particularly the chairman and retiring member the gentleman from North
Carolina.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
(Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4059. I
would also like to express a very special and sincere thanks to the
chairman of the appropriations subcommittee, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Packard); and to also express appreciation to the
ranking Democrat of the subcommittee, the distinguished gentleman from
North Carolina who is receiving such understandably high praise today
in light of his career here in the House. And, of course, I thank the
chairman and the ranking member of the full committee for their
assistance.
Their assistance to this Member relates to efforts in approving
funding for the Nebraska National Guard Joint Army-Air Medical Training
Facility located in Nebraska's First Congressional District which I
represent. I know it is particularly important in light of the limited
financial resources for the subcommittee's work this year.
The new facility will be a unique cost saving military construction
project for both Nebraska's Army and Air National Guard units. It will
provide resources jointly to fund the construction project. While this
joint funding construction arrangement is unusual and was initially
bureaucratically challenged, to say the least, it is the reasonable way
to go, for a jointly used facility is by far the most cost-effective
and economical use of taxpayer resources. Is it not ironic that taking
the most cost-effective approach in spending the taxpayers' money is
not always the easiest bureaucratic course? This project will go a long
way toward improving the quality of training that the Army and the Air
National Guard health professionals will receive, and will also improve
the quality of health care provided to their personnel.
In conclusion, I want to express my sincere thanks to the National
Guard Bureau and especially to the authorizing and appropriating
subcommittees for assisting this Member in his efforts to make this
joint, cost-effective project a reality. The gentleman from California
(Mr. Packard) and his staff have been assisting this Member in this
effort for more than a year now to bring us to this point. I thank the
gentleman for that effort. This is a frugally prepared piece of
legislation worthy of support. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye.''
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I have one other speaker, but I would be
remiss if I did not single out one particular person who has been very
dedicated to this process and to this subcommittee, Liz Dawson, who has
labored absolutely far beyond the call of duty. Liz, we are going to
miss you. We hope the very best for you. You have done a tremendous job
through all these years.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut
(Mr. Gejdenson).
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Chairman, in this institution through the years we
see many people come and go. The great wealth of American ability is
that they get replaced by capable individuals that go on to represent
their constituents. It is not often that a vacuum is felt in this
Chamber. This is a very vibrant country. Most of us when we leave here
and go back to our personal lives, while occasionally remembered, the
society runs just fine, and the institution runs fine.
We are going to miss our friend the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Hefner). We are going to miss him not just because of his
personality and his friendship but because the courage he has exhibited
on this floor over and over again on so many issues. People always talk
about political courage as if there is a political benefit for
political courage, but I think most people inside this institution know
that oftentimes in the instances where there is the greatest political
courage, there is actually a larger political cost. You lose more votes
for being courageous. You are often safer playing in the middle of the
road.
The gentleman from North Carolina has not done that. In the years
here on tough vote after tough vote, he stood up for what he believed
to be right, right for the country and right for his constituents. At
times I guess it has cost him some votes back home. But from the people
that know him and admire him as I do, it just increased our respect for
the work he has done here.
We often do not get this sentimental in speaking about each other,
but in the 18 years that I will be here at the end of this term, I
cannot think of but several other Members that I hold in the same high
standard as I do the gentleman from North Carolina. He has been a good
friend, he has been a great Member of Congress, and he has used his
political base and capital for the betterment of this country and his
district. For that we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Chairman, I hope that every Member of this body will
vote ``aye'' on this military construction bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Chairman, I wish to conclude this debate by just simply saying
how much I appreciate the work that the staff has done on my side of
the aisle. Liz Dawson, Hank Moore and Mary Arnold have done yeoman's
work for years on this subcommittee and certainly have made my job
easy. On the Democratic side, Tom Forhan and Irene Schecter. We deeply
appreciate the work that each of our staff does. They serve the
gentleman from North Carolina and myself very well.
I really appreciate the Members who have come to the floor on both
sides of the aisle and expressed their feelings about the character and
the service of the gentleman from North Carolina, and I certainly wish
to relate myself to those remarks. He has been a remarkable Member. I
have deep love and affection for him and for the work he has done for
the country.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bill. This bill
appropriates $450 million
[[Page H4910]]
above the President's request for military construction. However, it
represents a total decrease of approximately $974 million from last
year's bill.
As a member of the installations and facilities authorizing
subcommittee, I continue to be concerned about the backlog of unfunded
military construction projects in our Armed Forces. Those concerns are
evident throughout this bill.
I would like to highlight two areas. The bill provides $125 million
or chemical weapons demilitarization, including $29.5 million for the
Newport Army Ammunition Plant in Indiana. Timely destruction of our
chemical weapons is a time-sensitive problem. This bill, along with
National Security Committee's authorization bill, outlines the long-
term plan to destroy the stockpile.
The bill also appropriates $309 million for Guard and Reserve
construction. Maintaining our Guard and Reserve facilities is a key to
readiness. While the bill provides nearly $130 million more than the
Presidents request, the total is $155 million less than last year's
amount.
In this 14th year of real decline in the Defense budget, I intend to
vote for this bill, but with the warning that we need to pay more
attention to Defense spending if we intend to remain the sole remaining
superpower in this world.
Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the
Military Construction Appropriations bill which provides $8.2 billion
for the construction of up-to-date facilities for our hard-working men
and women in the military and their families. I, along with my
colleagues on the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee,
feel that this is a good bill that addresses serious health and human
safety issues at our aging military bases.
I am pleased that 2 crucial projects in my area are included in the
bill. One of these projects is replacement of the antiquated, 30-year
old Air Traffic Control Tower at Travis Air Force base. I've been up in
that tower a number of times and felt the entire structure sway under
my feet, and I can vouch for the absolute necessity to have a new one
built as soon as possible. The current tower is extremely dangerous,
and I'm pleased that construction of a new tower can begin this year.
Antoher important provision included in the bill is language
instructing the Army to demolish buildings and clean up environmental
hazards at the Rio Vista Army Reserve Center in an expedited fashion.
The Rio Vista Army Reserve Center was all but abandoned in the late
80's, and the Army has done little to maintain the property since that
time. With my help in 1994, the residents of Rio Vista jumped at the
chance to take over the base property and convert it to a recreational
area. But the slow pace of the Army's environmental clean-up has
hampered the community's efforts to begin construction of new
facilities. I am pleased that the community can now put their plans
into action.
Because of these and other important health and safety projects in
the Military Construction Appropriations bill, I would urge my
colleagues to vote for the bill.
Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 4059, the
Military Construction Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 1999. I wish
to commend Chairman Packard, Ranking Member Hefner and the Committee on
Appropriations for crafting a bill which provides the necessary funding
to improve the quality of life for our men and women in the Armed
Forces.
I believe that this measure goes far in addressing the backlog in
readiness, revitalization, and quality of life projects. The measure
before us today will fund the planning and construction of several
barracks, family housing and operational facilities.
The Second Congressional District of Georgia is home to three
military installations; Fort Benning, home of the 75th Ranger Regiment,
Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, home of the 347th Fighter Wing, and
the Marine Corps Logistics Center in Albany. I have seen first hand the
excellent work that our fighting men and women do, often under very
difficult circumstances. Our responsibility is to make their jobs
easier. We cannot expect to attract qualified recruits if we provide
inadequate facilities for them to work out of.
This measure would provide Fort Benning with $28,600,000 to construct
barracks, a soldier community building, a battalion headquarters with
classroom building, and company operations buildings. It will also
provide the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany $2,800,000 with a
Child Development Center which will increase the Base's current
capacity of 228 to over 300 children. This center will address the
growing demand for quality child care on our bases. And, it will
provide $11,000,000 for alterations to a medical and a dental clinic.
These expansion and modernization plans will positively contribute to
the delivery of quality health care and patient accessibility to
quality medical care.
The portions of the bill I just spoke of place a human face on this
debate. We know that we have the most technologically advanced military
in the world. It is time we improve the quality of life for the men and
women who are the heart and soul of that military. This bill does a
very good job of doing just that! Therefore, I strongly urge my
colleagues to support this measure.
The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the 5-minute rule.
During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chair may accord
priority in recognition to a Member offering an amendment that he has
printed in the designated place in the Congressional Record. Those
amendments will be considered read.
The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone a request for
a recorded vote on any amendment and may reduce to a minimum of 5
minutes the time for voting on any postponed question that immediately
follows another vote, provided that the time for voting on the first
question shall be a minimum of 15 minutes.
The Clerk will read.
The Clerk read as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999, for military construction, family
housing, and base realignment and closure functions
administered by the Department of Defense, and for other
purposes, namely:
Military Construction, Army
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military
installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as
currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Army
Corps of Engineers and other personal services necessary for
the purposes of this appropriation, and for construction and
operation of facilities in support of the functions of the
Commander in Chief, $780,599,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2003: Provided, That of this amount, not to
exceed $63,792,000 shall be available for study, planning,
design, architect and engineer services, and host nation
support, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of
Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary
for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his
determination and the reasons therefor.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, I thank Members on both sides for allowing me to do
this. I came late to be a part of what I guess will be the gentleman
from North Carolina's official management of the military construction
bill. I would be remiss if I did not have an opportunity to join with
my colleagues in saying what a yeoman's job he has done, but what an
outstanding job he has done for the State of North Carolina and how
grateful we are for his leadership. We will miss him for a lot of
things. Among those as being uniquely the gentleman from North Carolina
not only as singer, a kidder and a joker but being a legislator with
heart and having the gumption to speak his feeling so people would know
his passion. But also for the people that we jointly represent, the
people of Cumberland County. That is where Fort Bragg is.
I certainly would be remiss on this last bill if the military men and
women who serve our country so well in that area did not through me say
thank you for all the things that he has done for the military
throughout the United States but particularly for Fort Bragg.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will read.
The Clerk read as follows:
Military Construction, Navy
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations,
facilities, and real property for the Navy as currently
authorized by law, including personnel in the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command and other personal services
necessary for the purposes of this appropriation,
$570,643,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003:
Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $60,346,000
shall be available for study, planning, design, architect and
engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary
of Defense determines that additional obligations are
necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his
determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Air Force
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military
installations, facilities, and real property for the Air
Force as currently authorized by law, $550,475,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2003: Provided, That of this
amount, not to exceed
[[Page H4911]]
$37,592,000 shall be available for study, planning, design,
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless
the Secretary of Defense determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
his determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Defense-wide
(including transfer of funds)
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, installations,
facilities, and real property for activities and agencies of
the Department of Defense (other than the military
departments), as authorized by law, $611,075,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2003: Provided, That such
amounts of this appropriation as may be determined by the
Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such
appropriations of the Department of Defense available for
military construction or family housing as he may designate,
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes,
and for the same time period, as the appropriation or fund to
which transferred: Provided further, That of the amount
appropriated, not to exceed $24,866,000 shall be available
for study, planning, design, architect and engineer services,
as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons
therefor.
Military Construction, Army National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Army National Guard, and contributions
therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts,
$70,338,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003.
Military Construction, Air National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Air National Guard, and contributions
therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts,
$97,701,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003.
Military Construction, Army Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter
1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military
Construction Authorization Acts, $71,894,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2003.
Military Construction, Naval Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the reserve components of the Navy and
Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10,
United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization
Acts, $33,721,000, to remain available until September 30,
2003.
Military Construction, Air Force Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military
Construction Authorization Acts, $35,371,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2003.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Security Investment Program
For the United States share of the cost of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for
the acquisition and construction of military facilities and
installations (including international military headquarters)
and for related expenses for the collective defense of the
North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized in Military
Construction Authorization Acts and section 2806 of title 10,
United States Code, $169,000,000, to remain available until
expended.
Family Housing, Army
For expenses of family housing for the Army for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition,
expansion, extension and alteration and for operation and
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance
premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction,
$82,840,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003;
for Operation and Maintenance, and for debt payment,
$1,097,697,000; in all $1,180,537,000.
Family Housing, Navy and Marine Corps
For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine
Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement,
addition, expansion, extension and alteration and for
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing,
minor construction, principal and interest charges, and
insurance premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for
Construction, $130,457,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2003; for Operation and Maintenance, and for
debt payment, $915,293,000; in all $1,045,750,000.
Family Housing, Air Force
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition,
expansion, extension and alteration and for operation and
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance
premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction,
$207,880,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003;
for Operation and Maintenance, and for debt payment,
$785,204,000; in all $993,084,000.
Family Housing, Defense-wide
For expenses of family housing for the activities and
agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the
military departments) for construction, including
acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension and
alteration, and for operation and maintenance, leasing, and
minor construction, as authorized by law, as follows: for
Construction, $345,000, to remain available until September
30, 2003; for Operation and Maintenance, $36,899,000; in all
$37,244,000.
Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund
For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement
Fund, $242,438,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $7,000,000 shall
be the sole source of funds available during the current
fiscal year for planning, administrative, and oversight costs
incurred by the Housing Revitalization Support Office
relating to military family housing initiatives and military
unaccompanied housing initiatives pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2883,
pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving
military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and
supporting facilities.
Homeowners Assistance Fund, Defense
For activities authorized by section 1013(d) of the
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of
1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3374), $7,500,000, to remain
available until expended.
Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part III
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the
Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law
101-510), $433,464,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That not more than $271,800,000 of the funds
appropriated herein shall be available solely for
environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons
therefor.
Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the
Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law
101-510), $1,297,240,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That not more than $426,036,000 of the funds
appropriated herein shall be available solely for
environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons
therefor.
General Provisions
Sec. 101. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts shall be expended for
payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for
construction, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be
performed within the United States, except Alaska, without
the specific approval in writing of the Secretary of Defense
setting forth the reasons therefor.
Sec. 102. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction shall be available for hire of passenger
motor vehicles.
Sec. 103. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction may be used for advances to the Federal
Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, for the
construction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of
title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized
therein are certified as important to the national defense by
the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 104. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be
used to begin construction of new bases inside the
continental United States for which specific appropriations
have not been made.
Sec. 105. No part of the funds provided in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts shall be used for purchase
of land or land easements in excess of 100 percent of the
value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except: (1) where there
is a determination of value by a Federal court; or (2)
purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or his designee;
or (3) where the estimated value is less than $25,000; or (4)
as otherwise determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in
the public interest.
Sec. 106. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts shall be used to: (1)
acquire land; (2) provide for site preparation; or (3)
install utilities for any family housing, except housing for
which funds have been made available in annual Military
Construction Appropriations Acts.
Sec. 107. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts for minor construction may
be used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or
installation to another, without prior notification to the
Committees on Appropriations.
[[Page H4912]]
Sec. 108. No part of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts may be used for the
procurement of steel for any construction project or activity
for which American steel producers, fabricators, and
manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for
such steel procurement.
Sec. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of
Defense for military construction or family housing during
the current fiscal year may be used to pay real property
taxes in any foreign nation.
Sec. 110. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts may be used to initiate a
new installation overseas without prior notification to the
Committees on Appropriations.
Sec. 111. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts may be obligated for
architect and engineer contracts estimated by the Government
to exceed $500,000 for projects to be accomplished in Japan,
in any NATO member country, or in countries bordering the
Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded to United
States firms or United States firms in joint venture with
host nation firms.
Sec. 112. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts for military construction in
the United States territories and possessions in the Pacific
and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian
Gulf, may be used to award any contract estimated by the
Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor:
Provided, That this section shall not be applicable to
contract awards for which the lowest responsive and
responsible bid of a United States contractor exceeds the
lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor
by greater than 20 percent: Provided further, That this
section shall not apply to contract awards for military
construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest
responsive and responsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese
contractor.
Sec. 113. The Secretary of Defense is to inform the
appropriate committees of Congress, including the Committees
on Appropriations, of the plans and scope of any proposed
military exercise involving United States personnel thirty
days prior to its occurring, if amounts expended for
construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated
to exceed $100,000.
Sec. 114. Not more than 20 percent of the appropriations in
Military Construction Appropriations Acts which are limited
for obligation during the current fiscal year shall be
obligated during the last two months of the fiscal year.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 115. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction in prior years shall be available for
construction authorized for each such military department by
the authorizations enacted into law during the current
session of Congress.
Sec. 116. For military construction or family housing
projects that are being completed with funds otherwise
expired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may
be used to pay the cost of associated supervision,
inspection, overhead, engineering and design on those
projects and on subsequent claims, if any.
Sec. 117. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
funds appropriated to a military department or defense agency
for the construction of military projects may be obligated
for a military construction project or contract, or for any
portion of such a project or contract, at any time before the
end of the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal year for which
funds for such project were appropriated if the funds
obligated for such project: (1) are obligated from funds
available for military construction projects and (2) do not
exceed the amount appropriated for such project, plus any
amount by which the cost of such project is increased
pursuant to law.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 118. During the five-year period after appropriations
available to the Department of Defense for military
construction and family housing operation and maintenance and
construction have expired for obligation, upon a
determination that such appropriations will not be necessary
for the liquidation of obligations or for making authorized
adjustments to such appropriations for obligations incurred
during the period of availability of such appropriations,
unobligated balances of such appropriations may be
transferred into the appropriation ``Foreign Currency
Fluctuations, Construction, Defense'' to be merged with and
to be available for the same time period and for the same
purposes as the appropriation to which transferred.
Sec. 119. The Secretary of Defense is to provide the
Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of
Representatives with an annual report by February 15,
containing details of the specific actions proposed to be
taken by the Department of Defense during the current fiscal
year to encourage other member nations of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, Japan, Korea, and United States allies
bordering the Arabian Gulf to assume a greater share of the
common defense burden of such nations and the United States.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 120. During the current fiscal year, in addition to
any other transfer authority available to the Department of
Defense, proceeds deposited to the Department of Defense Base
Closure Account established by section 207(a)(1) of the
Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and
Realignment Act (Public Law 100-526) pursuant to section
207(a)(2)(C) of such Act, may be transferred to the account
established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of
Defense Authorization Act, 1991, to be merged with, and to be
available for the same purposes and the same time period as
that account.
Sec. 121. No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may be
expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in
expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections
2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c,
popularly known as the ``Buy American Act'').
Sec. 122. (a) In the case of any equipment or products that
may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance
provided under this Act, it is the sense of the Congress that
entities receiving such assistance should, in expending the
assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and
products.
(b) In providing financial assistance under this Act, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to each recipient of
the assistance a notice describing the statement made in
subsection (a) by the Congress.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 123. (a) Subject to thirty days prior notification to
the Committees on Appropriations, such additional amounts as
may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be
transferred to the Department of Defense Family Housing
Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction
in ``Family Housing'' accounts, to be merged with and to be
available for the same purposes and for the same period of
time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund: Provided,
That appropriations made available to the Fund shall be
available to cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan
guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant to
the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169, title 10,
United States Code, pertaining to alternative means of
acquiring and improving military family housing and
supporting facilities.
(b) Subject to thirty days prior notification to the
Committees on Appropriations, such additional amounts as may
be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred
to the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing
Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for the
acquisition or construction of military unaccompanied housing
in ``Military Construction'' accounts, to be merged with and
to be available for the same purposes and for the same period
of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund:
Provided, That appropriations made available to the Fund
shall be available to cover the costs, as defined in section
502(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct
loans or loan guarantees issued by the Department of Defense
pursuant to the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169,
title 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means
of acquiring and improving military unaccompanied housing and
ancillary supporting facilities.
Sec. 124. (a) Not later than 60 days before issuing any
solicitation for a contract with the private sector for
military family housing or military unaccompanied housing,
the Secretary of the military department concerned shall
submit to the congressional defense committees the notice
described in subsection (b).
(b)(1) A notice referred to in subsection (a) is a notice
of any guarantee (including the making of mortgage or rental
payments) proposed to be made by the Secretary to the private
party under the contract involved in the event of--
(A) the closure or realignment of the installation for
which housing is provided under the contract;
(B) a reduction in force of units stationed at such
installation; or
(C) the extended deployment overseas of units stationed at
such installation.
(2) Each notice under this subsection shall specify the
nature of the guarantee involved and assess the extent and
likelihood, if any, of the liability of the Federal
Government with respect to the guarantee.
(c) In this section, the term ``congressional defense
committees'' means the following:
(1) The Committee on Armed Services and the Military
Construction Subcommittee, Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate.
(2) The Committee on National Security and the Military
Construction Subcommittee, Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.
Sec. 125. Payments received by the Secretary of the Navy
pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2842 of the National
Defense Authorization Act, 1993 (Public Law 102-484) are
appropriated and shall be available for the purposes
authorized in subsection (d) of that section.
Sec. 126. It is the sense of the Congress that the
Secretary of the Army should name the ``All American
Parkway'' at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the ``W.G. `Bill'
Hefner All American Parkway''.
Mr. PACKARD (during the reading). Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous
consent that the remainder of the bill through page 19, line 21, be
considered as read, printed in the Record, and open to amendment at any
point.
[[Page H4913]]
The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from
California?
There was no objection.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments?
If not, the Clerk will read the last two lines of the bill.
The Clerk read as follows:
This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction
Appropriations Act, 1999''.
The CHAIRMAN. If there are no further amendments, pursuant to the
rule, the Committee rises.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Bereuter) having assumed the chair, Mr. Pease, Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4059)
making appropriations for military construction, family housing, and
base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes, pursuant
to House Resolution 477, he reported the bill back to the House.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is
ordered.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.
{time} 1715
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bereuter). The question is on the
passage of the bill.
Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XV, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I, further proceedings are postponed
until later today.
____________________