[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 101 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H6427-H6451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4059

  Mr. PACKARD submitted the following conference report and statement 
on 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:

                  Conference Report (H. Rept. 105-647)

       The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to 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'', having met, after full 
     and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do 
     recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an 
     amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
     amendment, insert:
     That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for military 
     construction, family housing, and base realignment and 
     closure functions administered by the Department of Defense, 
     for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, 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, $868,726,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2003: Provided, That of this amount, not to 
     exceed $64,269,000 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.

                      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, 
     $604,593,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003: 
     Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $60,846,000 
     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, $615,809,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2003: Provided, That of this 
     amount, not to exceed $38,092,000 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 currently authorized by law, $553,114,000, 
     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 $26,005,000 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.

 Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund


                         (rescission of funds)

         Of the funds appropriated for ``Department of Defense 
     Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund'' under 
     Public Law 104-196, $5,000,000 is hereby rescinded.

               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, 
     $142,403,000, 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, 
     $169,801,000, 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, $102,119,000, 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, $31,621,000, 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, $34,371,000, 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, $154,000,000, 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, 
     $135,290,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003; 
     for Operation and Maintenance, and for debt payment, 
     $1,094,697,000; in all $1,229,987,000.

                 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, $295,590,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2003; for Operation and Maintenance, and for 
     debt payment, $912,293,000; in all $1,207,883,000.

                       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, 
     $280,965,000, to remain available until September 30, 2003; 
     for Operation and Maintenance, and for debt payment, 
     $783,204,000; in all $1,064,169,000.

                      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, $2,000,000, to remain available until expended, as the 
     sole source of

[[Page H6428]]

     funds for planning, administrative, and oversight costs 
     incurred by the Housing Revitalization Support Office 
     relating to military family housing initiatives undertaken 
     pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2883, pertaining to alternative means 
     of acquiring and improving military family housing and 
     supporting facilities.

             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), $427,164,000, 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), $1,203,738,000, 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.
       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. 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.
       Sec. 124. None of the funds appropriated or made available 
     by this Act may be obligated for Partnership for Peace 
     Programs or to provide support for non-NATO countries.

[[Page H6429]]

       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 purpose 
     authorized in subsection (d) of that section.
       Sec. 126. (a) Not later than 60 days before issuing any 
     solicitation for a contract with the private sector for 
     military family 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.


                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 127. During the current fiscal year, in addition to 
     any other transfer authority available to the Department of 
     Defense, amounts may be transferred from the account 
     established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of 
     Defense Authorization Act, 1991, to the fund established by 
     section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan 
     Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses 
     associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program. Any 
     amounts transferred shall be merged with and be available for 
     the same purposes and for the same time period as the fund to 
     which transferred.
       Sec. 128. 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''.
       This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction 
     Appropriations Act, 1999''.
         And the Senate agree to the same.

     Ron Packard,
     John Edward Porter,
     David L. Hobson,
     Roger F. Wicker,
     Jack Kingston,
     Mike Parker,
     Todd Tiahrt,
     Zach Wamp,
     Bob Livingston,
     W.G. (Bill) Hefner,
     John W. Olver,
     Chet Edwards,
     Bud Cramer,
     Norman Dicks,
     David Obey,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

       The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the 
     conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
     amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 4059) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes, 
     submit the following joint statement to the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate in explanation of the effect 
     of the action agreed upon by the managers and recommended in 
     the accompanying conference report.
       The Senate deleted the entire House bill after the enacting 
     clause and inserted the Senate bill (S. 2160). The conference 
     agreement includes a revised bill.


                       Items of General Interest

       Matters Addressed by Only One Committee.--The language and 
     allocations set forth in House Report 105-578 and Senate 
     Report 105-213 should be complied with unless specifically 
     addressed to the contrary in the conference report and 
     statement of the managers. Report language included by the 
     House which is not changed by the report of the Senate or the 
     conference, and Senate report language which is not changed 
     by the conference is approved by the committee of conference. 
     The statement of the managers, while repeating some report 
     language for emphasis, does not intend to negate the language 
     referred to above unless expressly provided herein. In cases 
     in which the House or the Senate have directed the submission 
     of a report from the Department of Defense, such report is to 
     be submitted to both House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations.
       Financial Management.--The conferees agree that general 
     reductions included in the conference agreement are based on 
     such factors as savings through favorable bids, reduced 
     overhead costs, downsizing or cancellation due to force 
     structure changes (if any), other administrative cost 
     reduction initiatives, revised economic assumptions, and 
     inflation re-estimates. The conferees direct that no project 
     for which funds were previously appropriated, or for which 
     funds are appropriated in this bill, may be cancelled as a 
     result of general reductions included in the conference 
     agreement.
       The conference agreement includes reductions totaling 
     $21,300,000 which result from re-estimation of inflation 
     undertaken by the Office of Management and Budget as part of 
     the mid-session review of the budget request. The conferees 
     direct the Department to distribute these reductions 
     proportionally against each project and activity in each 
     account, as follows:


  Reductions resulting from economic assumptions in OMB's mid-session 
                      review of the budget request


        Account                                                  Amount
Military Construction, Army..................................$2,000,000
Military Construction, Navy...................................1,000,000
Military Construction, Air Force..............................1,000,000
Military Construction, Defense-wide...........................1,300,000
NATO Security Investment Program..............................1,000,000
Family Housing Operations, Army...............................3,000,000
Family Housing Construction, Navy.............................1,000,000
Family Housing Operations, Navy...............................3,000,000
Family Housing Construction, Air Force........................1,000,000
Family Housing Operations, Air Force..........................2,000,000
Base Realignment and Closure, Part III........................2,000,000
Base Realignment and Closure, Part IV.........................3,000,000
                                                       ------ -________
                                                       
                                                            $21,300,000

       Real Property Maintenance: Reporting Requirement.--The 
     conferees agree to the following general rules for repairing 
     a facility under Operation and Maintenance account funding:
       Components of the facility may be repaired by replacement, 
     and such replacement can be up to current standards or codes.
       Interior arrangements and restorations may be included as 
     repair, but additions, new facilities, and functional 
     conversions must be performed as military construction 
     projects.
       Such projects may be done concurrent with repair projects, 
     as long as the final conjunctively funded project is a 
     complete and usable facility.
       The appropriate Service Secretary shall submit a 21-day 
     notification prior to carrying out any repair project with an 
     estimated cost in excess of $10,000,000.


                      Military Construction, Army

       The conference agreement appropriates $868,726,000 for 
     Military Construction, Army, instead of $780,599,000 as 
     proposed by the House, and $810,476,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Within this amount, the conference agreement earmarks 
     $64,269,000 for study, planning, design, architect and 
     engineer services, and host nation support instead of 
     $63,792,000 as proposed by the House and $67,269,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       Kentucky--Fort Campbell: Sabre Heliport.--The conferees 
     recognize the critical importance of the Sabre Heliport to 
     military operations at Fort Campbell and understand that this 
     facility needs essential renovations in order to operate both 
     safely and efficiently. The U.S. Army Aeronautical Services 
     Agency (USAASA) has issued a temporary waiver that allows the 
     facility to continue normal operations until April 2001. 
     Accordingly, the conferees direct the Secretary of the Army 
     to report to the congressional defense committees not later 
     than January 15, 1999, on their plan and timetable to make 
     the necessary airfield improvements.
       New York--Fort Drum: Consolidated Soldier/Family Support 
     Center.--The conferees have deferred funding for this 
     project, without prejudice, and the Army is encouraged to 
     include this project in the budget request for fiscal year 
     2000.
       Unspecified Minor Construction.--Within the increased funds 
     appropriated above the budget request for Army, Unspecified 
     Minor Construction, the Army is directed to provide the 
     needed athletic facilities, such as ball fields and a running 
     track, at Camp McGovern, Bosnia-Herzegovina.


                      Military Construction, Navy

       The conference agreement appropriates $604,593,000 for 
     Military Construction, Navy, instead of $570,643,000 as 
     proposed by the House, and $565,030,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Within this amount, the conference agreement earmarks 
     $60,846,000 for study, planning, design, architect and 
     engineer services instead of $60,346,000 as proposed by the 
     House and $62,146,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       Florida--Key West Naval Air Station: Compatible Use 
     Easements.--The conferees direct the Navy to report on the 
     need for continuation of existing compatible use easements 
     which prevent construction of facilities on privately owned 
     land in connection with the operation of the Key West Naval 
     Air Station. This report is to be submitted within 30 days of 
     enactment of this Act.


                    Military Construction, Air Force

       The conference agreement appropriates $615,809,000 for 
     Military Construction, Air Force, instead of $550,475,000 as 
     proposed by the House, and $627,874,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Within this amount, the conference agreement 
     earmarks $38,092,000 for study, planning, design, 
     architect and engineer services instead of $37,592,000 as 
     proposed by

[[Page H6430]]

     the House and $39,522,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       California--Beale AFB: Flightline Fire Station.--The 
     conferees direct the Air Force to accelerate design and to 
     include this project in the budget request for fiscal year 
     2000.
       Kansas--McConnell AFB: KC-135 Squadron Operations/Aircraft 
     Maintenance Unit #3.--The conferees direct the Air Force to 
     accelerate design and to include this project in the budget 
     request for fiscal year 2000.
       -New York--Rome Labs: Consolidated Intelligence and 
     Reconnaissance Laboratory.--The conferees direct the Air 
     Force to accelerate the design of the Consolidated 
     Intelligence and Reconnaissance Research Site at the 
     Department's Rome Laboratory in New York and include this 
     project in its fiscal year 2000 Military Construction budget 
     request.


                  Military Construction, Defense-wide

       The conference agreement appropriates $553,114,000 for 
     Military Construction, Defense-wide, instead of $611,075,000 
     as proposed by the House, and $571,485,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Within this amount, the conference agreement earmarks 
     $26,005,000 for study, planning, design, architect and 
     engineer services instead of $24,866,000 as proposed by the 
     House and $25,066,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       Chemical Demilitarization Program.--The conference 
     agreement includes full funding of all requested projects 
     related to the chemical demilitarization program, and also 
     includes a general reduction of $50,500,000 against the 
     entire program based on unobligated prior year funds, delays 
     in obtaining the required environmental and construction 
     permits, and possible delays in equipment delivery.
       Energy Conservation Investment Program.--In future budget 
     submissions, the conferees expect project-level information 
     on the Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) to be 
     presented in tabular form, rather than in Form 1391 detail.


            Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund

       Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund.-- The 
     conferees agree to rescind $5,000,000 from the Military 
     Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. The House and Senate 
     bills had no similar provision. This rescinds the full 
     unobligated balance of funds, due to the absence of any 
     programmed or anticipated projects under this account.


               Military Construction, Army National Guard

       The conference agreement appropriates $142,403,000 for 
     Military Construction, Army National Guard, instead of 
     $70,338,000 as proposed by the House, and $124,599,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       Iowa-Camp Dodge: Damaged and Destroyed Facilities.--The 
     conferees direct the National Guard Bureau to report on 
     tornado and wind damage sustained on June 29, 1998. This 
     report is to be submitted within 30 days of enactment of this 
     Act, and is to include an assessment of requirements for 
     repair and replacement.
       Montana--Fort Harrison: Sewer System.--The conferees agree 
     to grant the Army National Guard reprogramming approval up to 
     the amount of $1,200,000 to cover the Army National Guard's 
     contribution for connecting the Fort Harrison complex to the 
     city sewer system, subject to approval of the proposed source 
     of funds.
       Montana--Helena: Armed Forces Reserve Center.--The 
     conferees direct that the total funding provided for this 
     facility shall include the purchase and installation of 
     prewired workstations and furnishings.
       North Carolina--Fort Bragg: Military Education Facility.--
     The conferees recognize the importance of the Military 
     Education Facility to the Army National Guard and direct the 
     National Guard Bureau to begin the planning and design and 
     site preparation for this National Guard facility. The 
     conferees direct the Department to include this project in 
     the Future Year Defense Plan (FYDP).


               Military Construction, Air National Guard

       The conference agreement appropriates $169,801,000 for 
     Military Construction, Air National Guard, instead of 
     $97,701,000 as proposed by the House, and $163,161,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       California--Moffett Federal Airfield: Composite Maintenance 
     Hangar.--The conferees acknowledge the urgent and compelling 
     need to replace the existing World War II facility at Moffett 
     Federal Airfield and encourage the Department to include this 
     project in the fiscal year 2000 budget request.
       Georgia--Savannah IAP: Composite Support Complex.--The 
     conferees direct the Air National Guard to include this 
     project in the budget request for fiscal year 2000, as 
     programmed in the Future Year Defense Plan submitted in 
     support of the fiscal year 1999 budget.


                  Military Construction, Army Reserve

       The conference agreement appropriates $102,119,000 for 
     Military Construction, Army Reserve, instead of $71,894,000 
     as proposed by the House, and $114,349,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       Utah--Salt Lake City: U.S. Army Reserve Center (Phase 
     II).--The conferees agree to provide $5,076,000 as the second 
     and final funding phase for a U.S. Army Reserve Center / 
     Organizational Maintenance Shop / Direct Support-General 
     Support Facilities / Equipment Concentration Site. Together 
     with $12,714,000 appropriated in fiscal year 1998 as the 
     first funding phase, this provides a total of $17,790,000 for 
     this project.


                  Military Construction, Naval Reserve

       The conference agreement appropriates $31,621,000 for 
     Military Construction, Naval Reserve, instead of $33,721,000 
     as proposed by the House, and $21,621,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.


                Military Construction, Air Force Reserve

       The conference agreement appropriates $34,371,000 for 
     Military Construction, Air Force Reserve, instead of 
     $35,371,000 as proposed by the House, and $22,835,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.


     North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program

       The conference agreement appropriates $154,000,000 for the 
     North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment 
     Program (NSIP), instead of $169,000,000 as proposed by the 
     House, and $152,600,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment 
     Program Funds.--The conferees agree to a provision renumbered 
     Section 124, proposed by the Senate, which prohibits the use 
     of NSIP funds for any aspect of the Partnership for Peace 
     Program or support to non-NATO countries. The President's 
     budget request for fiscal year 1999 included $56,900,000 
     for the Department of Defense and an additional 
     $80,000,000 of foreign military financing, administered by 
     the Department of State, for the Partnership for Peace 
     Program. The proposed funding level should provide 
     sufficient resources for any expansion initiatives 
     anticipated by the Administration.


                        Family Housing--Overview

       Reprogramming Criteria.--The reprogramming criteria that 
     apply to military construction projects (25 percent of the 
     funded amount or $2,000,000, whichever is less) also apply to 
     new housing construction projects and to improvement projects 
     over $2,000,000.
       Family Housing Operation and Maintenance.--The conferees 
     direct that the details of all expenditures from the Family 
     Housing Operation and Maintenance accounts which exceed 
     $20,000 per unit, per year for major maintenance and repair 
     of non-general and flag officer quarters be included as part 
     of the budget justification material.
       Exclusion of Costs Associated with Environmental Hazard 
     Remediation from Maintenance and Repair Limits.--The 
     conferees revise the requirement for an after-the-fact 
     notification for projects when the costs associated with 
     environmental hazard remediation such as asbestos removal, 
     radon abatement, lead-based paint removal or abatement, and 
     any other legislated environmental hazard remediation cause 
     the maintenance and repair thresholds of $20,000 for a 
     military family housing unit, or $25,000 for a General or 
     Flag Officer Quarter to be exceeded. The notification shall 
     include work, scope, cost break-out and other details 
     pertinent to the environmental hazard remediation and shall 
     be reported on a semi-annual basis. An after-the-fact 
     notification is acceptable provided that such remediation 
     requirements could not be reasonably anticipated at the time 
     of the budget submission. This exclusion applies to projects 
     appropriated in this budget year, and also projects 
     appropriated in prior years for which construction contracts 
     have not been completed.


                          Family Housing, Army

       The conference agreement appropriates $135,290,000 for 
     Construction, Family Housing, Army, instead of $82,840,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $124,490,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conferees direct that the following projects are to be 
     accomplished within the increased amount provided for 
     construction improvements:

Alaska-Fort Richardson (40 units)............................$7,400,000
Kentucky-Fort Campbell (104 units)............................8,800,000
New Mexico-White Sands Missile Range (36 units)...............3,650,000

       The conference agreement appropriates $1,094,697,000 for 
     Operation and Maintenance, Family Housing, Army, instead of 
     $1,097,697,000 as proposed by the House and $1,104,733,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement appropriates a total of 
     $1,229,987,000 for Family Housing, Army, instead of 
     $1,180,537,000 as proposed by the House and $1,229,223,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.


                 Family Housing, Navy and Marine Corps

       The conference agreement appropriates $295,590,000 for 
     Construction, Family Housing, Navy and Marine Corps, instead 
     of $130,457,000 as proposed by the House and $286,590,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees direct that the following projects are to be 
     accomplished within the increased amount provided for 
     construction improvements:

California--Camp Pendleton (171 units)......................$10,000,000
Washington--Whidbey Island NAS (80 units).....................5,800,000

       The conference agreement appropriates $912,293,000 for 
     Operation and Maintenance, Family Housing, Navy and Marine 
     Corps, instead of $915,293,000 as proposed by the House and 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement appropriates a total of 
     $1,207,883,000 for Family Housing, Navy and Marine Corps, 
     instead of $1,045,750,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $1,201,883,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       Washington--Naval Station Puget Sound, Everett: Real 
     Property Conveyance.--Section 125 of this Act provides an 
     appropriation of

[[Page H6431]]

     $6,000,000 in proceeds from the sale of land and family 
     housing units at Paine Field. This funding shall be used for 
     the acquisition of land and/or housing units in the vicinity 
     of, or for, Naval Station Everett as authorized in Section 
     2842 of Public Law 102-484.


                       Family Housing, Air Force

       The conference agreement appropriates $280,965,000 for 
     Construction, Family Housing, Air Force, instead of 
     $207,880,000 as proposed by the House and $297,475,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees direct that the following projects are to be 
     accomplished within the increased amount provided for 
     construction improvements:

Georgia--Moody AFB (68 units)................................$5,220,000
North Carolina--Seymour Johnson AFB (70 units)................8,000,000
South Carolina--Charleston AFB (94 units).....................9,110,000

       The conference agreement appropriates $783,204,000 for 
     Operation and Maintenance, Family Housing, Air Force, instead 
     of $785,204,000 as proposed by the House and $789,995,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement appropriates a total of 
     $1,064,169,000 for Family Housing, Air Force, instead of 
     $993,084,000 as proposed by the House and $1,087,470,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.


                      Family Housing, Defense-wide

       The conference agreement appropriates $345,000 for 
     Construction, Family Housing, Defense-wide, as proposed by 
     the House and Senate.
       The conference agreement appropriates $36,899,000 for 
     Operation and Maintenance, Family Housing, Defense-wide, as 
     proposed by the House and Senate.
       The conference agreement appropriates a total of 
     $37,244,000 for Family Housing, Defense-wide, as proposed by 
     the House and Senate.-


         Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund

       The conference agreement appropriates $2,000,000 for the 
     Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund instead 
     of $242,438,000 as proposed by the House and $7,000,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate. The reduction from the level proposed 
     by the House reflects full funding of construction projects 
     and construction improvement projects in the traditional 
     family housing accounts, rather than in the Family Housing 
     Improvement Fund. Transfer authority is provided for the 
     execution of any qualifying project under privatization 
     authority which resides in the Fund.
       The conferees note that the Housing Revitalization Support 
     Office (HRSO) proposed to expend 90 percent of the $7,000,000 
     budget request for consultant support. Further, HRSO will 
     expend $14,150,000 for consultant support for fiscal years 
     1996 through 1998, which represents 90 percent of all 
     resources available for HRSO overhead. These expenditures 
     for consultant services have not produced any contracts 
     awarded under the 1996 privatization authorities. -
       The conferees support the Department's privatization 
     efforts, and recommend an appropriation of $2,000,000 based 
     on available balances and excessive allocation for consultant 
     services. -
       The conferees continue to be concerned over the delay in 
     execution of family housing construction projects for which 
     funds have been appropriated, for possible privatization 
     efforts. The new authorities were signed into law in February 
     1996, yet no new agreements have been finalized to build or 
     renovate military family housing. Several projects are being 
     considered, yet only one project, at Lackland AFB, is close 
     to contract signing. The conferees strongly believe that the 
     Department needs to use all available tools to address the 
     family housing program in an optimum manner. This includes 
     the traditional construction program, privatization, and 
     adequate use of existing private sector housing. The 
     conferees remind the Department that Congress approved the 
     new privatization authorities as a pilot project, and that 
     these authorities will expire on February 10, 2001. It was 
     never the intent of the House and Senate Appropriations 
     Committees for this program to become a substitute for the 
     traditional housing construction program. -
       The conferees direct the Office of the Under Secretary of 
     Defense for Acquisition and Technology to carefully review 
     the planned privatization efforts and narrow the scope to a 
     reasonable number of projects which may be executed prior to 
     the expiration of the pilot project authority. The conferees 
     expect to be notified on October 1, 1998, of a revised, 
     scaled-back, reasonable plan for the privatization effort. In 
     addition, the conferees anticipate that all prior year 
     appropriated family housing construction projects which have 
     been placed on hold will be released for construction at that 
     time, unless specific justification is provided to Congress. 
     Following the October 1st report, the Department is expected 
     to report quarterly to the House and Senate Appropriations 
     Committees on the status of all privatization efforts and the 
     status of all family housing construction and construction 
     improvement projects for which funds have been appropriated. 
     -
       The conferees direct the Department to display all family 
     housing construction and construction improvement projects 
     which are anticipated for privatization as such in the fiscal 
     year 2000 budget. This display should include a detailed plan 
     of the time frame for execution of each privatization 
     effort.-
       In addition, the Secretary of Defense is directed to report 
     to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by 
     December 1, 1998, on an integrated family housing strategy 
     for the Department of Defense. This strategy should focus on 
     the maximum use of existing civilian housing, the use of 
     enhanced housing referral services, coordination of housing 
     allowances, and appropriate use of privatization and 
     traditional construction options. In particular, this report 
     should include a detailed plan for integrating the DOD 
     offices which have responsibilities for the military's family 
     housing program. Responsibility for privatization and for 
     construction, operation and maintenance lies with the Under 
     Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology. 
     Appropriations for military-owned and leased family housing 
     are included in the Services' family housing accounts. 
     Responsibility for housing allowances is under the Under 
     Secretary for Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and 
     housing allowances are included in the Services' military 
     personnel accounts. The conferees are concerned that 
     privatization shifts funding from military family housing 
     construction, operations, and maintenance accounts to 
     military personnel accounts to pay for increased housing 
     allowances, which are used to pay rent to developers of 
     privatized housing. The conferees believe that this is not 
     being coordinated by the Department, nor is it being 
     budgeted for adequately. The conferees believe that in 
     order to have a truly integrated family housing policy, 
     these functions need to be overseen by one office within 
     the Department.-
       The conferees request the Comptroller General to monitor 
     the progress of the Department of Defense's and individual 
     Services' implementation of the family housing privatization 
     initiative. The monitoring of the program shall include, but 
     not be limited to, obtaining information on the status of 
     family housing projects, reviewing life-cycle costs analyses 
     for projects, and determining whether the privatization 
     initiative is being integrated and coordinated with the 
     Department's other family housing programs. The conferees 
     request that the Comptroller General keep the House and 
     Senate Committees on Appropriations apprised of the progress 
     and submit a report to the Congress no later than March 31, 
     2000.


                  Homeowners Assistance Fund, Defense-

       The conference agreement appropriates no funds for the 
     Homeowners Assistance Fund, Defense instead of $7,500,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $12,800,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. -
       The conferees have included a new provision, Section 127, 
     as proposed by the Senate, which allows the transfer of funds 
     from the Base Realignment and Closure account into the 
     Homeowners Assistance Fund, Defense. Any amounts transferred 
     into the fund shall be available to pay for expenses 
     associated with the program. Due to this transfer authority, 
     the conferees believe a direct appropriation to this account 
     for fiscal year 1999 is not necessary. The total estimated 
     requirements for fiscal year 1999 are estimated at 
     $109,735,000 and will be funded with transfer of appropriated 
     funds, revenue from sales of acquired property and prior year 
     unobligated balances. The Comptroller of the Department of 
     Defense is to notify the House and Senate Subcommittees on 
     Military Construction twenty-one days prior to the use of the 
     transfer authority.


                Base Realignment and Closure--Overview-

       Construction Projects: Administrative Provision.--The 
     conferees agree that any transfer of funds which exceeds 
     reprogramming thresholds for any construction project 
     financed by any Base Realignment and Closure Account shall be 
     subject to a 21-day notification to the Committees, and shall 
     not be subject to reprogramming procedure.-
       Construction Budget Data.--The conferees are concerned 
     about the accuracy and reliability of the base realignment 
     and closure (BRAC) construction budget data provided annually 
     to the Congress. The Office of the Department of Defense 
     Inspector General and the General Accounting Office recently 
     found that the Services submitted BRAC military construction 
     data in the fiscal years 1997 and 1998 military construction 
     budgets based on overstated requirements and unsupported 
     specifications and costs. They also found that the major 
     commands of the Services did not effectively 
     implement management control procedures established for 
     the BRAC military construction planning, programming and 
     budgeting process. This has resulted in overstated and 
     invalid BRAC requirements and lack of supporting 
     documentation. The conferees direct the Department to take 
     the necessary corrective action to ensure that these 
     deficiencies are corrected in the fiscal year 2000 budget 
     submission.
       Future Costs of Environmental Restoration.--The conferees 
     direct the Department of Defense to submit a legislative 
     proposal for the establishment of a Treasury account entitled 
     ``Base Realignment and Closure Environmental Restoration'', 
     rather than budgeting for future costs in the Operation and 
     Maintenance accounts. The conferees direct that future costs 
     for environmental restoration related to the four rounds of 
     base closure conducted from 1988 through 1995 shall be 
     programmed and budgeted in this new account.


             Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part III

       The conference agreement appropriates $427,164,000 for the 
     Base Realignment and

[[Page H6432]]

     Closure Account, Part III instead of $433,464,000 as proposed 
     by the House and Senate. Within the amount appropriated, the 
     conference agreement earmarks $271,800,000 for environmental 
     restoration, as proposed by the House and Senate.
       Reprogramming Action.--The Committees have approved a 
     reprogramming request which accelerated one construction 
     project from fiscal year 1999 to fiscal year 1998, allowing 
     the program to absorb a reduction of $4,300,000 from the 
     budget request.
       Revised Economic Assumptions.--As described earlier in this 
     report, the conferees recommend a reduction of $2,000,000 
     from the budget request based on reestimation of inflation.


             Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV

       The conference agreement appropriates $1,203,738,000 for 
     the Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV instead of 
     $1,297,240,000 as proposed by the House and Senate. Within 
     the amount appropriated, the conference agreement earmarks 
     $426,036,000 for environmental restoration, as proposed by 
     the House and Senate.
       Reprogramming Actions.--The Committees have approved 
     reprogramming requests which accelerated four construction 
     projects from fiscal year 1999 to fiscal year 1998, allowing 
     the program to absorb a reduction of $28,802,000 from the 
     budget request.
       Revised Economic Assumptions.--As described earlier in this 
     report, the conferees recommend a reduction of $3,000,000 
     from the budget request based on reestimation of inflation.
       Unreported Proceeds.--The Services have collected 
     $35,700,000 more in proceeds from land sales and leases at 
     closing or realigning bases than reported in the fiscal year 
     1999 budget request. Statutes and Department of Defense 
     guidance state that proceeds from the transfer, lease, or 
     disposal of property due to the Base Realignment and Closure 
     process shall be deposited into the Base Closure Accounts. 
     The conferees understand that, because such proceeds were 
     collected after the development of the budget, the Air Force 
     did not report $21,000,000 worth of proceeds, the Army did 
     not report $3,900,000, and the Navy did not report 
     $10,800,000. The conferees direct the Services to deposit 
     these proceeds into the Base Realignment and Closure Account, 
     and have reduced the Base Realignment and Closure Account, 
     Part IV fiscal year 1999 appropriation by $35,700,000 to 
     reflect this action.
       Funds Previously Withheld.--The conferees recommend a 
     reduction of $26,000,000 to the Base Realignment and Closure 
     Account, Part IV. This reduction is based on funds that were 
     previously withheld from obligation based on an inflation 
     rate that was lower than expected. At the time the fiscal 
     year 1999 budget was submitted to Congress, these funds were 
     withheld from obligation, but have subsequently been made 
     available. Thus, the budget request is overstated by 
     $26,000,000.
       Kentucky--Louisville Naval Ordnance Station: Environmental 
     Restoration.--The conferees urge the Navy to pursue the 
     feasibility for use of bioremediation technologies (such as 
     treatment by microbes and plants) for cleanup of sub-surface 
     contamination of soils and groundwater, and to utilize such 
     technologies if they are proven to be cost-effective.


                           General Provisions

       The conference agreement includes general provisions that 
     were in both the House and Senate versions of the bill that 
     were not amended.
       The conference agreement includes Section 101, as proposed 
     by the House, prohibiting the expenditure of funds for 
     payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for 
     construction, where cost estimates exceeded $25,000, to be 
     performed within the United States, except Alaska, without 
     the specific approval in writing of the Secretary of Defense, 
     instead of similar language as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes Section 105, as proposed 
     by the House, which makes a technical correction to the word 
     ``per centum'', instead of language as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement includes Section 112 as proposed 
     by the House, which makes a technical correction to the word 
     ``per centum'', instead of language as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement includes Section 114, as proposed 
     by the House, which makes a technical correction to the word 
     ``per centum'', instead of language as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement includes a provision, Section 121, 
     as proposed by the House, which prohibits the expenditure of 
     funds except in compliance with the Buy American Act. The 
     Senate bill contained no similar provision.
       The conference agreement includes a provision, Section 122, 
     as proposed by the House, which states the Sense of the 
     Congress notifying recipients of equipment or products 
     authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided 
     in this Act to purchase American-made equipment and products. 
     The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
       The conference agreement includes a provision renumbered 
     Section 123, as proposed by the Senate, permitting the 
     transfer of funds from Family Housing, Construction accounts 
     to the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund, instead of 
     language as proposed by the House.
       The conference agreement includes a provision renumbered 
     Section 124, as proposed by the Senate, stating that none of 
     the funds appropriated or made available by this Act may be 
     obligated for Partnership for Peace Programs or to provide 
     support for non-NATO countries.
       The conference agreement includes a provision renumbered 
     Section 127, as proposed by the Senate, providing transfer 
     authority from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 
     accounts to the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). The 
     House bill contained no similar provision.
       The conference agreement includes a provision renumbered 
     Section 128, as proposed by the House, stating that 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''.
       Those general provisions that were not included in the 
     conference agreement follow:
       The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
     stating that the sole source of funds for planning, 
     administrative, and oversight costs incurred by the Housing 
     Revitalization Support Office must come from the DOD Family 
     Housing Improvement Fund. This provision is included in the 
     appropriations paragraph for the ``Department of Defense 
     Family Housing Improvement Fund'' as proposed in the House 
     bill.
       The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
     increasing the ``Military Construction, Army National Guard'' 
     appropriation and decreasing the ``Military Construction, 
     Army Reserve'' appropriation. The House bill contained no 
     similar provision.
       The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
     increasing the ``Military Construction, Navy'' appropriation 
     and the ``Family Housing, Air Force'' appropriation and 
     decreasing the ``Military Construction, Defense-wide'' 
     appropriation. The House bill contained no similar provision.

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[[Page H6451]]

                   conference total--with comparisons

       The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
     fiscal year 1999 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
     with comparisons to the fiscal year 1998 amount, the 1999 
     budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1999 
     follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1998....$9,208,468,000
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal y7,784,074,000
House bill, fiscal year 1999..............................8,234,074,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 1999.............................8,480,574,000
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1999....................8,449,742,000
Conference agreement compared with:
  New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1998....-758,726,000
  Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal +665,668,000
  House bill, fiscal year 1999.............................+215,668,000
  Senate bill, fiscal year 1999.............................-30,832,000

     Ron Packard,
     John Edward Porter,
     David L. Hobson,
     Roger F. Wicker,
     Jack Kingston,
     Mike Parker,
     Todd Tiahrt,
     Zach Wamp,
     Bob Livingston,
     W.G. (Bill) Hefner,
     John W. Olver,
     Chet Edwards,
     Bud Cramer,
     Norman Dicks,
     David Obey,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     Conrad burns,
     Kay Bailey Hutchison,
     Lauch Faircloth,
     Larry E. Craig,
     Ted Stevens,
     Patty Murray,
     Harry Reid,
     Daniel K. Inouye,
     Robert C. Byrd,
     Managers on the Part of the Senate.

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