[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21000]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 
                                  2003

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise yet again to address the Senate on 
the subject of military construction projects added to an 
appropriations bill that were not requested by the Department of 
Defense. This bill contains over $900 million in unrequested military 
construction projects.
  I did not object to the unanimous consent request to proceed to a 
voice vote on the fiscal year 2003 Department of Defense Military 
Construction appropriations conference report because on the day that 
this funding bill passed, I had managed the floor for more than 16 
hours while the Senate proceeded with the serious matter of debating 
and finally approving the Iraqi War Resolution.
  America remains at war, a war that continues to unite Americans in 
pursuit of a common goal, to defeat terrorism. All Americans have, and 
undoubtably in the future will make sacrifices for this war. Many have 
been deeply affected by it and at times harmed by difficult, related 
economic circumstances. Our servicemen and women in particular are 
truly on the front lines in this war, separated from their families, 
risking their lives, and working extraordinarily long hours under the 
most difficult conditions to accomplish the ambitious but necessary 
task their country has set for them.
  Every year, I come to the Senate floor to highlight programs and 
projects added to spending bills for primarily parochial reasons. While 
I recognize that many of the projects added to this bill may be 
worthwhile, the process by which they were selected is not.
  There are 26 conferees of the Appropriations Military Construction 
Conference report who represent 19 States. Of those 19 States only one, 
Wisconsin, did not have projects added on this appropriations bill. Of 
119 projects added to this bill, 60 projects are in the states 
represented by the MILCON Appropriations Conferees, totaling over $530 
million. Those numbers, needless to say, go well beyond the realm of 
mere coincidence.
  By adding over $900 million above the President's request, the 
Appropriations Conference Committee is further draining away funds 
desperately needed for enhancing our warfighting capability. 
Commonsense reforms, closing military bases, consolidating and 
privatizing depot maintenance, ending ``Buy American'' restrictions, 
and ending pork-barrel spending--that I have long supported would free 
up nearly $20 billion per year which could be used to begin our long-
needed military transformation.
  We are waging a war against a new enemy and at the same time 
undertaking a long-term process to transform our military from its cold 
war structure to a force ready for the challenges of tomorrow. A lack 
of political will had previously hamstrung the transformation process, 
but the President and his team have pledged to transform our military 
structure and operations to meet future threats.
  The reorganization of our armed services was an extremely important 
subject before September 11, and it is all the more so now. The threats 
to the security of the United States, to the very lives and property of 
Americans, have changed in the last decade.
  In the months ahead, no task before the Administration and the 
Congress will be more important or require greater care and 
deliberation than making the changes necessary to strengthen our 
national defense in this new, uncertain era. Needless to say, this 
transformation process will require enlightened, thoughtful leadership, 
and not the pork-barreling of military funds if we are to best serve 
America in this time of rapid change in the global security 
environment.
  I look forward to the day when my appearances on the Senate floor for 
this purpose are no longer necessary. I reiterate, over $900 million in 
unrequested military construction projects were added by the Committee 
to the defense appropriations bill. Consider how that $900 million, 
when added to the savings gained through additional base closings and 
more cost-effective business practices, could be used so much more 
effectively.
  The problems of our Armed Forces, whether in terms of force structure 
or modernization, could be more assuredly addressed and our warfighting 
ability greatly enhanced. The American taxpayers expect more of us, as 
do our brave servicemen and women who are, without question, fighting 
this war on global terrorism on our behalf.
  But for now, unfortunately, they must witness us, seemingly blind to 
our responsibilities at this time of war, going about our business as 
usual.

                          ____________________