42-753
2d Session
110-775
--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2009
[To accompany H.R. 6599]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
| CONTENTS | Page | |
| Purpose of the Bill | 2 | |
| Summary of Committee Recommendation | 2 | |
| Comparative Statement of New Budget Authority | 4 | |
| Items of Interest | 13 | |
| Department of Defense: | Military Construction | |
| 16 | ||
| NATO Security Investment Program | ||
| 24 | ||
| Family Housing Construction and Operation and Maintenance | ||
| 25 | ||
| Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide | ||
| 30 | ||
| Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990 | ||
| 30 | ||
| Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005 | ||
| 31 | ||
| Administrative Provisions | ||
| 31 | ||
| Department of Veterans Affairs: | Overview | |
| 33 | ||
| Veterans Benefits Administration | ||
| 34 | ||
| Veterans Health Administration | ||
| 38 | ||
| National Cemetery Administration | ||
| 45 | ||
| Departmental Administration | ||
| 46 | ||
| Administrative Provisions | ||
| 51 | ||
| Related Agencies: | American Battle Monuments Commission | |
| 53 | ||
| U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | ||
| 54 | ||
| Cemeterial Expenses, Army | ||
| 55 | ||
| Armed Forces Retirement Home | ||
| 55 | ||
| General Provisions | 56 | |
| Changes in Application of Existing Law | 56 | |
| Appropriations Not Authorized by Law | 59 | |
| Transfer of Funds | 60 | |
| Rescissions | 61 | |
| Constitutional Authority | 62 | |
| Comparison With the Budget Resolution | 62 | |
| Five-Year Projection of Outlays | 62 | |
| Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments | 62 | |
| Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives | 62 | |
| Compliance with Rule XIII | 63 | |
| Earmarks | 64 | |
| State Project List | 93 | |
| Additional Views | 111 |
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of the bill is to support our military and their families and provide the benefits and medical care that our veterans have earned for their service. This is accomplished through the programs funded in the bill. Programs that provide the facilities and infrastructure needed to house, train, and equip our military personnel to defend this nation; both in the United States and abroad; programs that provide the housing and military community infrastructure that sustains quality of life for them and their families; and programs that allow the military to efficiently and effectively maintain a right-sized base structure. The bill also funds programs to ensure that all of our veterans receive the benefits and medical care that they have earned as a result of the sacrifices they have made in their service to our country. Finally, the bill funds four related agencies that provide support to our nation's heroes; the American Battle Monuments Commission, Cemeterial Expenses, Army (Arlington Cemetery), the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $118,726,081,000 in new budget authority for the programs and activities funded in the bill. This recommendation is an increase of $10,334,831,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $3,382,000,000 above the President's request. Included in this amount is $45,996,925,000 in mandatory authority and $72,729,156,000 in discretionary authority.
The Committee recommendation highlights the continued commitment to our servicemembers and their families and to our veterans. The bill includes significant increases in both the military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs budgets. The total funding level for military construction is $24,800,239,000, a 20 percent increase over the fiscal year 2008 enacted level. This level of unprecedented funding supports the servicemen and women and their families who are making the ultimate sacrifice during this time of war. The programs funded in the bill for the Department of Defense address the numerous challenges we have asked our military to accomplish simultaneously. These funds support an increase in troop strength for both the Army and Marine Corps, continue the cleanup of military bases closed during Base Realignment and Closure rounds, resource the military's global re-stationing plan, and ensure that our military personnel and their families' quality of life is preserved within these plans.
The total funding level of $93,685,057,000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs is a seven percent increase over the fiscal year 2008 enacted level. The recommendation provides funding to increase support for benefits claims in order to reduce the claims processing backlog and length of time it takes to process an initial claim. The Committee also provides increases for medical care funding for all veterans and provides additional funding in order to increase Priority 8 enrollment by 10 percent, and to improve access to medical care for veterans where Veterans Health Administration services are not available. The Committee is also concerned with the backlog in non-recurring maintenance and has provided additional resources to address this issue.
The following table compares amounts recommended in the bill to the President's request and amounts appropriated in fiscal year 2008:
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Quality of Life Initiative.--The Committee's recommendation for military construction continues the initiative, begun in fiscal year 2008, to provide additional quality of life facilities for military personnel and their families. The Committee's recommendation therefore includes $199,200,000 for five additional troop housing facilities for Army and Marine Corps recruits and trainees. While both the Army and Marine Corps have made a commitment to fund improved barracks, the Committee believes that more effort is needed on behalf of marines and soldiers who are going through basic and advanced training. The Committee also recommends building upon a prior initiative by adding $136,481,000 for medical treatment facility design and construction. This will provide $57,900,000 to renovate the hospital at Camp Lejeune, which will add 7,410 marines under the Growing the Force initiative, and $78,581,000 to accelerate planning and design for a hospital replacement at Fort Bliss, which will receive four additional brigades by 2012 under Army plans for Base Realignment and Closure and global restationing.
Report on Child Care Waiting Lists.--The Committee notes that the President has called for an increased commitment to providing child care and youth activity services to military families. The Committee fully supports this commitment and commends the Department of Defense for following the lead of Congress and increasing the number of child development and youth activity facilities from three in the fiscal year 2008 request to eleven in the fiscal year 2009 request. The Committee believes that more effort is needed, and to further this initiative, the Committee directs that the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force each provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the current waiting list for child care services at each installation no later than August 1, 2008.
BRAC, Global Restationing, Growing the Force, and Local School Impacts- The Committee remains concerned by the impact that Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), global restationing, and the Growing the Force initiative will have on the ability of localities near growing bases to accommodate increased demands for off-base infrastructure such as schools. In order to help local communities plan and budget for such impacts, the Committee directs the Department of Defense to keep the responsible authorities fully informed about the effects of force structure changes on base populations. The Committee further directs the Army and Marine Corps to submit no later than October 1, 2008, and semi-annually thereafter, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an updated report on projected base population increases for those installations that will add at least 1,000 permanent party military personnel (compared to the 2003 baseline) under BRAC, global restationing, and Growing the Force. In addition to the total growth in base population for each such installation from 2003-2013, this report shall provide, at minimum, a breakout of the data for each such installation showing the growth during the same period in the numbers of permanent party active duty military members, Department of Defense civilians, Reserve component personnel, students and trainees, contractors, military family members, school age children of military family members, and school age children of DoD civilians. In addition, the report shall also contain a description of the status of local school construction efforts at all installations with an expected base population growth of 20 percent or more.
Management of Overseas Basing- On September 17, 2004, the Department of Defense delivered its `Report to Congress on Strengthening U.S. Global Defense Posture', inaugurating what it described as `the most profound re-ordering of U.S. military forces overseas since our current posture was cemented at the end of World War II and the Korean War.' The report announced a shift away from forward-stationed garrisons to deter specific threats toward a flexible network of smaller, but rapidly expandable, sites to meet a wide range of possible contingencies. This shift toward forward operating sites and cooperative security locations reduced the need for new overseas military construction projects and increased reliance on host nation and contractor-maintained facilities. The Committee is concerned that the Department has not made a concomitant effort to ensure that planning, budgeting, and financial management practices are in place to ensure adequate oversight of the costs and operations of this new base structure. Currently, management and oversight are fragmented between different command levels of both the services and the Combatant Commands, defeating transparency and accountability. The Committee therefore directs the Department to include, with the Overseas Master Plan submission in 2009, a management annex that describes current arrangements for planning, programming, budgeting, financial management, and contract management for overseas bases, as well as initiatives being taken to correct deficiencies in such arrangements. The Committee understands that the Army has instituted a pilot program under which the Installation Management Command will assume responsibility for the forward operating site at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras. The management annex shall also include an assessment of this pilot program and a discussion of both `lessons learned' and the prospect of applying this approach to all overseas forward operating sites and cooperative security locations.
Need for Review of Global Basing Strategy.--The Committee is also concerned by recent developments that have called into question the underlying rationale of the Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy (IGPBS) that was developed from the global posture review. In response to concerns expressed by the Commander of European Command (EUCOM) about the adequacy of the forces to be left within the EUCOM area of responsibility by IGPBS, the Secretary of Defense decided in 2007 to extend two brigade combat teams (BCTs) in Germany until 2012-2013, during which these two BCTs purportedly will be moved to the United States, though it is unclear whether the reasons necessitating this extension will no longer apply by then. The Secretary also decided recently to halt the planned removal of approximately 3,500 troops from Korea, for reasons that are not entirely clear. Furthermore, the decision by the Administration to create Africa Command (AFRICOM) has opened the question of what basing structure in Africa should be created to support this new command. Finally, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have demonstrated a need to reconcile this new basing approach to long-term conflicts involving continuous rotation of large forces to the same areas over a period of many years, blurring the distinction between `forward-deployed' and `forward-stationed' forces, and between `expeditionary' and `enduring' locations. The new Global Posture strategy rested on certain key assumptions, such as:
- (1) Pursuant to the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review, the U.S. should shift its approach to strategic planning from a `threat-based' approach to a `capabilities-based' approach. This approach is expressed in the statement of the September 2004 report that `we cannot know exactly where or when we will be called on to fight';
- (2) U.S. military forces would acquire and maintain the necessary capabilities in mobility, deployment readiness, and expeditionary base construction to overcome any reduction in the advantages of forward stationing; and
- (3) Overseas force reductions in certain areas could be implemented without any undue harm to U.S. relationships with host nations, NATO, or new security commitments.
The Committee believes that the next Administration should conduct a reassessment of these assumptions and adjust the Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy to account for developments that were not anticipated or accounted for by the Department in its initial global posture review.
Africa Command.--The Committee is concerned about the Department's conflicting indications regarding the future permanent headquarters of Africa Command. The Committee has been informed in the past that headquarters locations in the United States were ruled out; however, recent reports suggest that U.S. locations will be included in a comprehensive survey of potential locations, in addition to those in Africa and Europe. The Committee therefore directs the Department of Defense to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on potential future locations for AFRICOM headquarters no later than December 31, 2008. This report shall include, at minimum: (1) the fundamental considerations that need to be taken into account in the siting of an AFRICOM headquarters, such as proximity to the area of responsibility, utilization of existing U.S. infrastructure including State Department facilities, host nation political sensitivities, and consistency with AFRICOM's structure and mission; (2) the specific criteria to be considered in deciding between specific locations within the African continent, should that be the chosen approach; (3) the merits and disadvantages of keeping AFRICOM headquarters at its current location in Stuttgart, Germany; and (4) a comprehensive listing of all specific locations that have been considered. In addition, this report shall include an assessment of existing cooperative security locations and forward operating sites in Africa and the extent to which they meet AFRICOM's mission requirements. This report may be submitted in classified form.
Inflation in Military Construction- The Committee remains very concerned by the inadequacy of inflation factors used to form the budget requests for military construction and family housing. The baseline construction inflation rate used by the Department of Defense, which is based on the gross domestic product price index rather than indices of material and labor costs in the construction sector, is merely 2 percent for fiscal year 2009. This figure is grossly out of step with the construction inflation estimates reported by the private sector. The Committee also notes a report by the Department that the fiscal year 2008 Base Realignment and Closure program would require 11 percent additional funding if the 2007, rather than 2006, pricing guidance had been used to form that program. The Committee is fully supportive of efforts by the Department to more accurately account for recent changes and regional variation in the construction market through the use of more up-to-date pricing guidance and area cost factors. However, the Committee believes that the overall military construction budget will continue to be at risk if the baseline inflation rate does not better reflect actual market conditions. The failure to fully account for these conditions is evidenced by the increased number of scope reductions, project cancellations, and reprogramming requests in recent years. The Committee therefore directs the Department to incorporate more realistic inflation estimates into its construction program. The Committee further directs the Department to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the baseline inflation rate used to form the fiscal year 2010 military construction and family housing request, along with a comparison of this figure to the construction inflation rate used by other Federal agencies in their fiscal year 2010 budget requests for construction. This report shall be submitted no later than seven days after the submission of the fiscal year 2010 budget request.
Fort Monmouth.--The Committee is concerned that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have not taken adequate steps to ensure the availability of medical services for veterans and military retirees after the scheduled closure of Fort Monmouth, which will occur by September 2011. The Committee therefore directs the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs jointly to submit a report on how the medical service needs of these populations will be addressed, including the potential need for new facilities, no later than January 30, 2009.
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescissions) $9,926,457,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 11,362,876,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including rescissions) 11,741,876,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1,815,419,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 379,000,000
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Military construction accounts provide funds for new construction, construction improvements, planning and design, and host nation support. Projects funded by these accounts include facilities for operations, training, maintenance, research and development, supply, medical care, and force protection, as well as unaccompanied housing, utilities infrastructure, and land acquisition.
The Committee recommends a total appropriation of $11,814,466,000 and rescissions of $72,590,000 for Military Construction, an increase of $1,815,419,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $379,000,000 above the budget request.
Use of Planning and Design Funds to Source Reprogrammings.--The Committee notes with concern the increased utilization of planning and design funds to offset prior approval reprogramming requests. Planning and design funds are appropriated by the Committee to ensure that the Future Years Defense Program for military construction and family housing is adequately scoped and executable upon the approval of construction funds. The Committee expects that such funds will be used solely for this purpose. The increasing frequency of the use of such funds to offset shortfalls in actual construction indicates two things: first, that the Department has failed to adequately budget for inflation in the construction market to the point where incidental bid savings on certain projects are no longer adequate to cover unforeseeable cost increases on other projects; and second, that the Department has overestimated its planning and design requirements in previous budget submissions. To correct for the over-estimation of planning and design funds, the Committee recommends the following adjustments to military construction planning and design accounts: Army, -$30,000,000; Air Force, -$5,000,000; Defense-Wide, -$5,000,000 (Special Operations Command, -$2,500,000; National Security Agency, -$2,500,000); and Army National Guard, -$10,000,000. The Committee further encourages the services and Defense agencies to make greater use of alternatives to the design-bid-build approach, such as design-build and early contractor involvement.
Innovative Construction Methods.--The Committee notes that the current level of spending on military construction is higher, in constant dollars, than during any sustained period since the mid-1950s. Given the enormous volume of construction to be executed to satisfy the requirements of Base Realignment and Closure, global restationing, Growing the Force, and numerous other initiatives, the Committee encourages the Department of Defense to make full use of innovative construction techniques, such as standard designs and permanent modular facilities, consistent with departmental goals for sustainability, recapitalization, quality of life, and operational requirements.
Submission of Project-Level Detail for Military Construction Initiatives.--The Committee is concerned by indications that the Department of Defense may include a lump-sum request for military construction associated with the relocation of Marine Corps personnel and dependents from Okinawa to Guam in the fiscal year 2010 budget request, rather than specifying individual projects in accordance with normal practice. The Committee has rejected this approach when the Department has requested lump-sum appropriations for previous military construction initiatives, such as the Growing the Force initiative for the Army and Marine Corps. The Committee directs the Department to ensure that all military construction requests for initiatives, including the relocation to Guam, comprise specific projects that are individually scoped and executable in the year of appropriation, and to submit the corresponding project-level detail, including 1391 forms, to the Committee along with any such requests.
Incremental Funding of Military Construction Projects.--The Committee will continue to exercise its prerogative to recommend incremental funding of military construction projects where appropriate, in accordance with authorizing legislation. The Committee recommends incremental funding for the Command and Battle Center at Wiesbaden, Germany under Military Construction, Army.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization (FSRM).--The Department is directed to continue describing on form 1390 the backlog of FSRM requirements at installations with future construction projects. For troop housing requests, form 1391 should describe any FSRM conducted in the past two years. Likewise, future requirements for unaccompanied housing at the corresponding installation should be included. Additionally, the forms should include English equivalent measurements for projects presented in metric measurement. Rules for funding repairs of facilities under the Operation and Maintenance accounts are described below:
- (1) components of the facility may be repaired by replacement. Such replacement can be up to current standards or codes;
- (2) interior arrangements and restorations may be included as repair;
- (3) additions, new facilities, and functional conversions must be performed as military construction projects. Such projects may be done concurrently with repair projects as long as the final conjunctively funded project is a complete and usable facility; and
- (4) the appropriate service Secretary shall notify the appropriate committees 21 days prior to carrying out any repair project with an estimated cost in excess of $7,500,000.
Transfer of Funds to Foreign Currency Account.--The Committee directs the Department of Defense to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than December 1, 2008, on the amounts of expired funds transferred from military construction and family housing accounts to the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense account at the end of fiscal year 2008.
Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with the Executive Branch. The Administration, in selecting projects, goes through a process that is the functional equivalent of earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or modify this list to reflect additional priorities. The Committee is concerned that Executive Order 13457 effectively gives the Administration line-item veto authority over military construction projects funded in the bill, which would negatively impact the long history of cooperation the Committee has had with the Department of Defense regarding such projects. Therefore, the Committee has included bill language incorporating the military construction projects specified in the table entitled `Military Construction' that appear on pages 93 through 110 into the text of the bill by reference.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescissions) $3,927,893,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 4,615,920,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including rescissions) 4,750,216,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 822,323,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 134,296,000
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The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,801,536,000 and rescissions of $51,320,000 for Military Construction, Army, an increase of $822,323,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $134,296,000 above the budget request.
The Committee recommends the following rescissions due to bid savings and cancellations of previously appropriated projects:
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Public law/location Project title ConferenceAgreement
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PL 110-5 (FY 2007);
NC: Fort Bragg Digital Multipurpose Range Complex -20,000,000
Italy: Vicenza Barracks Complex (PN 61847) -4,980,000
Italy: Vicenza Barracks Complex (PN 62438) -4,440,000
Italy: Vicenza Brigade Complex -5,300,000
Subtotal, PL 110-5 -34,720,000
PL 110-161 (FY 2008):
NV: Hawthorne Army Depot Ground Water Treatment Plant -3,500,000
NY: Fort Drum Brigade Complex-Company Operations -6,600,000
TX: Fort Bliss Health and Dental Clinic -6,500,000
Subtotal, PL 110-161 -51,320,000 -16,600,000
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Virginia-Fort Myer: Hatfield Gate Expansion.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $300,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Unaccompanied Housing Privatization Feasibility Study.--The Committee notes that the Army has committed to fully funding the modernization of 147,700 permanent party barracks spaces by fiscal year 2013, two years later than the previous, pre-Growing the Force target of 134,500 spaces. While the Army should be commended for making this commitment to better housing for unaccompanied soldiers, the Committee is concerned that budgetary pressures will lead to further extensions of the timeline for completion. The Committee believes that the Army should consider the possibility of expanding unaccompanied housing privatization for both senior and junior enlisted personnel. The Committee therefore directs the Army to study the feasibility of such an initiative and report its findings to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than December 31, 2008. This study shall analyze both the financial and legal aspects of privatization, as well as potential impacts on command, unit cohesion, and quality of life.
Army Medical Action Program.--The Committee is concerned that current facilities for the Army Medical Action Program (AMAP) are insufficient for their purpose, as indicated by the recent report that wounded warriors suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder at one installation are regularly exposed in their current housing to the noise of gunfire from nearby training ranges. Although the Army included $138,100,000 for such facilities in the fiscal year 2008 emergency supplemental request, the Committee understands that the full estimated requirement for AMAP military construction is approximately $1,400,000,000. The Department of Defense has not responded to repeated Committee requests for a full list of AMAP projects and the associated 1391 forms. The Committee finds this unacceptable and directs the Army to submit a list of all AMAP projects and the associated 1391 forms to the Committee no later than July 18, 2008.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescissions) $2,187,837,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 3,096,399,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 3,280,809,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1,092,972,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 184,410,000
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The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,280,809,000 for Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps, an increase of $1,092,972,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $184,410,000 above the budget request.
Maine-Portsmouth NSY: Dry Dock #3 Waterfront Support Facility.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,450,000 be made available for the design of this project.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $1,149,277,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 934,892,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including rescissions) 958,843,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (190,434,000)
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 23,951,000
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The Committee recommends an appropriation of $976,524,000 and rescissions of $17,681,000 for Military Construction, Air Force, a decrease of $190,434,000 below the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $23,951,000 above the budget request.
The Committee recommends the following rescissions due to bid savings from previously appropriated projects:
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Public law/location Project title ConferenceAgreement
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PL 109-114 (FY 2006);
Korea; Kunsan AB Dormitory -1,359,000
PL 110-5 (FY 2007):
AK: Eielson AFB Add/Alter Physical Fitness Center -1,415,000
AK: Elmendorf AFB F/A-22 Corrosion Control/Low Observable Composite Repair Facility -1,119,000
HI: Hickam AFB C-17 Fuel Cell Nose Dock -1,047,000
Subtotal, PL 110-5 -3,581,000
PL 110-161 (FY 2008):
AK: Elmendorf AFB -17,681,000 -12,741,000
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Arizona-Luke AFB: Repair Runway Pavement.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,755,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Texas-Lackland AFB: Security Forces Building, Phase 1.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $900,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Texas-Laughlin AFB: Student Officer Quarters, Phase 2.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,440,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Texas-Randolph AFB: Fire and Rescue Station.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $972,000 be made available for the design of this project.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE
(INCLUDING TRANSFER AND RESCISSION OF FUNDS)
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescissions) $1,599,404,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 1,783,998,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including rescission) 1,610,861,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 11,457,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request (173,137,000)
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The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,614,450,000 and a rescission of $3,589,000 for Military Construction, Defense-Wide, an increase of $11,457,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and a decrease of $173,137,000 below the budget request.
The Committee recommends the following rescission due to the cancellation of a previously appropriated project:
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Public law/location Project title ConferenceAgreement
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PL 108-324 (FY 2005):
VA: Oceana NAS Bulk Fuel Storage Tank -3,589,000
Total -3,589,000
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Medical Treatment Facilities Construction.--The Committee is greatly concerned with the large backlog of needed recapitalization for medical treatment facilities for military servicemembers and their families. The current Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) for Tricare Management Activity military construction averages $412,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2009 through 2013, and much of this amount is accounted for by medical research facilities. With the services identifying recapitalization requirements ranging in the several billions of dollars, the current FYDP for medical construction is obviously and severely insufficient. The Department's inventory of medical treatment facilities is riddled with aging hospitals, clinics, and other facilities that do not meet current standards for medical care. Adding to this problem is the fact that several installations are adding thousands of personnel and dependents due to base realignment and closure, the relocation of units from Europe and Korea to the United States, and the Growing the Force initiative that will add 92,000 active duty personnel to the Army and Marine Corps. The Committee therefore directs the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive master plan for medical treatment facilities construction, to include both recapitalization and new requirements. This plan shall include a comprehensive priority list of projects for all services, provide a cost estimate for each project, supply data on the current state of facilities and the projected change in demand for services due to growth for each location on the list, indicate the extent to which identified construction requirements are programmed in the FYDP, and indicate the resources required for associated planning and design work. This report shall be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than December 31, 2008.
Department of Defense Education Activity.--The Committee is concerned that the current rate of funding for Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) construction is not sufficient to maintain the quality of schools deserved by the children of servicemembers. The Committee therefore directs DODEA to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the status of its military construction program no later than December 31, 2008. The report shall include, at minimum: (1) a comprehensive list of all current DODEA schools and a quality assessment of each school's facilities, indicating where facilities are nonexistent, undersized, or otherwise inadequate to carry out authorized activities; (2) a comprehensive list of all construction projects required to bring facilities up to current standards as indicated by the DODEA Education Facilities Specifications and eliminate temporary facilities, as well as the estimated cost of each project; (3) the impact of base realignment and closure and global restationing actions on the student populations of affected schools; and (4) an estimate of the total annual sustainment, restoration and modernization funds required to maintain the facilities of each DODEA district at current codes and the Department-prescribed recapitalization rate.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescissions) $536,656,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 539,296,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 628,668,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 92,012,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 89,372,000
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The Committee recommends an appropriation of $628,668,000 for Military Construction, Army National Guard, an increase of $92,012,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $89,372,000 above the budget request.
Maryland-Dundalk: Readiness Center Add/Alt.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $579,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Minnesota-Arden Hills ATS: Infrastructure Improvements.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,005,000 be made available for the design of this project.
North Carolina-Camp Butner: Training Complex.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,376,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Pennsylvania-Honesdale: Readiness Center Add/Alt.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $504,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh: Combined Support Maintenance Shop.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $3,250,000 be made available for the design of this project.
South Carolina-Sumter: Readiness Center.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $382,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Vermont-Ethan Allen Range: Readiness Center.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $323,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Virginia-Fort Belvoir: Readiness Center and NGB Conference Center.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,085,000 be made available for the design of this project.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $287,537,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 34,374,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 142,809,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (144,728,000)
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 108,435,000
---------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $142,809,000 for Military Construction, Air National Guard, a decrease of $144,728,000 below the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $108,435,000 above the budget request.
Illinois-Greater Peoria RAP: C-130 Squadron Operations Center.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $400,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Massachusetts-Otis ANGB: TFI Digital Ground Station FOC Beddown.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,700,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Rhode Island-Quonset State AP: Replace Control Tower.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $600,000 be made available for the design of this project.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $148,133,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 281,687,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 282,607,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 134,474,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 920,000
--------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $282,607,000 for Military Construction, Army Reserve, an increase of $134,474,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $920,000 above the budget request.
Texas-Bryan: Reserve Center.--Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $920,000 be made available for the design of this project.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY RESERVE
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $64,430,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 57,045,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 57,045,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (7,385,000)
Fiscal year 2009 budget request -
-------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $57,045,000 for Military Construction, Navy Reserve, a decrease of $7,385,000 below the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescission) $25,290,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 19,265,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 30,018,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 4,728,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 10,753,000
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,018,000 for Military Construction, Air Force Reserve, an increase of $4,728,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $10,753,000 above the budget request.
Massachusetts-Westover ARB: Joint Service Lodging Facility. Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less than $943,000 be made available for the design of this project.
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $201,400,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 240,867,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 218,867,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 17,467,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request (22,000,000)
--------------------------------------------------
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program (NSIP) consists of annual contributions by NATO member countries. The program finances the costs of construction needed to support the roles of the major NATO commands. The investments cover facilities such as airfields, fuel pipelines and storage, harbors, communications and information systems, radar and navigational aids, and military headquarters.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $218,867,000 for NSIP, an increase of $17,467,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and a decrease of $22,000,000 below the budget request.
The decrease from the budget request is due to the Committee's recommendation to appropriate the funds for the Department of Defense contribution to the new NATO headquarters facility under Military Construction, Defense-Wide, rather than under NSIP.
Occasionally, the U.S. has been forced to delay temporarily the authorization of projects due to shortfalls in U.S. obligation authority. The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to notify the Committee 30 days prior to taking such action.
FAMILY HOUSING OVERVIEW
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescissions) $2,866,724,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 3,203,455,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 3,166,455,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 299,731,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request (37,000,000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Family housing construction accounts provide funds for new construction, construction improvements, the Federal government costs for family housing privatization projects, and planning and design. The operation and maintenance accounts provide funds to pay for maintenance and repair, furnishings, management, services, utilities, leasing, interest, mortgage insurance, and miscellaneous expenses.
The Committee recommends a total appropriation of $3,166,455,000 for the family housing construction and operation and maintenance accounts, an increase of $299,731,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and a decrease of $37,000,000 below the budget request.
Report on Government-Owned Family Housing.--The Committee understands that the Department of Defense defines an inadequate family housing unit as any unit requiring whole-house repair, improvement, or replacement exceeding a per unit cost of $50,000 adjusted by the area cost factor. The Committee further understands that the Services utilize condition assessments, based on private sector housing industry construction codes and sizing standards, as the basis for determining whether a unit meets the threshold of inadequacy. The Committee is concerned that this minimal definition of inadequacy will result in a remnant of Government-owned housing that does not keep pace with the rising expectations of servicemembers and their families due to the success of privatization. The Committee therefore directs the Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the application of the DoD definition of inadequate housing no later than December 31, 2008. This report shall include at minimum: (1) a detailed description of the condition assessment method utilized, including the specific basis of sizing standards; (2) a breakdown of the total units currently assessed as `adequate' into quintiles according to the per unit cost of whole-house repair, improvement, or replacement; and (3) a breakdown of all government-owned units, both adequate and inadequate, by installation (along with an indication, where applicable, of those units for which a privatization, replacement, or improvement project is currently programmed in the Future Years Defense Program).
Growing the Force and Family Housing Requirements.--The Growing the Force initiatives to add 92,000 active duty personnel to the Army and Marine Corps will generate significant new requirements for family housing. At the direction of the Committee, both the Army and Marine Corps submitted a stationing plan indicating the units and numbers of personnel to be added to each installation. The Committee directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Navy to submit a plan for addressing the additional family housing requirements due to Growing the Force. This plan shall specify, by each affected installation, the projected additional family members, the projected requirement for privatized or government-owned military family housing, the current housing deficit (if any) at the installation, the projects programmed into the current Future Years Defense Plan to address the requirement, and a target date for meeting the requirement. This plan shall be submitted no later than December 31, 2008.
Family Housing Privatization Progress Reports.--The Committee directs the Department of Defense to continue submitting semi-annual progress reports on the family housing privatization program, including a breakout of military tenant satisfaction rates by project.
Foreign Currency Savings and Sub-Account Transfers.--The Committee directs that savings from foreign currency re-estimates be used to maintain existing family housing units. The Comptroller is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on how these savings are allocated by December 1, 2008. In addition, the Committee directs the Services and Defense agencies to notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 30 days of a transfer of funds between subaccounts within the family housing construction and family housing operation and maintenance accounts, if such transfer is in excess of 10 percent of the funds appropriated to the sub-account to which the funds are being transferred. Notifications to the Committees shall indicate the sub-accounts and amounts that are being used to source the transfer.
Leasing Reporting Requirements.--The Secretary of Defense is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress quarterly on the details of all new or renewed domestic leases entered into during the previous quarter that exceed the cost threshold set by 10 U.S.C. 2828(b)(2), including certification that less expensive housing was not available for lease. For foreign leases, the Department is directed to: (1) perform an economic analysis on all new leases or lease/contract agreements where more than 25 units are involved; (2) report the details of new or renewed lease agreements that exceed the cost threshold set by 10 U.S.C. 2828(e)(1) 21 days prior to entering into such an agreement; and (3) base leasing decisions on the economic analysis.
Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with the Executive Branch. The Administration, in selecting projects, goes through a process that is the functional equivalent of earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or modify this list to reflect additional priorities. The Committee is concerned that Executive Order 13457 effectively gives the Administration line-item veto authority over military construction projects funded in the bill, which would negatively impact the long history of cooperation the Committee has had with the Department of Defense regarding such projects. Therefore, the Committee has included bill language incorporating the housing construction projects specified in the table entitled `Military Construction' that appear on pages 93 through 110 into the text of the bill by reference.
FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescission) $419,841,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 678,580,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 646,580,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 226,739,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request (32,000,000)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $646,580,000 for Family Housing Construction, Army, an increase of $226,739,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and a decrease of $32,000,000 below the budget request. The appropriation includes $226,000,000 to construct new family housing units, $420,001,000 to improve or privatize existing units, and $579,000 for planning and design.
FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $731,920,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 716,110,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 716,110,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (15,810,000)
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
--------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $716,110,000 for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army, a decrease of $15,810,000 below the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $293,129,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 382,778,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 382,778,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 89,649,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
--------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $382,778,000 for Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps, an increase of $89,649,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request. The appropriation includes $62,598,000 to construct new family housing units, $318,011,000 to improve or privatize existing units, and $2,169,000 for planning and design.
FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $371,404,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 376,062,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 376,062,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 4,658,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
--------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $376,062,000 for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps, an increase of $4,658,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (including rescission) $312,747,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 395,879,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 395,879,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 83,132,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $395,879,000 for Family Housing Construction, Air Force, an increase of $83,132,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request. The appropriation includes $71,828,000 to construct new family housing units, $316,343,000 to improve or privatize existing units, and $7,708,000 for planning and design.
Air Force Family Housing Privatization- The Committee is concerned with the status of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative projects at Moody AFB, Patrick AFB, Hanscom AFB, and Little Rock AFB. The Committee recommends that the Air Force establish a single point of contact for each project to assist and provide information to all concerned parties until the sale of these projects is concluded and the initial development phase is completed at each site. The Committee urges the Air Force to resolve the status of these projects expeditiously, and to address, to the maximum extent possible, the concerns of those parties (such as subcontractors) not directly involved in negotiations on the sale of these projects. The Committee directs the Air Force to report to the Committee on the status of these four projects no later than August 1, 2008.
FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $688,335,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 599,465,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 594,465,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (93,870,000)
Fiscal year 2009 budget request (5,000,000)
--------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $594,465,000 for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force, a decrease of $93,870,000 below the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and a decrease of $5,000,000 below the budget request.
FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $48,848,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 49,231,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 49,231,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 383,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
-------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $49,231,000 for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide, an increase of $383,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $500,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 850,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 850,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 350,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
----------------------------------------------
The Family Housing Improvement Fund (FHIF) is authorized by section 2883, title 10, United States Code, and provides the Department of Defense with authority to finance joint ventures with the private sector to revitalize and to manage the Department's housing inventory. The statute authorizes the Department to use limited partnerships, make direct and guaranteed loans, and convey Department-owned property to stimulate the private sector to increase the availability of affordable, quality housing for military personnel.
The FHIF is used to build or renovate family housing by mixing or matching various legal authorities, and by utilizing private capital and expertise to the maximum extent possible. The fund is administered as a single account without fiscal year limitations and contains appropriated and transferred funds from family housing construction accounts.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $850,000 for the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund, an increase of $350,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE FUND
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level - - -
Fiscal year 2009 budget request $4,500,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 4,500,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 4,500,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
------------------------------------------------
The Homeowners Assistance Fund account finances the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) which provides assistance to individual military and Federal civilian homeowners who sustain losses on the sales of their primary residences due to declining real estate markets attributable to the closure or realignment of military installations. This non-expiring revolving fund receives funding from several sources, including appropriations, borrowing authority, reimbursable authority, prior fiscal year unobligated balances, appropriation transfers, revenue from sale of acquired properties, and recovery of prior year obligations.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,500,000 for the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Fund, an increase of $4,500,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $104,176,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 134,278,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 134,278,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 30,102,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
--------------------------------------------------
The Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide account provides funds for the design and construction of full-scale chemical disposal facilities and associated projects to upgrade installation support facilities and infrastructures required to support the Chemical Demilitarization program.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $134,278,000 for Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide, an increase of $30,102,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Projects- Congress has made significant reforms in the way it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with the Executive Branch. The Administration, in selecting projects, goes through a process that is the functional equivalent of earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or modify this list to reflect additional priorities. The Committee is concerned that Executive Order 13457 effectively gives the Administration line-item veto authority over construction projects funded in the bill, which would negatively impact the long history of cooperation the Committee has had with the Department of Defense regarding such projects. Therefore, the Committee has included bill language incorporating the construction projects specified in the table below into the text of the bill by reference.
CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CONSTRUCTION
Chemical Demilitarization Construction
[In thousands of dollars]
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Location FY 2009 administration request
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Colorado: Pueblo Chem-Agent Disposal Pilot Plant 65,060
Kentucky: Blue Grass Chem-Agent Disposal Pilot Plant 57,218
Kentucky: Blue Grass Army Depot Defense Access Road 12,000
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BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACCOUNT 1990
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $295,689,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 393,377,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 473,377,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 177,688,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 80,000,000
--------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $473,377,000 for the Base Realignment and Closure Account 1990, an increase of $177,688,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $80,000,000 above the budget request. Of the amount provided above the budget request, the Committee directs that $60,000,000 shall be made available to the Navy, and $20,000,000 shall be made available to the Army. The Committee is aware that there is a backlog of remaining requirements, particularly for cleanup of unexploded ordnance, for closed installations dating back to the 1988 BRAC round. The Committee is concerned by the slow pace of progress in remediating these properties and directs the Department of Defense to make funding for previous BRAC rounds a higher priority.
BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACCOUNT 2005
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $7,235,591,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 9,065,386,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 9,065,386,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1,829,795,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
----------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,065,386,000 for the Base Realignment and Closure Account 2005, an increase of $1,829,795,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request. This funding supports the most recent base realignment and closure round which affects over 800 locations across the nation through 24 major closures, 24 major realignments, and 765 other actions.
Traffic Impacts at BRAC-Affected Installations.--The Committee is concerned about the potential for increased traffic congestion at the new military medical facility to be constructed in Bethesda, Maryland through the Base Realignment and Closure process. The Committee supports the responsible commander's decision to request certification for two projects under the Defense Access Roads (DAR) program, and urges the Department to expeditiously review this request. The Committee also directs the Department of Defense to proactively identify all other necessary transportation improvements at BRAC-affected installations that may be eligible for DAR certification. When environmental impact statements identify specific projects that are needed, the Committee directs the Department to ensure that a needs report is generated and reviewed as expeditiously as possible. The Committee further directs the Department to aggressively plan and budget for DAR-certified projects arising from BRAC actions.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
The bill includes 27 provisions that were included in the fiscal year 2008 enacted appropriations bill. The bill does not include one new provision proposed by the Administration that would provide for new starts under a continuing resolution. The administrative provisions included in the bill are as follows:
Section 101 prohibits the use of funds for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for construction where cost estimates exceed $25,000. An exception for Alaska is provided.
Section 102 permits the use of construction funds for the hire of passenger motor vehicles.
Section 103 permits funds to be expended on the construction of defense access roads under certain circumstances.
Section 104 prohibits construction of new bases in the United States without a specific appropriation.
Section 105 limits the use of funds for the purchase of land or land easements that exceed 100 percent of value except under certain conditions.
Section 106 prohibits the use of funds to acquire land, prepare sites, or install utilities for family housing except housing for which funds have been appropriated.
Section 107 limits the use of minor construction funds to be transferred or relocated from one installation to another.
Section 108 prohibits the procurement of steel unless American producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been allowed to compete.
Section 109 prohibits the use of funds to pay real property taxes in foreign nations.
Section 110 prohibits the use of funds to initiate a new installation overseas without prior notification.
Section 111 establishes a preference for American architectural and engineering services where the services are in Japan, NATO member countries, and countries bordering the Arabian Gulf. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 112 establishes a preference for American contractors for military construction in the United States territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, except bids by Marshallese contractors for military construction on Kwajalein Atoll.
Section 113 requires the Secretary of Defense to give prior notice to Congress of military exercises where construction costs, either temporary or permanent, exceed $100,000. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 114 limits obligations to no more than 20 percent during the last two months of the fiscal year. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 115 allows funds appropriated in prior years to be used for new projects authorized during the current session of Congress.
Section 116 allows the use of expired or lapsed funds to pay the cost of supervision for any project being completed with lapsed funds.
Section 117 provides that funds for military construction projects are available until the end of the fourth fiscal year following the fiscal year in which funds are appropriated, subject to certain conditions.
Section 118 requires the Secretary of Defense to report annually on actions taken during the current fiscal year to encourage other member nations of NATO, Japan, Korea, and United States allies bordering the Arabian Gulf to assume a greater share of defense costs. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 119 allows for the transfer of proceeds from `Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part I' to the continuing Base Realignment and Closure accounts.
Section 120 allows for the transfer of funds from Family Housing, Construction accounts to the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund and funds from Military Construction accounts to the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. The Administration proposed to modify this provision.
Section 121 requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congressional Committees sixty days prior to issuing a solicitation for a contract with the private sector for military family housing. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 122 provides transfer authority to the Homeowners Assistance Program.
Section 123 requires that funds in this title be the sole source of all operation and maintenance for flag and general officer quarter houses, and limits the repair on these quarters to $35,000 per year without notification. The Administration proposed to modify this provision.
Section 124 makes funds in the Ford Island Improvement Fund available until expended.
Section 125 prohibits the use of funds for military construction, family housing, or land acquisition projects at installations closed or realigned under BRAC, except under certain conditions. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 126 allows the transfer of expired funds to the `Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense' account. This provision was included in the fiscal year 2007 House passed appropriations bill and is proposed by the Administration in fiscal year 2008.
Section 127 prohibits the use of funds for any action related to the expansion of Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
TITLE II
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1 $87,595,142,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 1 90,761,057,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 1 93,685,057,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 6,089,915,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 2,924,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the largest Federal agencies in terms of employment with an average employment of approximately 253,000. The nation has more than 23,500,000 veterans, and 35,900,000 family members of living veterans and survivors of deceased veterans. Thus, close to 59,400,000 people, comprising about 19.6 percent of the total population of the United States, are potential recipients of veterans benefits provided by the Federal government.
The Committee recommends a total of $93,685,057,000 in new budget authority for programs in fiscal year 2009, an increase of $6,089,915,000 or seven percent above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $2,924,000,000 above the budget request.
The funds recommended provide compensation payments to 3,356,343 veterans and survivors of deceased veterans with service-connected disabilities; pension payments to 517,736 non-service-connected disabled veterans, widows and children in need of financial assistance; education training, tuition assistance, and vocational assistance to 567,854 veterans, servicemembers, and reservists, and 82,728 eligible dependents of deceased veterans or seriously disabled veterans; housing credit assistance in the form of 180,000 guaranteed loans to veterans and servicemembers; administration or supervision of life insurance programs with 7,087,725 policies for veterans and active duty servicemembers providing coverage of $1,084,862,000,000; inpatient care and treatment of beneficiaries in 153 hospitals, 50 domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment programs (formerly called `domiciliaries'), 135 nursing homes, and 1,089 outpatient clinics, which includes independent, satellite, community-based, and rural outreach clinics involving 70,457,000 visits; and administration of the National Cemetery Administration for burial of eligible veterans, servicemembers and their survivors.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $41,236,322,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 43,111,681,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 43,111,681,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1,875,359,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request
-----------------------------------------------------
This appropriation provides funds for service-connected compensation payments to an estimated 3,356,343 beneficiaries and pension payments to another 517,736 beneficiaries with non-service-connected disabilities. The average cost per compensation case in 2009 is estimated at $11,817, and pension payments are projected at a unit cost of $7,737.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $43,111,681,000 for compensation, pension, and burial benefits, an increase of $1,875,359,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
The appropriation includes authority to transfer funding not to exceed $26,798,000, of which $9,853,000 is for the General Operating Expenses account and $13,792,000 is for the Medical Support and Compliance and Information Technology Systems accounts. These funds are for the administrative expenses of implementing cost saving provisions required by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Public Law 101-508, the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1992, Public Law 102-568, and the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1994, Public Law 103-446. These cost saving provisions include verifying pension income against Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) data; establishing a match with the SSA to obtain verification of Social Security numbers; and the VA pension cap for Medicaid-eligible single veterans and surviving spouses alone in Medicaid-covered nursing homes. The bill also includes language permitting this appropriation to reimburse such sums as may be earned to the medical care collections fund to help defray the operating expenses of individual medical facilities for nursing home care provided to pensioners.
The Committee concurs with the Administration proposal to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), based on the change in the Consumer Price Index, to all compensation beneficiaries, including dependency and indemnity compensation for spouses and children. This adjustment is currently estimated at 2.5 percent and is the same as the COLA that will be provided, under current law, to veterans' pension and Social Security recipients. The increase, effective December 1, 2008, has an estimated cost of $687,235,000 during fiscal year 2009 and is reflected in the Compensation and Pensions appropriation level.
Burial Benefits.--The Committee is concerned about the eroding value of the plot allowance and burial benefits provided to our nation's veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Because the benefits are not indexed to inflation, their value continues to diminish each year. As a result, families and state veterans' cemeteries have been left to cover the increasing costs. The Committee urges the Department to assess the viability of increasing the plot allowance and burial benefits to cover the same percentage of veterans' burial costs that they covered in 1973, when they were initiated.
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $3,300,289,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 3,086,944,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 3,086,944,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (213,345,000)
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
----------------------------------------------------
This appropriation finances the education and training of veterans and servicemembers whose initial entry on active duty took place on or after July 1, 1985. These benefits are included in the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program. Eligibility to receive this assistance began in 1987. Basic benefits are funded through appropriations made to the Readjustment Benefits appropriation and transfers from the Department of Defense. Supplemental benefits are also provided to certain veterans through education assistance to certain members of the Selected Reserve and are funded through transfers from the Department of Defense. In addition, certain disabled veterans are provided with vocational rehabilitation, specially adapted housing grants, and automobile grants with approved adaptive equipment.
This account also finances educational assistance allowances for eligible dependents of those veterans who died from service-connected causes or have a total and permanent service-connected disability as well as dependents of servicemembers who were captured or missing-in-action.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,086,944,000 for Readjustment Benefits, a decrease of $213,345,000 below the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $41,250,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 42,300,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 42,300,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1,050,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
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The Veterans Insurance and Indemnities appropriation is made up of the former appropriations for military and naval insurance, applicable to World War I veterans; national service life insurance (NSLI), applicable to certain World War II veterans; servicemen's indemnities, applicable to Korean conflict veterans; and the veterans mortgage life insurance, applicable to individuals who have received a grant for specially adapted housing.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $42,300,000 for Veterans Insurance and Indemnities, an increase of $1,050,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and the same as the budget request. The amount provided will enable the Department to transfer funding to the service-disabled veterans insurance fund and transfer additional amounts for payments for the 2,250 policies under the veterans mortgage life insurance program. These policies are identified under the Veterans Insurance and Indemnity appropriation since they provide insurance to service-disabled veterans unable to qualify under basic NSLI.
VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
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Program account Limitation on direct loans for specially adapted housing loans Administrative expenses
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $17,389,000 $500,000 $154,562,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 2,000,000 500,000 157,210,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 2,000,000 500,000 157,210,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (15,389,000) 2,648,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request
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The purpose of the home loan guaranty program is to facilitate the extension of mortgage credit on favorable terms by private lenders to eligible veterans. This appropriation provides for all costs, with the exception of the Native American veterans housing loan program, of the Department's direct and guaranteed loans programs. The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 requires budgetary resources to be available prior to incurring a direct loan obligation or a loan guaranty commitment. In addition, the bill requires all administrative expenses of a direct or guaranteed loan program to be funded through a program account. Loan guaranties are made to servicemembers, veterans, reservists, and single surviving spouses for the purchase of homes, condominiums, and manufactured homes and for refinancing loans. The Department guarantees part of the total loan, permitting the purchaser to obtain a mortgage with a competitive interest rate, even without a down payment if the lender agrees. The Department requires that a down payment be made for a manufactured home. With a Department guaranty, the lender is protected against loss, up to the amount of the guaranty, if the borrower fails to repay the loan.
The Committee recommends such sums as may be necessary (currently estimated to total $2,000,000) for funding subsidy payments, $500,000 for the limitation on direct loans for specially adapted housing loans, and $157,210,000 for administrative expenses.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
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Program account Limitation on direct loans Administrative expenses
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $71,000 $3,287,000 $311,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 61,000 3,180,000 320,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 61,000 3,180,000 320,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (10,000) (107,000) 9,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request
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This appropriation covers the funding subsidy cost of direct loans for vocational rehabilitation of eligible veterans and, in addition, it includes administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct loan program. Loans of up to $1,041 (based on indexed chapter 31 subsistence allowance rate) are available to service-connected disabled veterans enrolled in vocational rehabilitation programs when the veteran is temporarily in need of additional assistance. Repayment is made in monthly installments, without interest, through deductions from future payments of compensation, pension, subsistence allowance, educational assistance allowance, or retirement pay. Most loans are repaid in full in less than one year. The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 requires budgetary resources to be available prior to incurring a direct loan obligation.
The Committee recommends $61,000 for funding subsidy program costs and $320,000 for administrative expenses. The administrative expenses may be transferred to and merged with the General Operating Expenses account.
In addition, the Committee includes language limiting direct loans to $3,180,000. It is estimated that the Department will make 4,021 loans in fiscal year 2009, with an average amount of $791.
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
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------------------------------------------------
Administrative expenses:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $628,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget recommendation 646,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 646,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 18,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
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The Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, as authorized by title 38 United States Code, chapter 37, subchapter V, provides the Secretary with authority to make direct housing loans to Native American veterans for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, or improving dwellings on trust lands. The Committee recommends the budget request of $646,000 for administrative expenses of the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, which may be transferred to and merged with the General Operating Expenses account.
GUARANTEED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOANS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
Public Law 105-368, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 1998, established this program. All funds authorized for this program were appropriated in fiscal year 2000. Therefore, no appropriation request has been included for fiscal year 2009. Bill language is included allowing the use of up to a total of $750,000 in Medical Support and Compliance and General Operating Expenses funds to administer this program.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
The Department operates the largest Federal medical care delivery system in the country, with 153 hospitals, 50 domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment programs (formerly called `domiciliaries'), 135 nursing homes, and 1,089 outpatient clinics which include independent, satellite, community-based, and rural outreach clinics.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is comprised of four accounts: Medical Services, Medical Support and Compliance, Medical Facilities, and Medical and Prosthetic Research. For these accounts, the Administration has requested total resources of $39,178,503,000 in direct appropriations and $2,544,000,000 in Medical Care Collections Fund appropriations, to fund the various operating programs of the VHA.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $40,783,270,000 for these accounts. This is an increase of $3,582,050,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $1,604,767,000 above the budget request. The Committee recommendation uses the rate of health care spending growth reported by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services which is higher than the inflation rate used by the Department to build the request. The recommendation also provides additional funding to address specific healthcare issues.
Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund.--Recent reports continue to highlight the importance of cooperation between the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs in order to ensure a seamless transition for our veterans, to identify the best treatment plans, and to ensure care is available to veterans in all areas of the nation. The Committee is pleased by the progress the Departments have made this year towards greater cooperation to include: providing liaisons to key organizations such as the National Intrepid Center of Excellence for Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; providing Federal Recovery Coordinators at several Military Treatment Facilities; continuing work on the establishment of International Classification of Diseases--9th Revision (ICD-9) codes for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI); and continuing efforts on shared electronic medical information. Despite these efforts, much still needs to be done. The bill includes language to allow the Department to transfer a minimum of $15,000,000 to the DoD/VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund. The Committee directs that these funds are to be used for joint programs between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs that seek to improve the continuity of care for veterans and expects the Departments to continue their efforts in the development of programs to track trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and TBI patients and their treatment/progress over time and through both medical systems; the development of comprehensive and universal clinical practice guidelines based on evidence-based medicine and clinical efficacy for blast injuries, traumatic brain injuries and PTSD; access to services through joint clinics; and projects that promote a seamless transition to include programs that improve the electronic exchange of information. The Committee also expects the Departments to increase their efforts in the area of suicide prevention.
Traumatic Brain Injury.--The Committee notes that Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was included as a Select Program in the budget submission. The Department of Veterans Affairs is directed to continue to include TBI as a Select Program in all future budget submissions. All reports indicate that Traumatic Brain Injury is among the signature injuries of the Global War on Terror. The Committee recognizes that the Department is working diligently to address the challenges associated with this injury through early detection and treatment and urges the Department to continue its work and take every opportunity to partner with the Department of Defense. The Committee encourages the Department to consider neurocognitive screening as a detection option. Additionally, the Committee directs the Department to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by February 27, 2009 on the steps that are being taken to ensure that this patient population continues to be followed after initial treatment and that the VHA is fully prepared to address their future medical needs. The Committee urges the Department to continue its efforts to refine current International Classification of Diseases--9th Revision (ICD-9) codes to better reflect the TBI patient population within the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs is directed to include an update of progress on the revision of the ICD-9 codes for TBI within the quarterly status reports provided to Congress during fiscal year 2009.
Innovations.--The Committee believes that investing in innovation is a key factor in ensuring a responsive, efficient, quality healthcare system and commends the Department for providing funds from the National Reserve Fund to finance innovation. The Committee feels that more can be done, however, to test and adopt innovations from the private sector and encourages the Department to increase funding for this program so that additional public/private pilot projects may be implemented in fiscal year 2009. The Committee directs the Department to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress annually on the funding provided for innovation from the National Reserve Fund for the previous fiscal year by April 1st of each year.
Priority 8 Enrollment.--The Committee believes that the Department should do everything possible to increase access to medical care for all our veterans, but not in a manner that will negatively impact the medical care of currently enrolled patients. The Secretary is directed to increase Priority 8 enrollment by 10 percent, (an enrollment level increase the Committee believes appropriate for VHA capacity and current patient projections) in fiscal year 2009 and provide this enrollment to Priority 8 veterans with the lowest income level. The Committee estimates that it will require an additional $568,000,000 in order to implement this direction and has provided increases within the medical accounts accordingly. The Secretary is further directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 90 days of enactment of this Act on the Department's progress.
Federal Recovery Coordinators.--The Report on the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, July 2007, emphasized the importance of the Federal Recovery Coordinator's role in the `system of care that enables injured service members to maximize their recovery and their opportunity to return to the mainstream of American life'. The budget submission indicates that the Office of Care Management and Social Work Service was created and that eight Federal Recovery Coordinators were hired in order to implement this recommendation. The Committee is concerned that current staffing levels for this program may be insufficient to address the needs of both current wounded and the additional wounded that will enter this system. The Committee directs the Secretary to report by January 30, 2009, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the progress of this program and the actions that will be taken to ensure that there are sufficient Federal Recovery Coordinators. Additionally, the report will provide a review of the resources that both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense have provided to the Recovery Plan efforts.
Diabetes.--More than 70 percent of veterans who seek medical care through the VHA are overweight and 20 percent of the patient population has diabetes; which is a rate that is almost three times higher than the general population. The Committee is encouraged by the efforts that the Department has taken to address the challenges of obesity and diabetes to include: the Managing Overweight/Obesity for Veterans Everywhere (MOVE) Program; and the expansion of the formulary to include innovative drug therapies. The Committee urges the Department to continue to increase its emphasis on this issue through even greater partnership with local communities and other federal agencies on programs for obesity and diabetes prevention; additional research; and adherence to nationally recognized clinical guidelines for treatment and care.
Access to Care in the Chattanooga, Tennessee Market.--The Committee notes that the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) report recognized that access to inpatient and surgical services in the Chattanooga, Tennessee market needed improvement. The CARES solution was to recommend that the Department use existing authorities and policies to contract for inpatient and surgical care to improve access in this market. The Committee believes that access has not improved and directs the Secretary to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by January 30, 2009 on what actions the Department plans to take to improve access in this area.
MEDICAL SERVICES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1 $28,105,220,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 2 29,819,503,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 30,854,270,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 2,749,050,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 1,034,767,000
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This appropriation provides for medical services of eligible veterans and beneficiaries in Department medical centers, outpatient clinic facilities, contract hospitals, State homes, and outpatient programs on a fee basis. Hospital and outpatient care is also provided by the private sector for certain dependents and survivors of veterans under the civilian health and medical programs for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,854,270,000 for Medical Services, an increase of $2,749,050,000 or 9.8 percent above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level when adjusted for transfers and an increase of $1,034,767,000 above the budget request. The Committee estimates that $400,000,000 will be needed to increase enrollment of Priority 8 veterans by 10 percent and has increased funding accordingly. Funding has also been increased an additional $100,000,000 to increase the beneficiary travel reimbursement mileage rate to 41.5 cents per mile from the current rate of 28.5 cents per mile; an additional $10,000,000 for new Vet Centers; an additional $200,000,000 to increase the availability of fee-based services; an additional $116,000,000 for new generation prosthetics; an additional $32,000,000 to allow for additional personnel for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program to address an anticipated increase in the number of section 8 vouchers approved and directs the Department to increase the number of case workers as necessary to accommodate the increase in vouchers; and an additional $8,000,000 to increase the homeless grant and per diem program to the authorized level of $130,000,000.
The Committee has included bill language to make available through September 30, 2010, up to $1,350,000,000 of the Medical Services appropriation.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.--While the Committee is encouraged by recent progress the Department has made to include: the policy to allow comorbid inpatient treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse disorder; the establishment of a suicide hotline in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services; the increase in mental health initiative funding; and the increase of 23 additional Vet Centers, the Committee believes that much more can be done by the Department to provide for our veterans who are struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse. The Committee was disappointed that the budget request for fiscal year 2009 did not highlight substance abuse as a Select Program and is concerned that this oversight may reflect a reduced interest in this program. The Committee expects that not less than $584,000,000 will be spent on the Substance Abuse Treatment Program in fiscal year 2009. The Committee has also included bill language to ensure that not less than $3,800,000,000 will be spent on specialty mental health care. The Committee expects the Department to utilize all available mental health resources to ensure access to mental health services for all veterans and to increase availability to fee-based services in areas where the Department is unable to offer care. The Department is further urged to continue work with the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services to develop comprehensive and universal clinical practice guidelines based on evidence-based medicine for PTSD, and to increase work in the areas of suicide prevention and military sexual trauma. The Department is encouraged to consider all treatment options to include the feasibility of utilizing virtual reality exposure therapy in conjunction with neuroprotective antioxidant micronutrients, group psychotherapy; and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
The Committee remains concerned that additional action is needed to ensure that the Department is prepared to care for this patient population and directs the Secretary to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by January 30, 2009 on actions taken to address the recommendations made by the Fourth National Summit on Women Veterans Issues, the actions taken to address the recommendations made by the `Blue Ribbon Work Group on Suicide Prevention in the Veteran Population', the actions taken to address the recommendations made by the expert panel in public health suicide programs, and the actions taken by the Department to ensure that the VHA is prepared both now and in the future to provide care for this population. Additionally, the Committee has included language directing the Office of Inspector General to conduct a review of the Department's progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Mental Health Strategic Plan.
Access to Medical Care in Remote Areas.--The Committee continues to be concerned by reports of poor access to care for veterans living in rural areas, areas where VHA services are not available, and areas where travel to VHA facilities is lengthy or difficult. While the Committee agrees that VHA facilities are the preferred option for health care services and that the electronic health record reduces waste while improving treatment, the Committee notes that receiving care should be the first priority. The Committee has therefore provided an additional $200,000,000 for fee-based services. The Committee directs the Under Secretary for Health to distribute this funding outside of the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation process to regions where additional fee-based services are most needed.
HIV/AIDS.--The Committee notes that the budget request has included $73,680,000 to update HIV testing policies, pending authorization. The Committee agrees with the funding and commends the Department for taking this action.
Prosthetics.--The Committee recommends an additional increase of $116,000,000 above the budget request for new generation prosthetics. The Secretary is directed to review policies with regard to prosthetics and report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by January 30, 2009 on the steps taken to ensure that the Department is providing veterans with appropriate prosthetic support given recent advances in technology.
Outpatient Services for the Blind.--The Committee was pleased to see an increase in funding for Blind Rehabilitation Services and expects the Department to continue current outpatient services for the blind at no less than fiscal year 2008 levels.
High Risk Populations.--The Committee believes that every effort should be made to increase research, develop early detection and prevention programs, and partner with the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services to develop comprehensive and universal clinical practice guidelines based on evidence-based medicine for diseases that are prevalent among the veteran population and/or the veteran population is at greater risk of contracting than other Americans. The Committee encourages the Department to consider increasing efforts for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; lung cancer screening technologies such as computed tomography scans and computer aided detection in conjunction with chest x-rays; photon-mediated pain treatment; ultrasonic bone stimulation on healing; and bladder cancer screening.
Increase in Mileage Reimbursement Rate for Veterans.--The Committee has included an additional $50,000,000 for a total increase of $100,000,000, to increase the mileage reimburseent rate for veterans by an additional 6.5 cents, to 41.5 cents per mile. This further increase is necessary due to the fact that average retail gasoline prices have increased an average of $1.75 per gallon since January 2007 to a national average of over $4 per gallon.
MEDICAL CARE COLLECTIONS FUND
The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund (MCCF) was established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33). The Department deposits first-party and pharmacy co-payments, third-party insurance payments and enhanced-use collections, long-term care co-payments, Compensated Work Therapy Program collections, Compensation and Pension Living Expenses Program collections, and Parking Program fees into the MCCF. The Congressional Budget Office estimate of fees that will be collected in fiscal year 2009 is $2,544,000,000.
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1 $4,062,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 2 4,256,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 4,400,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 338,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 144,000,000
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The Medical Support and Compliance appropriation funds the expenses of management and administration of the Department's health care system to include financial management, public health and environmental hazard, quality and performance management, medical inspection, human research oversight, training programs and continuing education, security, volunteer operations, and human resources.
The Committee recommends $4,400,000,000 for Medical Support and Compliance, an increase of $338,000,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $144,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee estimates that an additional $100,000,000 will be needed to increase enrollment of Priority 8 veterans by 10 percent and has increased funding accordingly.
The Committee has included bill language to make available through September 30, 2010, up to $250,000,000 of the Medical Support and Compliance appropriation.
Third-Party Collections- The Committee is concerned about a recent GAO report that reiterates findings that third party billing and collection processes at the Department continue to be ineffective and limit the revenue received from third party insurance companies. Significant dollars continue to go uncollected, dollars that could be used to further improve the quality and quantity of veterans health care. The Committee believes the Department could do more to increase third party collections and directs the Department to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by August 1, 2008 on the specific actions taken to improve third party collections, the results of the Revenue Improvement Demonstration pilot project directed in House Report 109-305, and the feasibility of establishing consolidated patient account centers.
Increasing Collaborations at Veterans Health Administration Facilities- The Committee is encouraged by the progress the Department has made in increasing its collaborations with minority health schools. The Committee has heard testimony, however, about the need for increased efforts and therefore, directs the Department to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by January 30, 2009 on the actions taken to improve collaboration with minority health professions schools.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1 $4,260,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 4,661,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 5,029,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 769,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 368,000,000
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The Medical Facilities appropriation provides funds for the operation and maintenance of the Department's health care system's capital infrastructure. Included under this heading are provisions for costs associated with utilities, engineering, capital planning, leases, laundry, groundskeeping, garbage, housekeeping, facility repair, and property disposition and acquisition.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $5,029,000,000 for Medical Facilities, an increase of $769,000,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $368,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee estimates than an increase of $68,000,000 is needed to accommodate an increased enrollment of Priority 8 veterans by 10 percent and has increased funding accordingly. This recommendation also includes an increase of $300,000,000 for non-recurring maintenance to be distributed in a manner not subject to the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation. The Committee directs that first priority for this funding be given to maintenance that addresses life/safety and suicide prevention deficiencies on mental health wards.
The Committee has included bill language to make available through September 30, 2010, up to $350,000,000 of the Medical Facilities appropriation.
Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.--The Department is directed to provide the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress with a status report outlining the actions which have been taken to activate community-based outpatient clinics at the following locations: Chattanooga, Tennessee; Charlottesville, Virginia; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Northwest Washington.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).--The Committee encourages the Department to consider the advantages of upright MRI scanning over traditional recumbent MRI scanning in the diagnosis of certain lumbar and cervical pathologies.
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $480,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 442,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 500,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 20,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 58,000,000
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This account includes medical, rehabilitative, and health services research. Medical research is an important aspect of the Department's programs, providing complete medical and hospital services for veterans. The prosthetic research program is also essential in the development and testing of prosthetic, orthopedic, and sensory aids for the purpose of improving the care and rehabilitation of eligible disabled veterans, including amputees, paraplegics, and the blind. The health services research program provides unique opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care delivery system. In addition, budgetary resources from a number of areas including appropriations from the medical care accounts, reimbursements from the Department of Defense, and grants from the National Institutes of Health, private proprietary sources, and voluntary organizations provide support for the Department's researchers.
The Committee recommends $500,000,000 for Medical and Prosthetic Research, an increase of $20,000,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $58,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee was disappointed to learn that the budget request had not only cut this account, but had also applied that cut to research in areas that are most relevant to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans; research areas such as acute trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse all suffered substantial cuts. The recommended increase restores these research areas to their fiscal year 2008 levels. The Committee directs that the additional increase of $20,000,000 be applied to research topics most prevalent within our veteran population.
Research Partnerships.--The Committee believes the Department is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in applying medical research to medical practice. The Department is encouraged to increase its partnering with the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services in the development of clinical practices using evidence-based medicine and clinical efficacy.
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION
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--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $195,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 180,959,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 240,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 45,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 59,041,000
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The National Cemetery Administration was established in accordance with Public Law 93-43, the National Cemeteries Act of 1973. It has a fourfold mission: to provide for the interment, in any national cemetery with available grave space, the remains of eligible deceased servicemembers and discharged veterans, together with their spouses and certain dependents, and to permanently maintain their graves; to provide headstones for, and to mark graves of eligible persons in national, State, and private cemeteries; to administer the grant program for aid to States in establishing, expanding, or improving State veterans' cemeteries; and to administer the Presidential Memorial Certificate Program. This appropriation will provide for the operation and maintenance of 164 cemeterial installations in 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $240,000,000 for the National Cemetery Administration, an increase of $45,000,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $59,041,000 above the budget request. The Committee recommendation includes at least $25,000,000 to be used to correct deficiencies identified in the 2002 Millennium Act report to the Congress.
DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $1,605,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 1,699,867,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 1,801,867,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 196,867,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 102,000,000
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The General Operating Expenses appropriation provides for the administration of non-medical veterans benefits through the Veterans Benefits Administration and departmental management and support. The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 changed the accounting of Federal credit programs and required that all administrative costs associated with such programs be included within the respective credit accounts. Beginning in fiscal year 1992, costs incurred by housing and vocational rehabilitation programs for administration of these credit programs are reimbursed by those accounts. The bill includes budget requests totaling $123,070,000 in other accounts for these credit programs. In addition, $9,853,000 is transferred from the Compensation and Pensions account for administrative costs of implementing cost saving provisions required by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1992. Section 208 of the administrative provisions provides requested language which permits excess revenues in three insurance funds to be used for administrative expenses. The Department estimates that $30,592,000 will be utilized for such purposes in fiscal year 2009. Prior to fiscal year 1996, such costs were included in the General Operating Expenses appropriation.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,801,867,000 for General Operating Expenses, an increase of $196,867,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $102,000,000 above the budget request. The amount provided includes $1,473,753,000 for Veterans Benefits Administration. The recommended increase of $102,000,000 includes $100,000,000 for approximately 1,400 new claims processors in addition to the budget request plan for 703 new personnel. Additionally, the recommendation includes $2,000,000 for Veterans Benefit Administration to enter into operating leases to address increased space requirements for the new personnel.
Energy Conservation.--The Committee directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the steps taken by the Department to achieve energy conservation measures. The report is to be submitted to the Committees no later than September 30, 2009.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 1 $2,260,465,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 2,442,066,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 2,492,066,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 231,601,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 50,000,000
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The Information Technology Systems account was established in P.L. 109-114. The account previously encompassed the entire non-pay information technology portfolio for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including all automation efforts in all administrations. Starting in fiscal year 2007, and reflected for the first time in the budget request for fiscal year 2008, this account also included pay and associated costs for information technology staff.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,492,066,000 for Information Technology Systems, an increase of $231,601,000 above the fiscal year 2008 current estimate, and $50,000,000 above the budget request.
The Committee has included bill language requiring the Department to submit an expenditure plan for the total amount provided, not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act. In addition, an administrative provision is included in the bill which allows for the reprogramming of funds in this account between projects upon prior notification to, and approval by, the Committee.
The Department proposed, and the Committee approved, a funding transfer during fiscal year 2008 which included establishing an emergency fund for use in meeting critical unplanned needs at the medical center level. The fund is to be used to address emergent needs, including urgent replacement of broken IT equipment or equipment needs for unanticipated staffing changes. The Committee recommendation includes $50,000,000 to continue this effort in fiscal year 2009 and expects the Department to budget for this program in the future.
Cyber Security.--The Committee remains concerned with the pace of the Department in implementing the Government Accountability Office and Inspector General recommendations to improve the Department's cyber security capability. The Committee urges the Department to test commercial off-the-shelf software that would help the Department implement the audit recommendations.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $80,500,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 76,500,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 87,818,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 7,318,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 11,318,000
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The Office of Inspector General was established by the Inspector General Act of 1978 and is responsible for the audit, investigation, and inspection of all Department of Veterans Affairs programs and operations. The overall operational objective is to focus available resources on areas which would help improve services to veterans and their beneficiaries, assist managers of Department programs to operate economically in accomplishing program goals, and to prevent and deter recurring and potential fraud, waste, and inefficiencies.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $87,818,000 for the Office of Inspector General, an increase of $7,318,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $11,318,000 above the budget request. The funding recommended will enable the Office of Inspector General to maintain the level of operation achieved in fiscal year 2008. In addition, the Committee recommendation includes $4,500,000 to hire additional personnel to undertake a systematic review of community-based outpatient clinics and Vet Centers.
The Committee directs the Office of Inspector General to conduct a review of the Department's progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Mental Health Strategic Plan and an audit of the mental health initiatives fund. The Committee is also concerned that Veterans Health Administration policy on the identification and treatment of PTSD has not been applied uniformly across the Administration and further directs the Office of Inspector General to include a review of the compliance to these policies in their report. This report will be provided to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by April 6, 2009.
The Committee further directs the Office of Inspector General to conduct a review of the research conducted by the Department and its relevance to the veteran population. The Office of Inspector General is directed to provide this report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by February 27, 2009.
CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS
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Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $1,069,100,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 581,582,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 923,382,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level -145,718,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 341,800,000
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The Construction, Major Projects appropriation provides for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including planning, architectural and engineering services, assessments, and site acquisition where the estimated cost of a project is $10,000,000 or more.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $923,382,000 for Construction, Major Projects, a decrease of $145,718,000 from the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $341,800,000 above the budget request.
Projects- Congress has made significant reforms in the way it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with the Executive Branch. The Administration, in selecting projects, goes through a process that is the functional equivalent of earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or modify this list to reflect additional priorities. The Committee is concerned that Executive Order 13457 effectively gives the Administration line-item veto authority over construction, major projects funded in the bill, which would negatively impact the long history of cooperation the Committee has had with the Department regarding such projects. Therefore, the Committee has included bill language incorporating the construction, major projects specified in the table that follows into the text of the bill by reference.
The specific amounts recommended by the Committee are as follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
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Location Description 2009 request Committee recommendation
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Veterans Health Administration (VHA):
Denver, CO New Medical Facility 20,000 20,000
Orlando, FL New Medical Facility 120,000 220,000
San Juan, PR Seismic Corrections 64,400 64,400
Lee County, FL Outpatient Clinic 111,412 111,412
St. Louis, MO Med Fac. Improvements 5,000 5,000
Bay Pines, FL Inpatient/Outpatient Improve. 17,430 17,430
Tampa, FL Polytrauma Expansion 21,120 0
Palo Alto, CA Polytrauma Rehab Center 38,290 0
Seattle, WA Seismic Corrections 0 43,000
Seattle, WA Mental Health Building 0 18,000
Dallas, TX Spinal Cord Injury Center 0 9,000
Louisville, KY Site Acquisition and Prep 0 45,000
Roseburg, OR Mental Health Building 0 7,210
Los Angeles, CA Seismic Corrections 0 155,000
Various Cost Adjustments 0 24,000
Advance Planning Fund 40,000 40,000
Asbestos/Contaminates 3,000 3,000
BRAC Land Acquisition 5,000 5,000
Claims Analyses 2,000 2,000
Facility Security Projects 11,930 11,930
Hazardous Waste Abatement 2,000 2,000
Judgment Fund 10,000 10,000
Sustainabiltiy and Energy 5,000 5,000
Sale of VA Assets -5,000 -5,000
Total VHA 471,582 813,382
National Cemetery Administration (NCA):
Puerto Rico National Cemetery Gravesite Expansion and Cemetery Improvements 33,900 33,900
Massachusetts Natl Cemetery Gravesite Expansion and Cemetery Improvements 20,500 20,500
Calverton National Cemetery Gravesite Expansion and Cemetery Improvements 29,000 29,000
Advance Planning Fund 6,000 6,000
NCA Land Acquisition Fund 5,000 5,000
Sustainability and Energy 10,600 10,600
Total NCA 105,000 105,000
General Administration Staff Offices Advance Planning Fund 5,000 5,000
Major construction total 581,582 923,382
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The budget requests for planning and design associated with two polytrauma projects at Tampa, Florida and Palo Alto, California have been deleted since those projects are proposed for funding in the pending fiscal year 2008 supplemental appropriations bill. The recommendation includes an additional $100,000,000 for the project at Orlando, Florida based upon briefings from the Department which indicate that additional portions of the project can be executed in fiscal year 2009. The Committee recommendation also includes funding for six additional projects based on their rank by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, the Committee recommendation includes funding to address cost increases for projects at Atlanta, Georgia and Long Beach, California.
The Committee directs the Department to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by March 31, 2009 on the feasibility of using funds from the NCA land acquisition fund to purchase lands adjacent to the Chattanooga National Cemetery to meet the expansion needs of the facility.
CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $630,535,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 329,418,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 991,492,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 360,957,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 662,074,000
--------------------------------------------------
The Construction, Minor Projects appropriation provides for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department, including planning, assessment of needs, architectural and engineering services, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is less than $10,000,000.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $991,492,000 for Construction, Minor Projects, an increase of $360,957,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $662,074,000 above the budget request.
The Committee has included bill language requiring the Department to submit an expenditure plan for the total amount provided, not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act.
The Committee recommendation includes $75,000,000 for the National Cemetery Administration, $41,300,000 for the Veterans Benefits Administration, $18,000,000 for General Administration--Staff offices, and $907,192,000 for Veterans Health Administration. The Committee anticipates that the funding provided for the Veterans Health Administration will enable the completion of all 145 projects identified in the budget request as being executable in fiscal year 2009.
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $165,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 85,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 165,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level --
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 80,000,000
--------------------------------------------------
This program provides grants to assist States to construct State home facilities, for furnishing domiciliary or nursing home care to veterans, and to expand, remodel or alter existing buildings for furnishing domiciliary, nursing home or hospital care to veterans in State homes. A grant may not exceed 65 percent of the total cost of the project.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $165,000,000 for Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, the same as the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $80,000,000 above the budget request. The amount recommended will provide sufficient funding to address all current high priority life/safety requirements as well as provide for new construction. The Department is directed to submit an updated priority list for all pending grant applications within 30 days of enactment of this Act.
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $39,500,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 32,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 45,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 5,500,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 13,000,000
-------------------------------------------------
This program provides grants to assist States with the establishment, expansion, and improvement of State veterans' cemeteries which are operated and permanently maintained by the States. Grants under this program fund up to 100 percent of construction costs and the initial equipment expenses when the cemetery is established. The States remain responsible for providing the land and for paying all costs related to the operation and maintenance of the State cemeteries, including the costs for subsequent equipment purchases.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $45,000,000 for Grants for Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries, an increase of $5,500,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $13,000,000 above the budget request.
The Committee notes that there is currently a priority list of eligible projects totaling almost $200,000,000. The Committee recommendation will enable the Department to fund projects where urgent expansion is required to keep existing cemeteries from closing, as well as offer the potential for establishing new cemeteries.
The Committee is encouraged by the first in the nation public-private partnership to establish a veteran cemetery at the former Fort Ord and encourages all the participants to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of this innovative proposal.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
The bill includes 25 provisions that were included in the fiscal year 2008 enacted appropriations bill. The administrative provisions included in the bill are as follows:
Section 201 allows for the transfer of funds among three mandatory appropriations. The Administration proposed to modify this provision.
Section 202 allows the Department to transfer funding between the three medical care appropriations in fiscal year 2009 to implement the three account structure which was directed by Congress in fiscal year 2004. The Administration proposed to modify this provision.
Section 203 allows for salaries and expenses funds to be used for hire of passenger vehicles, lease of facilities or land, and purchase of uniforms.
Section 204 provides that only funding in the `Construction, major projects' and `Construction, minor projects' accounts can be used for the purchase of any site for any new hospital or home or to construct any new hospital or home.
Section 205 requires the Department to be reimbursed for medical services it provides to any person not defined as a beneficiary to ensure the Department is receiving payment for all medical services provided.
Section 206 allows for the use of funds appropriated in fiscal year 2009 for `Compensation and pensions', `Readjustment benefits', and `Veterans insurance and indemnities' for payment of accrued obligations recorded in the last quarter of fiscal year 2008.
Section 207 allows for the use of fiscal year 2009 funds to pay prior year obligations resulting from implementation of sections 3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States Code.
Section 208 allows the Department to use surplus earnings from the National service life insurance, U.S. Government life insurance, and veterans special life insurance program to administer these programs.
Section 209 allows the Department to cover the administrative expenses of structuring enhanced-use leasing proposals and provides authority to obligate these reimbursements in the year funds are received.
Section 210 limits the amount of reimbursement the Office of Resolution Management and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication can charge other offices and accounts of the Department for services provided.
Section 211 requires the Secretary to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations to approve new leases of real property more than $300,000. The Administration proposed to modify this provision.
Section 212 requires the Department to collect current, accurate third-party reimbursement information for the purposes of third-party insurance collections. If persons receiving care or medical services do not disclose this information, the Department is allowed to bill them reasonable charges for services provided.
Section 213 allows the Department to use enhanced-use leasing funds for construction and alterations for medical facilities to facilitate the CARES efforts as the Department restructures the delivery of healthcare to veterans. The Administration proposed to modify this provision.
Section 214 allows the Department to use the `Medical services' appropriation for expenses related to the broader mission of medical care to veterans.
Section 215 allows the Department to transfer Medical Care Collections to the `Medical services' appropriation to be used for veterans medical care.
Section 216 allows veterans who reside in Alaska to obtain medical services from medical facilities supported by the Indian Health Services or tribal organizations, and provides for reimbursement for those services from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Section 217 allows the Department to transfer the proceeds received from the transfer of real property deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund (CAF) to the major and minor construction appropriations.
Section 218 prohibits the expenditure of any funds available to the Department for implementation of a national standardized contract for diabetes monitoring systems. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 219 provides that no funds may be used to prohibit Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) from conducting outreach or marketing programs. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 220 requires the Secretary to submit quarterly reports on the financial status and service level status of the Veterans Health Administration.
Section 221 requires the Department to notify and receive approval from the Committee of any proposed transfer of funding to or from the `Information technology systems' account. The Administration proposed to modify this provision.
Section 222 requires the Department to notify and receive approval from the Committee of any proposed transfer of funding in excess of $1,000,000 between information technology system projects. The Administration proposed to modify this provision, including a threshold of $5,000,000 for such transfers.
Section 223 provides for the transfer of prior year account balances established for the payment of benefits under the Reinstated Entitlement Program for Survivors to the `Compensation and pensions' account.
Section 224 amends title 38, section 1710 to allow certain medical care collections funds to be collected in the current fiscal year. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 225 amends title 38, section 1729 to allow certain medical care collections funds to be collected in the current fiscal year. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
TITLE III
RELATED AGENCIES
AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $44,600,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 47,470,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 55,470,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 10,870,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 8,000,000
-------------------------------------------------
The American Battle Monuments Commission is responsible for the administration, operation and maintenance of cemetery and war memorials to commemorate the achievements and sacrifices of the American Armed Forces where they have served since April 6, 1917. In performing these functions, the Commission maintains 24 permanent American military cemetery memorials and 31 monuments, memorials, markers, and offices in 15 foreign countries, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the British dependency of Gibraltar. In addition, six memorials are located in the United States: the East Coast Memorial in New York; the West Coast Memorial, The Presidio in San Francisco; the Honolulu Memorial in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii; and the American Expeditionary Forces Memorial, the World War II, and Korean War Veterans Memorials in Washington, D.C.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $55,470,000 for the American Battle Monuments Commission's salaries and expenses account. This is an increase of $10,870,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $8,000,000 above the budget request.
Language is included allowing up to $7,500 to be used for official reception and representation expenses.
The Committee recognizes that the limited funds available to the Commission to cover foreign currency fluctuation in fiscal year 2008 may have forced the Commission to defer maintenance and facilities projects. Therefore, the fiscal year 2009 recommendation includes funding to accomplish projects which may have been deferred in fiscal year 2008.
Pointe du Hoc Site.--The fiscal year 2006 appropriations Act included funding for the Commission to have a study conducted to determine what action is warranted to preserve the stability of the World War II Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument in France. The Committee notes that the study has been completed and a remediation plan has been developed. The Committee recommendation includes sufficient funding to begin remediation efforts should the Government of France approve work at the location.
FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $11,000,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request est. 17,100,000
Committee recommendation in the bill est. 17,100,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 6,100,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request ------
------------------------------------------------------
The Commission's Foreign Currency Fluctuations Account is authorized pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 2109 to pay the costs of salaries and expenses that exceed the amount appropriated for salaries and expenses because of fluctuations in currency exchange rates of foreign countries occurring after a budget request for the Commission is submitted to the Congress. The account may not be used for any other purpose.
The Committee has included bill language with makes `such sums as may be necessary' available to the Commission to cover unanticipated foreign currency fluctuations.
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $22,717,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 23,975,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 73,975,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 51,258,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 50,000,000
-------------------------------------------------
The Veterans' Judicial Review Act established the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The Court reviews appeals from claimants seeking review of a benefit denial. The Court has the authority to overturn findings of fact, regulations, and interpretations of law.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $73,975,000 for the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, an increase of $51,258,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and an increase of $50,000,000 above the budget request. Of the amount provided, $1,700,000 is to be used for the pro bono representation program.
The Committee notes that the number of veterans claims continue to grow and the number of appeals to and decisions by the Court make it one of the busiest Federal courts of appeals. The projected workload of the Court will require its space needs to grow by 70 percent in the next three years. Such space needs cannot be accommodated in its current facility without displacing other federal tenants. In recognition of this situation, the Congress had directed the Court to work with the General Services Administration on an evaluation of the Court's space needs and options for satisfying those needs. On April 30, 2008, the follow-on feasibility study for a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center for the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was submitted to the Committee. Based upon the options highlighted in that study, the Committee recommendation includes $50,000,000 for the construction of a new Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center. The Committee anticipates that the Court will transfer these funds to the General Services Administration for execution of the project.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL
CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $31,230,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 31,230,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 31,230,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level ------
Fiscal year 2009 budget request ------
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The Secretary of the Army is responsible for the administration, operation and maintenance of Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery. In addition to its principal function as a national cemetery, Arlington is the site of approximately 3,100 non-funeral ceremonies each year and has approximately 4,000,000 visitors annually.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $31,230,000 for Cemeterial Expenses, Army, salaries and expenses, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2008 enacted level.
ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME
TRUST FUNDS
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $55,724,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request 63,010,000
Committee recommendation in the bill 63,010,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level 7,286,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request ------
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The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) consists of two retirement communities, one in Washington, D.C. and the other in Gulfport, Mississippi. The Washington, D.C. facility was established in 1851 as a soldiers' home for elderly and disabled veterans. The original home for Navy officers, sailors, and Marines was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811, and was relocated to Gulfport, Mississippi almost a century and a half later.
The Committee recommendation provides authority to expend $63,010,000 from the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund to operate and maintain the armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport, Mississippi. Of the amount provided, $8,025,000 is for construction and renovations. The amount recommended is $7,286,000 above the fiscal year 2008 enacted level and equal to the budget request.
FEDERAL FUNDS
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level $800,000
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
Committee recommendation in the bill - - -
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2008 enacted level (800,000)
Fiscal year 2009 budget request - - -
-----------------------------------------------
There is no budget request for this account in fiscal year 2009.
TITLE IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
The bill includes seven provisions that were included in the fiscal year 2008 enacted appropriations bill as follows:
Section 401 prohibits the obligation of funds beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided.
Section 402 requires pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in the bill.
Section 403 prohibits the use of funds for programs, projects or activities not in compliance with Federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates.
Section 404 prohibits the use of funds to support or defeat legislation pending before Congress.
Section 405 encourages all departments and agencies funded in this Act to expand the use of E-Commerce technologies and procedures.
Section 406 limits funds from being transferred from this appropriations measure to any instrumentality of the United States Government without authority from an appropriation Act. The Administration proposed to delete this provision.
Section 407 specifies the congressional committees that are to receive all reports and notifications.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS
The following items are included in accordance with various requirements of the rules of the House of Representatives.
CHANGES IN APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the application of existing law.
Language is included in various parts of the bill to continue on-going activities that require annual authorization or additional legislation, which to date have not been enacted.
The bill includes a number of provisions which place limitations on the use of funds in the bill or change existing limitations and which might, under some circumstances, be construed as changing the application of existing law.
Language is included in various parts of the bill to allow the Secretary of Defense to exceed certain limitations upon notification to the Committee.
Language is included in various parts of the bill to allow funding to be used for official reception and representation expenses.
Language is included that enables various appropriations to remain available for more than one year for some programs for which the basic authority legislation does not presently authorize such extended availability.
Language is included in various parts of the bill which permits the transfer of funds to other accounts in the bill.
Language is included under Title I limiting payments for cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract under certain circumstances.
Language is included in various parts of the bill to allow funds to be used for the hire of passenger motor vehicles.
Language is included under Title I allowing advances to the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for implementing construction of new bases in the United States without specific appropriations.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for purchase of land or land easements under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for land acquisition, site preparation, and utility installation unless funds have been made available in annual appropriations Acts.
Language is included under Title I to prohibit the use of minor construction funds to transfer an activity between installations without prior notification.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for the procurement of steel for any activity if American steel producers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such steel procurements.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for initiating new installations overseas without notifying the Committees on appropriations.
Language is included under Title I limiting the use of funds for architect and engineer contracts under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for awarding contracts to foreign contractors under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I requiring the Department of Defense to notify the appropriate committees of Congress of any proposed military exercises under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I limiting funding obligations in the last two months of the fiscal year to 20 percent.
Language is included under Title I allowing prior year construction funding to be available for current year projects.
Language is included under Title I allowing payment for the cost associated with supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and design on family housing or military construction projects that are being completed with expired or lapsed funds.
Language is included under Title I allowing funds to be expended on military construction projects for four fiscal years after enactment under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I to allow for the transfer of BRAC proceeds to the BRAC account.
Language is included under Title I to allow construction funds to be transferred to Housing Improvement Funds.
Language is included under Title I requiring the various military departments to submit prior notice to the Committee of solicitation for contracts with the private sector for military family housing under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I to allow for the transfer of BRAC funds to the Homeowners Assistance Program.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for the operation and maintenance of family housing to those provided in this appropriation with exceptions under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I allowing funds for the Ford Island Improvement Account to be available until expended for certain purposes.
Language is included under Title I limiting funds for realignment of installations under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I to allow for the transfer of expired funding to the Foreign Currency Fluctuation Account under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I prohibiting the use of funds to expand Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.
Language is included under Title II to require that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a priority for treatment of veterans who are service-connected disabled, lower income, or have special needs.
Language is included under Title II to require that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs give priority funding of basic medical benefits to priority groups 1 through 6.
Language is included under Title II to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to dispense prescription drugs from VHA facilities to enrolled veterans with privately written prescriptions.
Language is included under Title II to allocate a portion of non-recurring maintenance funds outside the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation.
Language is included under Title II providing for the reimbursement to the Department of Defense for the costs of overseas employee mail.
Language is included under Title II to require approval of a plan for the expenditure of information technology funds.
Language is included under Title II establishing time limitations and reporting requirements concerning the obligation of major construction funds, limiting the use of funds, and allowing the use of funds for program costs.
Language is included under Title II to prohibit the use of funds to reduce the mission, services or infrastructure of 18 facilities on the CARES list without prior approval of the Committee.
Language is included under Title II to allow minor construction funds to be used to repair non-medical facilities damaged by natural disaster or catastrophe.
Language is included under Title II permitting transfers between mandatory and discretionary accounts, limiting and providing for the use of certain funds, funding administrative expenses associated with life insurance programs from excess program revenues, allowing reimbursement from enhanced-use leases and for certain services, requiring notification of new lease agreements, requiring disclosure of insurance and income information, allowing a recovery audit collection program, prohibiting the use of funds for instituting a new standard for glucose monitoring systems, extending the authority to operate the homeless program, allowing veterans in the state of Alaska to use Indian Health Service facilities under certain conditions, and allowing medical services funds for recreational and funeral expenses.
Language is included under the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Salaries and Expenses, permitting the use of funds for a pro bono program.
Language is included under Cemeterial Expenses, Army, Salaries and Expenses, permitting the use of funds for parking maintenance and repairs.
Language is included under Title IV requiring sums necessary for pay raises to be absorbed within levels appropriated.
Language is included under Title IV limiting the use of funds for federal entities when they are not in compliance with federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates.
Language is included under Title IV limiting funding for publicity or propaganda designed to support or defeat legislation pending before Congress.
Language is included under Title IV prohibiting the transfer of any funds except pursuant to authority provided in appropriations Acts.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans Affairs, Information Technology Systems, limiting the obligation of funds until certain reporting requirements are met.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services, designating $3,800,000,000 for specialty mental health care.
APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law for the period concerned:
[dollars in thousands]
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Agency/program Last year of authorization Authorization level Appropriations in last year of authorization Appropriations in this bill
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Military Construction, Army 2008 5,208,133 3,936,583 4,801,536
Military Construction, Navy 2008 2,407,799 2,198,394 3,280,809
Military Construction, Air Force 2008 1,418,447 1,159,747 976,524
Military Construction, Defense-Wide 2008 1,637,196 1,609,596 1,614,450
Military Construction, Army National Guard 2008 536,656 536,656 628,668
Military Construction, Air National Guard 2008 287,537 287,537 142,809
Military Construction, Army Reserve 2008 148,133 148,133 282,607
Military Construction, Navy Reserve 2008 64,430 64,430 57,045
Military Construction, Air Force Reserve 2008 28,359 28,359 30,018
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program 2008 201,400 201,400 218,867
Family Housing Construction, Army 2008 424,400 424,400 646,580
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army 2008 731,920 731,920 716,110
Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps 2008 304,895 293,129 382,778
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps 2008 371,404 371,404 376,062
Family Housing Construction, Air Force 2008 327,747 327,747 395,879
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force 2008 688,335 688,335 594,465
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide 2008 48,848 48,848 49,231
Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund 2008 500 500 850
Homeowners Assistance Program 2002 10,119 10,119 4,500
Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide 2008 104,176 104,176 134,278
Base Realignment and Closure, 1990 2008 295,689 295,689 473,377
Base Realignment and Closure, 2005 2008 8,456,311 7,235,591 9,065,386
Department of Veteran Affairs, Construction, Major Projects 2007 221,776 399,000 923,382
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TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted describing the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying bill.
Language is included to allow Military Construction, Defense-Wide funds to be transferred to other military construction and family housing appropriations to be merged with and available for the same purpose and same time period.
Language is included to allow Chemical Demilitarization Construction funds to be transferred to other military construction appropriations to be merged with and available for the same purpose and same time period.
Language is included to allow Department of Defense prior year construction funds to be available for current year authorizations.
Language is included to allow BRAC proceeds to be transferred to the BRAC account to be merged with and available for the same purpose and same time period.
Language is included to allow for the transfer of funds from Family Housing, Construction accounts to the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund and funds from Military Construction accounts to the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund.
Language is included to provide transfer authority to the Homeowners Assistance Program.
Language is included to allow the transfer of expired funds to the `Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense' account.
Language is included to transfer not to exceed $26,798,000 from Compensation and Pensions to General Operating Expenses and Medical Services. These funds are for the administrative costs of implementing cost-savings proposals required by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1992. Language is also included permitting necessary sums to be transferred to the medical facilities revolving fund to augment funding of medical centers for nursing home care provided to pensioners as authorized by the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1992.
Language is included to transfer the following amounts to the Department of Veterans Affairs General Operating Expenses appropriation pursuant to the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990: the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund Program Account ($157,210,000), the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account ($320,000) and the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account ($646,000). In addition, the bill provides up to $750,000 in General Operating Expenses and Medical Services for administration of the Guaranteed Transitional Housing Loans for the Homeless Veterans Program Account.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans affairs that would transfer no less than $15,000,000 for the DoD/VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund as authorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States Code.
Language is included to provide authority for the Department of Veterans Affairs for any funds appropriated in 2009 for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities to be transferred among those three accounts.
Language is included to permit the funds from three life insurance funds to be transferred to General Operating Expenses for the costs of administering such programs.
Language is included to permit up to $37,436,000 to be transferred to General Operating Expenses from any funds appropriated in fiscal year 2009 to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication for services provided.
Language is included to transfer certain funds derived from enhanced-use leasing activities to the Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects accounts.
Language is included to transfer funds from the Medical Care Collections Fund to Medical Services.
Language is included to allow the transfer of funds from the Capital Asset Fund to the Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects accounts.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans Affairs that would transfer balances in prior year accounts established for payment of benefits under the Reinstated Entitlement Program for Survivors to the Compensation and Pensions account.
RESCISSIONS
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table lists the rescissions in the accompanying bill:
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Department/activity Amounts recommended for rescission
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Department of Defense, Military Construction, Army 51,320,000
Department of Defense, Military Construction, Air Force 17,681,000
Department of Defense, Military Construction, Defense-Wide 3,589,000
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CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to report this legislation from clause 7 of section 9 of article I of the U.S. Constitution which states:
No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law * * *
COMPARISON WITH THE BUDGET RESOLUTION
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares the levels of new budget authority provided in the bill with the appropriate allocation under section 302(b) of the Budget Act.
[In millions of dollars]
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302(b) allocation This bill
Budget authority Outlays Budget authority Outlays
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Discretionary 72,729 66,890 72,729 66,892
Mandatory 43,444 43,277 43,444 43,2777
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FIVE-YEAR PROJECTION OF OUTLAYS
Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table contains five-year projections prepared by the Congressional Budget Office of outlays associated with the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill:
| Millions | |
| Budget Authority | 116,173 |
| Outlays: | |
| 2009 | 88,001 |
| 2010 | 15,089 |
| 2011 | 8,548 |
| 2012 | 3,113 |
| 2013 | 2,224 |
ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the amount of financial assistance to State and local governments is as follows:
| Millions | |
| Budget Authority | 878 |
| Fiscal Year 2009 outlays resulting therefrom | 588 |
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following is a statement of general performance goals and objectives for which this measure authorizes funding:
The Committee on Appropriations considers program performance, including a program's success in developing and attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing funding recommendations.
COMPLIANCE WITH RULE XIII, CL. 3(E) (RAMSEYER RULE)
- In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman):
CHAPTER 17 OF TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE
CHAPTER 17--HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER II--HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, OR DOMICILIARY CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT
Sec. 1710. Eligibility for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care
- (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
- (f)(1) * * *
- (2) A veteran who is furnished hospital care or nursing home care under this section and who is required under paragraph (1) of this subsection to agree to pay an amount to the United States in order to be furnished such care shall be liable to the United States for an amount equal to--
- (A) * * *
- (B) before September 30, [Struck out->]
[ 2008, ][<-Struck out] 2009, an amount equal to $10 for every day the veteran receives hospital care and $5 for every day the veteran receives nursing home care.* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT OF VETERANS
* * * * * * *
Sec. 1729. Recovery by the United States of the cost of certain care and services
- (a)(1) * * *
- (2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies to a non-service-connected disability--
- (A) * * *
* * * * * * *
- (E) for which care and services are furnished before October 1, [Struck out->]
[ 2008, ][<-Struck out] 2009, under this chapter to a veteran who--- (i) * * *
* * * * * * *
CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS
The following table is submitted in compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI, and lists the congressional earmarks (as defined in paragraph (d) of clause 9) contained in the bill or in this report. Neither the bill nor the report contain any limited tax benefits or limited tariff benefits as defined in paragraphs (e) or (f) of clause 9 of rule XXI.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
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Account State Location Project Title Amount(in thousands) Member
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Army Alabama Anniston Army Depot Powertrain Transmission Repair Facility $27,000 The President
Army Alabama Anniston Army Depot Small Arms Repair Shop-Depot Level 18,000 The President
Army NG Alabama Fort McClellan Multipurpose Machine Gun Range 3,000 The President
Air Force Alabama Maxwell AFB Air & Space Basic Course Combat Arms Trng Fac 15,556 The President/ Mr. Everett
Army Alabama Anniston Army Depot Lake Yard Railroad Interchange 1,400 Mr. Rogers, M. (AL)
Army Alabama Fort Rucker Chapel Center 6,800 Mr. Everett
Army Alaska Fort Richardson Child Development Center 15,000 The President
Army Alaska Fort Wainwright Barracks Complex 63,000 The President
Army Alaska Fort Wainwright Organizational Vehicle Parking 14,000 The President
Army Alaska Fort Wainwright Tactical Vehicle Wash Facility 21,000 The President
Army Alaska Fort Wainwright Training Aids Support Center 12,400 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB C-17 Restore Road 2,000 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB F-22 Aerospace Ground Equip Shop 7,200 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB F-22 Corrosion Ctrl/Lo Mx/Composite Repair Fac 22,400 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB F-22 Flight Simulator 16,400 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB F-22A 7 Bay Aircraft Shelter 20,400 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB F-22A 8 Bay Aircraft Shelter 22,200 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB F-22A Field Training Detachment 6,600 The President
Air Force Alaska Elmendorf AFB F-22A Squadron Ops/AMU 6 Bay Hangar 41,100 The President
Defense-Wide Alaska Fort Richardson Dental Clinic Addition/Alteration 6,300 The President
Army Arizona Fort Huachuca Unit Maintenance Facilities 11,200 The President
Army Arizona Yuma Raw Sewage Lagoon and Oxidation Pond 3,800 The President
Army NG Arizona Camp Navajo Readiness Center 13,000 The President
Army NG Arizona Florence Readiness Center 13,800 The President
Army NG Arizona Papago Military Res. Readiness Center 24,000 The President
Navy Arizona Yuma Applied Instruction Facility (MAWTS) 19,490 The President
Air Force Arizona Luke AFB Repair Runway Pavement 1,755 Mr. Pastor
Army Arizona Fort Huachuca ATC Radar Operations Building 2,000 Ms. Giffords
Army NG Arkansas Cabot Readiness Center 10,868 Mr. Berry
Air NG Arkansas Little Rock AFB Replace Engine Shop 4,000 Mr. Snyder
Army California Fort Irwin Barracks Complex 17,500 The President
Army California Fort Irwin Military Operations Urban Terrain, Ph 3 22,100 The President
Army California Presidio of Monterey General Instruction Building 15,000 The President
Army California Sierra Army Depot Water Treatment Plant 12,400 The President
Army Reserve California Fort Hunter Liggett Modified Record Fire Range 3,950 The President/ Mr. Farr
Navy California Barstow Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 7,830 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--41 Area 32,430 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--33 Area 30,300 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--43 Area 15,150 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--62 Area 25,920 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Area 13 33,320 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Area 14 32,350 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Chappo (22 Area) 48,640 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Del Mar (21 Area) 33,190 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Del Mar (21 Area) 33,440 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Horno (13 Area) 33,790 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Horno (53 Area) 40,660 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Las Pulgas Area 34,340 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Pico (24 Area) 32,870 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Pico (24 Area) 32,260 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--San Mateo Area 34,500 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Del Mar (21 Area) 34,120 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--San Mateo Area 32,550 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Margarita (33 Area) 31,170 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton BEQ--Armory, Training Facility, SOI (52 Area) 54,730 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Consolidated Comm/Elec Maintenance & Storage 10,050 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Corrosion Control Water Treatment Facility 52,520 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Indoor Fitness Center 12,230 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Infantry Training Center 11,500 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Operations Access Points, Red Beach 11,970 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Regimental Maintenance Complex (Phase 3) 33,620 The President
Navy California Camp Pendleton Special Operations Training Battle Course 22,250 The President
Navy California El Centro Combined Child Care and Youth Center 8,900 The President
Navy California Miramar Combat Training Tank Complex 10,820 The President
Navy California Miramar Emergency Response Station 6,530 The President
Navy California Miramar In-Line Fueling Station Modification 22,930 The President
Navy California Miramar Military Working Dog Operations Center 4,800 The President
Navy California Miramar MV-22 Wash Rack 3,690 The President
Navy California North Island Berthing Lima Conversion 38,992 The President
Navy California North Island Child Development Center 14,270 The President
Navy California San Clemente Island Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 34,020 The President
Navy California San Diego Recruit Reconditioning Facility 16,790 The President
Navy California San Diego Recruit Support Barracks 34,430 The President
Navy California Twentynine Palms Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 36,470 The President
Navy California Twentynine Palms Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 36,280 The President
Navy California Twentynine Palms BEQ and Parking Structure 51,800 The President
Navy California Twentynine Palms Combined Arms MOUT (Phase 2) 21,000 The President
Navy Reserve California Lemoore Marine Corps Reserve Center 15,420 The President
Air Force California Edwards AFB F-35 Ramp & Security Upgrade 3,100 The President
Defense-Wide California Coronado SOF Combat Crew Training Facility 9,800 The President
Defense-Wide California Tracy Depot Replace General Purpose Warehouse 41,000 The President
Defense-Wide California Tracy Depot Replace Truck Entrance/Control Facility 9,300 The President
Navy California Monterey Education Facility 9,990 Mr. Farr
Air Force California Edwards AFB Main Base Runway Ph 4 6,000 Mr. McKeon/ Mr. McCarthy, K.
Navy California North Island Training Pool Replacement 6,890 Ms. Davis, S.
Navy California Twentynine Palms Lifelong Learning Center Ph 1 9,760 Mr. Lewis, Jerry
Army Colorado Fort Carson Barracks & Dining 154,000 The President
Army Colorado Fort Carson Battalion Complex 45,000 The President
Army Colorado Fort Carson Brigade/Battalion HQs 46,000 The President
Army Colorado Fort Carson Company Operations Facilities 93,000 The President
Army Colorado Fort Carson Infrastructure, BCT 69,000 The President
Army Colorado Fort Carson Physical Fitness Facility 28,000 The President
Army Colorado Fort Carson Unit Maintenance Facilities 15,000 The President
Army Colorado Fort Carson Vehicle Maintenance Shops 84,000 The President
Chem Demil Colorado Pueblo Depot Chem-Agent Disposal Pilot Plant 65,060 The President
Army NG Colorado Denver Readiness Center 9,000 The President
Army NG Colorado Grand Junction Readiness Center 9,000 The President/ Mr. Salazar
Air Force Colorado U.S. Air Force Academy Upgrade Academic Facility, Ph V 18,000 The President
Defense-Wide Colorado Buckley AFB Satellite Pharmacy 3,000 The President
Army NG Connecticut Camp Rell Regional Training Institute 28,000 The President/ Mr. Courtney
Army NG Connecticut East Haven KD Range Add/Alt 13,800 The President
Navy Connecticut New London Pier 31 Replacement 46,060 The President/ Mr. Courtney
Air NG Connecticut Bradley IAP TFI Upgrade Engine Shop 7,200 Ms. DeLauro/ Mr. Courtney/ Mr. Larson/ Mr. Murphy, C./ Mr. Shays
Army NG Delaware New Castle Army Aviation Support Facility Add/Alt 28,000 The President
Navy Reserve Delaware Wilmington NOSC Portion, Armed Forces Reserve Center 11,530 The President
Air Force Delaware Dover AFB ADAL Physical Fitness Center 19,000 The President/ Mr. Castle
Air NG Delaware New Castle County AP TFI--Info Ops Squadron (IOS) Facility 3,200 The President/ Mr. Castle
Defense-Wide Delaware Dover AFB Alter Fuel Storage Tank 3,373 The President
Navy District of Columbia Naval Research Lab Autonomous System Research Lab 24,220 The President
Army Florida Miami-Doral SOUTHCOM Headquarters, Incr 2 81,600 The President/ Mr. Diaz-Balart, L.
Army NG Florida Camp Blanding Ammunition Supply Point 12,400 The President
Navy Florida Jacksonville Child Development Center 12,890 The President/ Mr. Crenshaw
Navy Florida Mayport Alpha Wharf Improvements 14,900 The President/ Mr. Crenshaw
Navy Florida Tampa Joint Communications Squadron Facility 29,000 The President
Air Force Florida Eglin AFB F-35 Student Dormitory (144 Room) 19,000 The President
Air Force Florida MacDill AFB SOCCENT Headquarters & Commandant Facility 21,000 The President
Defense-Wide Florida Eglin AFB SOF Battalion Operations Complex 40,000 The President
Defense-Wide Florida Hurlburt Field SOF Special Tactics Group Facility 8,900 The President
Defense-Wide Florida MacDill AFB SOF Add/Alter 501B (HQ SOCOM) 10,500 The President
Defense-Wide Florida Jacksonville Replace Fuel Storage Tanks 34,000 The President
Air Force Florida Tyndall AFB 325 ACS Ops Training Complex 11,600 Mr. Boyd
Army NG Florida Camp Blanding Regional Training Institute Ph 4 20,907 Mr. Young, B./ Ms. Brown, C./ Mr. Stearns
Air Force Florida MacDill AFB Combat Training Facility 5,000 Ms. Castor
Navy Florida Mayport Aircraft Refueling 3,380 Mr. Crenshaw
Army Georgia Fort Benning Automated Anti-Armor Range 8,800 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Basic 10M-25M Firing Range 1 2,400 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Basic 10M-25M Firing Range 2 2,400 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Basic 10M-25M Firing Range 3 2,350 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Basic 10M-25M Firing Range 4 2,500 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Basic 10M-25M Firing Range 5 2,500 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Digital Multipurpose Training Range 17,500 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Fire and Movement Range 2,450 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Maintenance Shop 42,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Modified Record Fire Range 1 4,900 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Modified Record Fire Range 2 4,900 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Modified Record Fire Range 3 4,500 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Range Access Road 9,100 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Reception Station Phase 2 39,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Stationary Tank Range 6,900 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Tactical Vehicle Wash Facility 10,800 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Tracked Vehicle Drivers Course 16,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Trainee Complex 32,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Training Area Infrastructure--Osut Area 16,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Training Area Infrastructure--Northern Area 13,800 The President
Army Georgia Fort Benning Unit Maintenance Facilities 27,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Barracks & Dining 121,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Brigade Complex 30,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Brigade/Battalion HQs 36,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Child Development Center 20,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Company Operations Facilities 75,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Infrastructure 59,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Physical Fitness Facility 22,000 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Shoot House 2,300 The President
Army Georgia Fort Stewart Vehicle Maintenance Shops 67,000 The President
Army NG Georgia Dobbins ARB Readiness Center 45,000 The President/ Mr. Gingrey
Navy Georgia Albany MCLB BEQ Replacement 15,320 The President
Navy Reserve Georgia Marietta Marine Corps Reserve Center 7,560 The President
Air Force Georgia Robins AFB Aircraft Hangar 24,100 The President
Defense-Wide Georgia Fort Benning Consolidated Troop Medical Clinic 3,900 The President
Defense-Wide Georgia Augusta Regional Security Operations Center Incr IV 100,220 The President
Defense-Wide Georgia Hunter AAF Replace Fuel Storage Tank 3,500 The President
Air NG Georgia Savannah CRTC Troop Training Quarters 7,500 Mr. Barrow
Navy Georgia Kings Bay Add to Limited Area Reaction Force Facility 6,130 Mr. Kingston
Air Force Georgia Robins AFB Avionics Facility 5,250 Mr. Marshall
Army Hawaii Schofield Barracks Barracks 42,000 The President
Army Hawaii Schofield Barracks Battalion Complex 69,000 The President
Army Hawaii Schofield Barracks Battalion Complex 27,000 The President
Army Hawaii Schofield Barracks Brigade Complex 65,000 The President
Army Hawaii Schofield Barracks Infrastructure Expansion 76,000 The President
Army Hawaii Wahiawa Wideband SATCOM Operations Center 40,000 The President
Army Reserve Hawaii Fort Shafter Army Reserve Center 19,199 The President
Navy Hawaii Barking Sands Advanced Radar Detection Laboratory 28,900 The President
Navy Hawaii Kaneohe Bay Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 28,200 The President
Navy Hawaii Pearl Harbor Child Development Center 29,300 The President
Navy Hawaii Pearl Harbor Fitness Center 45,000 The President
Navy Hawaii Pearl Harbor Joint Forces Deployment Staging Area FISC 5,990 The President
Navy Hawaii Pearl Harbor Sub Drive-In Magnetic Silencing Facility Incr 2 41,088 The President
Defense-Wide Hawaii Pearl Harbor Replace Fuel Pipeline 27,700 The President
Army Hawaii Pohakuloa TA Access Road, Ph 1 9,000 Mr. Abercrombie
Army NG Idaho Orchard TA Live Fire Shoot House 1,850 The President
Army Reserve Idaho Hayden Lake Army Reserve Center/OMS/Unheated Storage 9,580 The President
Navy Illinois Great Lakes RTC Special Programs Barracks 62,940 The President
Defense-Wide Illinois Scott AFB USTRANSCOM Joint Intel Operations Center 13,977 The President/ Mr. Costello
Air NG Illinois Greater Peoria RAP C-130 Squadron Operations Center 400 Mr. LaHood
Army NG Indiana Camp Atterbury Multi Purpose Machine Gun Range 5,800 The President
Army NG Indiana Lawrence Readiness Center 21,000 The President
Army NG Indiana Muscatatuck Combined Arms Collective Training Facility Ph 1 6,000 Mr. Visclosky/ Mr. Hill
Air NG Indiana Fort Wayne IAP Aircraft Ready Shelters/Fuel Fill Stands 5,600 Mr. Souder
Army NG Iowa Camp Dodge MOUT Site Add/Alt 1,500 Mr. Boswell
Army NG Iowa Davenport Readiness Center Add/Alt 1,550 Mr. Braley
Air NG Iowa Fort Dodge Vehicle Maintenance & Comm. Training Complex 5,600 Mr. Latham/ Mr. King, S./ Mr. Loebsack
Army NG Iowa Mount Pleasant Readiness Center Add/Alt 1,500 Mr. Loebsack
Army Kansas Fort Riley Battalion Complex 38,000 The President
Army Kansas Fort Riley Brigade Complex 79,000 The President
Army Kansas Fort Riley Commissary 23,000 The President
Army Kansas Fort Riley Rail Siding 15,000 The President
Army Reserve Kansas Dodge City Army Reserve Center/Land 8,100 The President/ Mr. Moran, Jerry
Defense-Wide Kansas Fort Riley Hospital Addition/Alteration 52,000 The President
Army Kansas Fort Leavenworth Chapel Complex Ph 2 4,200 Ms. Boyda
Army Kansas Fort Riley Fire Station 3,000 Ms. Boyda
Air Force Kansas McConnell AFB MXG Consolidation & Forward Logistics Center Ph 2 6,800 Mr. Tiahrt
Chem Demil Kentucky Blue Grass Depot Chem-Agent Disposal Pilot Plant 57,218 The President
Chem Demil Kentucky Blue Grass Depot Defense Access Road 12,000 The President
Army Kentucky Fort Campbell Battalion Complex 37,000 The President
Army Kentucky Fort Campbell Child Development Center 8,600 The President
Army Kentucky Fort Campbell Training Support Center 15,513 The President
Army Kentucky Fort Campbell Unit Maintenance Facilities 47,000 The President
Defense-Wide Kentucky Fort Campbell Medical/Dental Clinic 24,000 The President
Defense-Wide Kentucky Fort Campbell SOF Tactical Equipment Shop 15,000 The President
Defense-Wide Kentucky Fort Campbell New Elementary School 21,400 The President
Army NG Kentucky London Aviation Operations Facility Ph III 7,191 Mr. Rogers, H.
Army Louisiana Fort Polk Unit Operations Facilities 29,000 The President
Army NG Maine Bangor Regional Training Institute Ph 1 20,000 The President
Navy Maine Portsmouth NSY Dry Dock 3 Waterfront Support Facility 1,450 Mr. Allen/ Ms. Shea-Porter
Navy Maine Portsmouth NSY Consolidated Global Sub Component Ph 1 9,980 Ms. Shea-Porter
Army NG Maryland Edgewood Army Aviation Support Facility Add/Alt 28,000 The President
Army NG Maryland Salisbury Readiness Center Add/Alt 9,800 The President
Army Reserve Maryland Baltimore Army Reserve Center 11,600 The President
Navy Maryland Indian Head Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrades 13,930 The President/ Mr. Hoyer
Navy Maryland Suitland National Maritime Intel Center Incr 12,439 The President
Air Force Maryland Andrews AFB Admin Facility Addition 28,000 The President
Air Force Maryland Andrews AFB NCR Relocation--Admin Facility 49,648 The President
Defense-Wide Maryland Aberdeen PG USAMRICD Replacement, Incr I 23,750 The President
Defense-Wide Maryland Fort Detrick USAMRIID Stage I, Incr III 109,000 The President
Defense-Wide Maryland Fort Meade South Campus Utility Plant Ph I 14,000 The President
Navy Maryland Carderock RDTE Support Facility Ph I 6,980 Mr. Van Hollen
Army NG Maryland Dundalk Readiness Center 579 Mr. Ruppersberger
Navy Maryland Indian Head Energetics Systems & Tech Lab Complex Ph I 12,050 Mr. Hoyer
Air NG Maryland Martin State Airport Replace Fire Station 7,900 Mr. Bartlett/ Mr. Ruppersberger/ Mr. Sarbanes
Army NG Massachusetts Methuen Readiness Center Add/Alt (ADRS) 21,000 The President
Army Reserve Massachusetts Fort Devens Shoot House 1,900 The President
Air NG Massachusetts Otis ANGB TFI Digital Ground Station FOC Beddown 1,700 Mr. Delahunt/ Mr. Olver
Air Reserve Massachusetts Westover ARB Joint Service Lodging Facility 943 Mr. Olver/ Mr. Neal
Army Reserve Michigan Saginaw Army Reserve Center/Land 11,500 The President
Army NG Michigan Camp Grayling Live Fire Shoot House 2,000 Mr. Knollenberg/ Mr. Stupak
Army NG Michigan Camp Grayling Urban Assault Course 2,000 Mr. Knollenberg/ Mr. Stupak
Army NG Minnesota Arden Hills Readiness Center 15,000 The President
Army NG Minnesota Arden Hills Infrastructure Improvements 1,005 Ms. McCollum
Air NG Minnesota Duluth Replace Fuel Cell Hangar 4,500 Mr. Oberstar
Air NG Minnesota Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP Aircraft Deicing Apron 1,500 Mr. Ellison
Navy Mississippi Gulfport 25 Naval Construction Regiment HQ Facility 6,900 The President
Air Force Mississippi Columbus AFB Child Development Center 8,100 The President
Navy Mississippi Gulfport Battalion Maintenance Facility 5,870 Mr. Taylor
Army Missouri Fort Leonard Wood Training Support Center 18,500 The President
Army Missouri Fort Leonard Wood Urban Assault Course 2,350 The President
Army Reserve Missouri Weldon Springs Army Reserve Center 11,700 The President
Defense-Wide Missouri Fort Leonard Wood Primary Care Clinic Addition/Alteration 22,000 The President
Army Missouri Fort Leonard Wood Vehicle Maintenance Shop 9,500 Mr. Skelton
Air Force Missouri Whiteman AFB Security Forces Animal Clinic 4,200 Mr. Skelton
Army Missouri Fort Leonard Wood Chapel Complex 3,500 Mr. Skelton
Army Reserve Nevada Las Vegas Army Reserve Center 33,900 The President
Air Force Nevada Creech AFB UAS 432 Wing HQ Mission Support Facility 7,000 The President
Air Force Nevada Creech AFB UAS Dining Hall 9,000 The President
Air Force Nevada Creech AFB UAS Flight Simulator & Academics Facility 9,800 The President
Air Force Nevada Creech AFB UAS Main Gate/Sewer Transfer Facility/Infra. 6,500 The President
Air Force Nevada Creech AFB UAS Operations Facility 16,200 The President
Air Force Nevada Nellis AFB F-16 Aggressor Hangar/Aircraft Maintenance Unit 30,800 The President
Air Force Nevada Nellis AFB F-16 Aggressor Squadron Ops/Infrastructure 17,500 The President
Air Force Nevada Nellis AFB F-35 Airfield Pavements 5,000 The President
Army Reserve New Jersey Fort Dix Modified Record Fire Range 3,825 The President/ Mr. Saxton
Navy New Jersey Lakehurst Advanced Arresting Gear Test Site 15,440 The President/ Mr. Saxton
Air NG New Jersey Atlantic City IAP Operations and Training Facility 8,400 Mr. LoBiondo
Air Force New Jersey McGuire AFB Security Forces Operations Facility Ph 1 7,200 Mr. Saxton
Army New Jersey Picatinny Arsenal Ballistic Evaluation Facility Ph 1 9,900 Mr. Frelinghuysen
Air Force New Mexico Holloman AFB F-22 Alter Hangar for LO/CRF 14,500 The President
Air Force New Mexico Holloman AFB F-22A ADAL Aircraft Maintenance Unit 1,050 The President
Air Force New Mexico Holloman AFB F-22A ADAL Flight Simulator Facility 3,150 The President
Air Force New Mexico Holloman AFB F-22A ADAL Jet Engine Maintenance Shop 2,150 The President
Air Force New Mexico Holloman AFB F-22A Aerospace Ground Equipment Facility 4,600 The President
Defense-Wide New Mexico Cannon AFB SOF Maintenance Hangar 18,100 The President/ Mr. Udall, T.
Defense-Wide New Mexico Kirtland AFB Replace Fuel Storage Tanks 14,400 The President
Air Force New Mexico Cannon AFB CV-22 Flight Simulator Facility 8,300 Mr. Udall, T.
Army New York Fort Drum Brigade Complex-Barracks 29,000 The President
Army New York Fort Drum Brigade Complex-Barracks 24,000 The President
Army New York Fort Drum Unit Maintenance Facilities 37,000 The President
Army New York U.S. Military Academy Science Facility, Ph 1 67,000 The President
Army NG New York Fort Drum Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site Ph 3 11,000 The President
Army NG New York Queensbury Field Maintenance Shop 5,900 The President
Army Reserve New York Kingston Army Reserve Center/Land 13,494 The President
Army Reserve New York Shoreham Add/Alt Army Reserve Center 15,031 The President
Army Reserve New York Staten Island Army Reserve Center 18,550 The President
Air NG New York Hancock Field TFI--Reaper IOC/FOC Beddown 5,000 The President/ Mr. Walsh
Air NG New York Gabreski Airport Replace Pararescue Ops Facility Ph 2 7,500 Mr. Israel/ Mr. Ackerman/ Mr. Bishop, T./ Mr. King, P./ Ms. McCarthy, C.
Army New York Fort Drum Replace Fire Station 6,900 Mr. McHugh
Air Reserve New York Niagara Falls ARS Dining Facility/Community Center 9,000 Ms. Slaughter
Air NG New York Hancock Field Upgrade ASOS Facilities 5,400 Mr. Walsh
Army North Carolina Fort Bragg Access Roads Ph 1 13,200 The President/ Mr. Hayes/ Mr. McIntyre
Army North Carolina Fort Bragg Access Roads Ph 1 (Additional Funds) 8,600 Mr. Hayes/ Mr. McIntyre
Army North Carolina Fort Bragg Training Support Center 20,500 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Army North Carolina Fort Bragg Utility Upgrade (Camp Mackall) 3,200 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Army Reserve North Carolina Raleigh Army Reserve Center/Land 25,581 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Camp Johnson 23,760 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Camp Johnson 38,230 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--French Creek 33,960 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Hadnot Point 39,890 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Hadnot Point 39,320 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Courthouse Bay 35,890 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--Hadnot Point 42,950 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Child Development Center 13,960 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Consolidated Mess Hall--Hadnot Point (200 Area) 25,000 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Infantry Platoon Battle Course--SR1 18,250 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Mess Hall--Hadnot Point (400 Area) 21,660 The President
Navy North Carolina Camp Lejeune Mod K-Ranges (Phase 2) 20,220 The President
Navy North Carolina Cherry Point 2nd MAW Command Operations Facility 30,480 The President
Navy North Carolina Cherry Point Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 30,100 The President
Navy North Carolina Cherry Point Engineering Product Support Facility 16,840 The President
Navy North Carolina New River Aircraft Parking Apron Addition 6,830 The President
Navy North Carolina New River Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 36,740 The President
Navy North Carolina New River Bachelor Enlisted Quarters--MCAS 25,620 The President
Navy North Carolina New River Enlisted Dining Facility 17,090 The President
Defense-Wide North Carolina Fort Bragg SOF Expand Training Compound 14,200 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Defense-Wide North Carolina Fort Bragg SOF Headquarters Facility 14,600 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Defense-Wide North Carolina Fort Bragg SOF Security/Force Protection 4,150 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Defense-Wide North Carolina Fort Bragg SOF Training Facility 5,300 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Defense-Wide North Carolina Fort Bragg New Elementary School 28,170 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Defense-Wide North Carolina Fort Bragg New Intermediate School (Irwin) 27,945 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Defense-Wide North Carolina Fort Bragg New Middle School 22,356 The President/ Mr. Hayes
Army NG North Carolina Camp Butner Training Complex 1,376 Mr. Miller, B.
Army North Carolina Fort Bragg Mass Casualty Facility 1,300 Mr. Etheridge
Army North Carolina Fort Bragg Chapel 11,600 Mr. McIntyre
Army NG Ohio Camp Perry Barracks 2,000 Ms. Kaptur/ Mr. Latta
Army NG Ohio Ravenna Barracks 2,000 Mr. Ryan, T./ Ms. Sutton
Air NG Ohio Springfield ANGB Combat Communications Training Complex 12,800 Mr. Hobson
Air Force Ohio Wright-Patterson AFB Security Forces Operations Facility 14,000 Mr. Turner
Army Oklahoma Fort Sill Training Complex Upgrade 63,000 The President
Air Force Oklahoma Tinker AFB Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 48,600 The President
Air Force Res Oklahoma Tinker AFB AFR Scheduled Maintenance Hangar 9,900 The President
Defense-Wide Oklahoma Tinker AFB Medical/Dental Clinic Replacement 65,000 The President
Defense-Wide Oklahoma Altus AFB Replace Fuel Storage Dikes 2,850 The President
Army Oklahoma McAlester AAP AP3 Connecting Rail 5,800 Mr. Boren
Air Force Oklahoma Tinker AFB Realign Air Depot Street 5,400 Mr. Cole
Army Pennsylvania Carlisle Barracks Museum Support Facility 13,400 The President
Army Pennsylvania Tobyhanna Depot Electronics Maintenance Shop 15,000 The President/ Mr. Kanjorski
Army Reserve Pennsylvania Letterkenny Depot Army Reserve Center 14,914 The President/ Mr. Shuster
Navy Pennsylvania Philadelphia Full Scale Electric Test Drive Facility 22,020 The President
Defense-Wide Pennsylvania Philadelphia Convert Warehouse to Admin Space 1,200 The President
Defense-Wide Pennsylvania Raven Rock West Power Plant 15,572 The President
Army NG Pennsylvania Honesdale Readiness Center Add/Alt 6,117 Mr. Carney
Army NG Pennsylvania Honesdale Readiness Center Add/Alt 504 Mr. Carney
Army NG Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Combined Support Maintenance Shop 3,250 Mr. Murtha/ Mr. Murphy, T.
Army Pennsylvania Letterkenny Depot Upgrade Munition Igloos Phase 2 7,500 Mr. Shuster
Navy Rhode Island Newport Fitness Facility 29,900 The President
Navy Rhode Island Newport Unmanned ASW Support Facility 9,900 Mr. Kennedy
Air NG Rhode Island Quonset State Airport Replace Control Tower 600 Mr. Langevin
Army South Carolina Fort Jackson Training Complex Upgrade 30,000 The President
Army NG South Carolina Anderson Readiness Center 12,000 The President
Army NG South Carolina Beaufort Readiness Center 3,400 The President
Army NG South Carolina Eastover Joint Forces Headquarters 28,000 The President
Navy South Carolina Beaufort MCAS EOD/Ordnance Operations Facility 5,940 The President
Navy South Carolina Parris Island Third Recruit Training Battalion (Phase 2) 36,400 The President
Navy South Carolina Parris Island Third Recruit Training Bn Complex (Phase 3) 28,350 The President
Air Force South Carolina Charleston AFB C-17 Flight Simulator Addition 4,500 The President/ Mr. Brown, H.
Army NG South Carolina Hemingway Field Maintenance Shop Ph 1 4,600 Mr. Clyburn
Army NG South Carolina Sumter Readiness Center 382 Mr. Clyburn
Air Force South Carolina Shaw AFB Physical Fitness Center 9,900 Mr. Spratt
Army NG South Dakota Rapid City Armed Forces Reserve Center 29,000 The President
Air NG South Dakota Joe Foss Field Aircraft Ready Shelters/AMU 4,500 Ms. Herseth Sandlin
Army Reserve Tennessee Chattanooga Army Reserve Center 10,600 The President
Army NG Tennessee Tullahoma Readiness Center 10,372 Mr. Wamp/ Mr. Davis, L.
Army Texas Corpus Christi Dynamic Component Rebuild Facility 39,000 The President/ Mr. Ortiz
Army Texas Fort Bliss Barracks & Dining 148,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Barracks & Dining 148,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Battalion Complex 34,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Brigade/Battalion HQs 44,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Brigade/Battalion HQs 44,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Chapel 9,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Company Operations Facilities, BCT 90,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Company Operations Facilities, BCT1 90,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Digital Multipurpose Range Complex 42,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Infrastructure, IBCT1 98,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Infrastructure, IBCT2 100,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Training Support Center 12,600 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Unit Maintenance Facilities 10,200 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Vehicle Maintenance Shops 81,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Bliss Vehicle Maintenance Shops 81,000 The President
Army Texas Fort Hood Unit Maintenance Facilities 32,000 The President/ Mr. Edwards/ Mr. Carter
Army Texas Fort Sam Houston Trainee Barracks Complex 96,000 The President/ Mr. Smith, L.
Army Texas Red River Depot Manuever Systems Sustainment Center, Phase 1 6,900 The President
Army Reserve Texas Sinton Army Reserve Center 9,700 The President
Air Force Texas Fort Hood TACP Joint Air Ground Center 10,800 The President/ Mr. Edwards/ Mr. Carter
Air Force Texas Lackland AFB BMT Recruit Dormitory 75,515 The President
Defense-Wide Texas Fort Sam Houston Medical Instruction Facility 13,000 The President/ Mr. Smith, L.
Army Reserve Texas Bryan Army Reserve Center 920 Mr. Edwards
Army Texas Camp Bullis Live Fire Shoot House 4,200 Mr. Rodriguez
Air NG Texas Ellington Field ASOS Facility 7,600 Mr. Lampson
Army Texas Fort Hood Chapel with Education Center 17,500 Mr. Edwards/ Mr. Carter
Air Force Texas Lackland AFB Security Forces Building Ph 1 900 Mr. Gonzalez
Air Force Texas Laughlin AFB Student Officer Quarters Ph 2 1,440 Mr. Rodriguez
Air Force Texas Randolph AFB Fire and Rescue Station 972 Mr. Cuellar
Navy Texas Corpus Christi Parking Apron Recapitalization Ph 1 3,500 Mr. Ortiz
Army Texas Fort Bliss Medical Parking Garage Ph 1 12,500 Mr. Reyes
Air NG Texas Fort Worth NAS JRB Security Forces Training Facility 5,000 Ms. Granger
Navy Texas Kingsville Fitness Center 11,580 Mr. Ortiz
Army NG Utah Camp Williams Ammunition Supply Point 17,500 The President
Air Force Utah Hill AFB F-22A Heavy Maint. Fac. & Composite Back Shop 36,000 The President
Defense-Wide Utah Hill AFB Hydrant Fuel System 20,400 The President
Air Force Utah Hill AFB Three-Bay Fire Station 5,400 Mr. Bishop, R.
Air NG Vermont Burlington IAP Security Forces and Communications Facility 6,600 The President
Army NG Vermont Ethan Allen Range Readiness Center 323 Mr. Welch
Army Virginia Fort Belvoir Emergency Services Center 7,200 The President/ Mr. Moran, James
Army Virginia Fort Eustis Unit Operations Facilities 14,400 The President
Army Virginia Fort Lee Dining Facility 10,600 The President/ Mr. Forbes
Army Virginia Fort Lee Trainee Barracks Complex 90,000 The President/ Mr. Forbes
Army Virginia Fort Myer Barracks 14,000 The President/ Mr. Moran, James
Army NG Virginia Arlington Arlington Hall Readiness Center PH2 15,500 The President/ Mr. Moran, James
Army NG Virginia Fort Pickett Multi Purpose Machine Gun Range 2,950 The President/ Mr. Forbes
Navy Virginia Norfolk Child Development Center 10,500 The President
Navy Virginia Norfolk Norfolk Harbor Channel Dredging 42,830 The President
Navy Virginia Quantico Aircraft Maintenance Hangar, Type II 27,750 The President
Navy Virginia Quantico Aircraft Parking Apron (Greenside) 36,280 The President
Navy Virginia Quantico Infrastructure--Russell Road (Phase 1) 7,450 The President
Navy Virginia Quantico Instruction Facility Addition--TBS 6,350 The President
Navy Virginia Quantico Instruction Facility TBS (Phase 1) 25,200 The President
Navy Virginia Quantico Mess Hall--OCS 13,750 The President
Navy Virginia Quantico Student Quarters--TBS (Phase 3) 27,530 The President
Navy Reserve Virginia Norfolk EODMU 10 Operations Facility 8,170 The President
Navy Reserve Virginia Williamsburg Ordnance Handling Cargo Ops Training Support 12,320 The President
Defense-Wide Virginia Pentagon Pentagon Athletic Center Phase 2 6,967 The President/ Mr. Moran, James
Defense-Wide Virginia Pentagon PFPA HAZMAT Facility 16,401 The President/ Mr. Moran, James
Defense-Wide Virginia Dam Neck SOF Operational Facility Incr II 31,000 The President
Defense-Wide Virginia Fort Story SOF Small Arms Range 11,600 The President
Defense-Wide Virginia Craney Island Replace Fuel Storage Tanks 39,900 The President
Army NG Virginia Fort Belvoir Readiness Center and NGB Conference Center 1,085 Mr. Moran, James
Army Virginia Fort Myer Hatfield Gate Expansion 300 Mr. Moran, James
Army Virginia Fort Eustis Vehicle Paint Facility 3,900 Mr. Scott, R./ Mr. Wittman
Navy Virginia Norfolk NS Fire and Emergency Services Station 9,960 Ms. Drake
Navy Virginia Norfolk NSY Industrial Access Improvements, Main Gate 15 9,990 Mr. Forbes/ Mr. Scott, R.
Navy Virginia Quantico OCS Headquarters Facility 5,980 Mr. Wittman
Army Washington Fort Lewis Battalion Complex 54,000 The President
Army Washington Fort Lewis Battalion Complex 47,000 The President
Army Washington Fort Lewis Brigade Complex 30,000 The President
Army Washington Fort Lewis Brigade Complex, Incr 3 102,000 The President
Army Washington Fort Lewis Child Development Center 27,000 The President
Army NG Washington Fort Lewis Aviation Readiness Center 32,000 The President
Army Reserve Washington Seattle Army Reserve Center 37,500 The President
Navy Washington Bangor Limited Area Production & Storage Complex Incr V 50,700 The President
Navy Washington Whidbey Island Hangar 5 Recapitalization (Incr) 34,000 The President
Air Force Washington McChord AFB C-17 ADAL Flight Simulator 5,500 The President
Defense-Wide Washington Fort Lewis SOF Ranger Battalion Complex 38,000 The President
Navy Washington Kitsap NB Saltwater Cooling & Fire Protection Improvements 5,110 Mr. Dicks
Air NG Washington McChord AFB 262 Info Warfare Aggressor Squadron Facility 8,600 Mr. Smith, A.
Navy Washington Whidbey Island Firefighting Facility 6,160 Mr. Larsen
Army NG West Virginia Camp Dawson Shoot House 2,000 Mr. Mollohan
Army NG West Virginia Camp Dawson Access Control Point 2,000 Mr. Mollohan
Army NG West Virginia Camp Dawson Multi-Purpose Building Ph 2 5,000 Mr. Mollohan
Army Reserve Wisconsin Fort McCoy Auto Qualification Training Range 4,000 The President
Air Force Wyoming F.E. Warren AFB Renovate Historic Dormitory 8,600 The President
Air NG Wyoming Cheyenne MAP TFI--C-130 Squadron Operations Facility 7,000 The President/ Ms. Cubin
Army Afghanistan Bagram AB Bulk Fuel Storage & Supply, Phase 8 26,000 The President
Army Afghanistan Bagram AB Bulk Fuel Storage & Supply, Phase 5 22,000 The President
Army Afghanistan Bagram AB SOF HQ Complex 19,000 The President
Air Force Afghanistan Bagram AB C-130 Maintenance Hangar 27,400 The President
Air Force Afghanistan Bagram AB Cargo Handling Area Expansion 8,800 The President
Air Force Afghanistan Bagram AB Refueler Ramp 21,000 The President
Navy Diego Garcia Diego Garcia Wharf Upgrade and Warehouse 35,060 The President
Navy Djibouti Camp Lemonier Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 12,830 The President
Navy Djibouti Camp Lemonier Aircraft Parking Apron 15,250 The President
Navy Djibouti Camp Lemonier Telcom Facility 3,330 The President
Army Germany Katterbach Aircraft/Vehicle Maintenance Complex 19,000 The President
Army Germany Wiesbaden Command and Battle Center, Increment I 59,500 The President
Army FH Germany Wiesbaden Family Housing Replacement 32,000 The President
Army FH Germany Wiesbaden AB Family Housing Replacement 10,000 The President
Army FH Germany Wiesbaden AB Family Housing Replacement 32,000 The President
Army FH Germany Wiesbaden AB Family Housing Replacement 27,000 The President
Defense-Wide Germany Germersheim Logistics Distribution Center Europe 48,000 The President
Navy Greece Souda Bay Fuel Storage Tanks and Pipeline Replacement 8,000 The President
Air Force Guam Andersen AFB Combat Communications Maintenance Facility 5,200 The President/ Ms. Bordallo
Navy Guam Guam NB Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, Main Base 62,360 The President/ Ms. Bordallo
Navy Guam Guam NB Kilo Wharf Extension 50,912 The President/ Ms. Bordallo
Navy Guam Guam NB Wastewater Collection System & Upgrade 26,070 The President/ Ms. Bordallo
Defense-Wide Guam Guam NH Central Utility Plant 30,000 The President/ Ms. Bordallo
Air Force Guam Andersen AFB ISR/STF Realign Arc Light Boulevard 5,400 Ms. Bordallo
Navy Guantanamo Bay Guantanamo Bay Consolidated Fitness Complex 20,600 The President
Navy FH Guantanamo Bay Guantanamo Bay Replace Bargo Housing 22,385 The President
Navy FH Guantanamo Bay Guantanamo Bay Replace Granadillo Circle Housing 16,547 The President
Navy FH Guantanamo Bay Guantanamo Bay Replace Granadillo Point Housing 23,666 The President
Army Italy Vicenza Brigade Complex-Barracks/Community, Incr 2 7,500 The President
Army Italy Vicenza Brigade Complex-Operations Support Fac, Incr 2 7,500 The President
Army Japan Camp Zama Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility 2,350 The President
Army Japan Sagamihara Battle Command Training Center 17,500 The President
Army Korea Camp Humphreys Vehicle Maintenance Shop 20,000 The President
Army FH Korea Camp Humphreys Family Housing New Construction 125,000 The President
Air Force Kyrgyzstan Manas AB Hot Cargo Pad 6,000 The President
Defense-Wide Qatar Al Udeid SOF Training Range 9,200 The President
Air Force United Kingdom RAF Lakenheath Large Vehicle Inspection Station 7,400 The President
Air Force FH United Kingdom RAF Lakenheath Replace Family Housing (182 Units) 71,828 The President
Air Force Worldwide Classified Special Evaluation Project 891 The President
Air Force Worldwide Unspecified UAS Field Training Unit Ops Complex 15,500 The President
Air Force Worldwide Unspecified UAS Field Training Unit Maintenance Complex 22,000 The President
Air Force Worldwide Unspecified Common Battlefield Airman Training Complex 15,000 The President
Defense-Wide Worldwide Unspecified BMDS-European Interceptor Site 52,600 The President
Defense-Wide Worldwide Unspecified BMDS-European Midcourse Radar Site 48,560 The President
Defense-Wide Worldwide Unspecified NATO Headquarters 22,000 The President
Navy Worldwide Unspecified P-8A Integrated Training Center 48,220 The President
Navy Worldwide Unspecified Data Center 28,000 The President
Navy Worldwide Unspecified Joint Operations & Support Complex, Phase 1 17,800 The President
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
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Account State Location Project Title Amount(in thousands) Member
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Major Construction Colorado Denver New Medical Facility 20,000 The President/ Mr. Perlmutter
Major Construction Florida Orlando New Medical Facility 220,000 The President/ Ms. Brown, C./ Mr. Weldon
Major Construction Puerto Rico San Juan Seismic Corrections 64,400 The President
Major Construction Florida Lee County Outpatient Clinic 111,412 The President
Major Construction Missouri St. Louis Medical Fac. Improvements 5,000 The President
Major Construction Florida Bay Pines Inpatient/Outpatient Improve. 17,430 The President
Major Construction Kentucky Louisville Site Acquisition and Prep 45,000 Mr. Yarmuth
Major Construction Puerto Rico Puerto Rico National Cemetery Gravesite Expansion and Cemetery Improvements 33,900 The President
Major Construction Massachusetts Massachusetts National Cemetery Gravesite Expansion and Cemetery Improvements 20,500 The President
Major Construction New York Calverton National Cemetery Gravesite Expansion and Cemetery Improvements 29,000 The President
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ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVES JERRY LEWIS AND ZACH WAMP
The fiscal year 2009 Military Construction, Veterans' Administration and Related Agencies appropriations bill funds critical military construction, family housing and quality of life improvements and enhancements for our brave men and women in uniform and their families.
In addition, this bill provides for every veteran who chooses to participate in VA programs, and it provides funding our heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice and are honored in the battle monuments and cemeteries that are funded in this bill.
The Subcommittee held 19 hearings on quality of life issues, critical military construction needs, veterans programs, and other issues that are important to this subcommittee. We have been full participants in those hearings, and are appreciative of the fact that all subcommittee members have been given plenty of time and opportunity to question witnesses, and we will continue to support the Chairman at these hearings.
302(B) ALLOCATION
The 302(b) allocation to the Subcommittee is $72.729 billion, an increase of $8.828 billion [13.8 percent] above the FY '08 enacted level of $63.901 billion (not including emergency funds), and an increase of $3.382 billion [4.88 percent] above the President's request of $69.347 billion. The increase comes from an overall discretionary budget increase that exceeded the President's budget request for fiscal year 2009 by $22 billion, and is all part of the Democrats' Budget Conference report that exceeded $1,000,000,000,000 in discretionary spending for the first time in our Nation's history.
Even with this massive spending increase, the 302(b) allocation cut $4 billion from the President's budget request for the Department of Defense. The Chairman may believe that $4 billion was cut from Defense to pay for a veterans increase in this bill. In actuality, that increase was already assumed in the Budget Resolution. The $4 billion cut from the President's Defense request is really being used to increase spending in the other domestic bills.
At a time when more and more Americans are being squeezed by paying in excess of four dollar gas at the pump, we believe government has an obligation to do more with less just as our constituents are being forced to do. We believe we have an obligation to make the difficult choices, set priorities, and root out wasteful government spending. Unfortunately, the 302(b) allocations that were adopted by the majority do not make difficult choices, do not set priorities, and do nothing to root out wasteful government spending.
FULL COMMITTEE
The full committee adopted an amendment by Mr. Lewis to assist veterans, who are facing record gasoline prices like all Americans, by increasing the mileage reimbursement rate to 41.5 cents. The committee also adopted an amendment by Mr. Kingston that directs the Air Force to establish a single point-of-contact at four bases that were affected by the American Eagle privatization projects.
FLOOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL
Traditionally, the Military Construction-VA bill has always been one of the first bills out of the House. We appreciate all of the hard work that Chairman Edwards and his staff have put into this bill, and we hope that the tradition for this bill to go early in the process to the House floor under an open rule continues. While we support this bill, the substantial funding increases included in it are going to require proper oversight of taxpayer dollars.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION & FAMILY HOUSING
The total funding level for military construction and family housing is $24.8 billion, an increase of $400 million above the President's budget request, and an increase of $4.2 billion over the fiscal year 2008 funding level. These funds are essential to meet the needs of the Grow the Force initiatives in the Army and Marine Corps that will add 92,000 active duty personnel.
We are pleased that funding for the BRAC 2005 account is at the President's budget request of $9.1 billion. We want to work with the majority to ensure that this account does not get cut as this bill moves forward. It is important for the DoD to have this funding to ensure that they have the necessary resources to fully implement BRAC 2005 by the September 15, 2011 deadline.
VETERANS AFFAIRS
This bill continues efforts to make the Veterans Health Administration the most effective and efficient system that it can be. However, we must not forget that the Department of Veterans Affairs is a bureaucracy that is slow to adapt to the changes in health care delivery that are occurring. Consequently, this bill continues efforts to adapt from the in-patient bed towers to the community-based outpatient clinics that serve so many of our veterans closer to where they live. In addition, funding increases are provided to meet the increased needs of veterans' health care in rural and other underserved areas of the country.
It is important to point out that this bill provides medical care funding to meet the needs of those wounded troops returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the unique challenges that they present especially for post traumatic brain disorder and traumatic brain injury.
There is no greater way to honor the volunteers who serve our country than to make sure that they have the best medical care and facilities with which to treat them. This bill provides historic funding increases to do just that. But, we can't forget that we also owe it to them to ensure that the VA manages these funds in a way that also honors our veterans. It would be a disservice to these heroes if stories of misuse or mismanagement arise. Therefore, we look forward to supporting Chairman Edwards to conduct the necessary oversight to ensure that these funds are spent wisely.
We are pleased that the bill includes much-needed funds for the VA Office of Inspector General to maintain its investigation and audit functions at the fiscal year 2008 operational level, and to increase oversight on community-based outpatient clinics, veterans' centers, mental health initiatives, especially PTSD, and a review on the relevancy of VA research to the veteran population.
In conclusion, while American taxpayers and future generations of Americans will be paying the price for this bill and other bills under the bloated discretionary spending levels adopted by the Democrat majority, this is a good bill. This bill will benefit our troops and their families, our veterans, and those who have paid the ultimate price of freedom.