Appropriations for FY1999: Military Construction (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Nov. 10, 1998 |
| Report Number |
98-210 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Mary T. Tyszkiewicz, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The military construction (MilCon) appropriations bill finances (1) military construction projects
in
the United States and overseas; (2) military family housing operations and construction; (3) U.S.
contributions to the NATO Security Investment Program; and (4) most base realignment and closure
costs.
This report reviews the appropriations and authorization process for military construction. The
congressional debate perennially centers on the adequacy of the President's budget for military
construction needs and the cases for and against congressional additions, especially for Guard and
Reserve projects. This year, key Members of Congress have argued that the Pentagon has neither
funded nor planned adequately for military construction.
For FY1999, the Administration has requested budget authority of $7.8 billion. This is down
from the FY1996 level of $11.1 billion, the FY1997 level of $9.8 billion and the FY1998 level of $8.9
billion. On May 21, the House passed their version of the FY1998 defense authorization bill,
H.R. 3616 ( H.Rept. 105-532 ). On May 7, the Senate Armed Services Committee
finished marking up its version, S. 2057 ( S.Rept. 105-189 ). The Senate passed the
defense authorization bill on June 25. The conference report ( H.Rept. 105-736 ) passed the House
on September 24, and the Senate on October 1. The FY1999 authorization bill became P.L. 105-261
on October 17, 1998.
The military construction appropriations subcommittees have finished their work. The
conference committee submitted their report ( H.Rept. 105-647 ) for H.R. 4059 on July
24. The House agreed to the conference report (417-1), on July 29, with the Senate agreeing (87-3)
on September 1. It became P.L. 105-237 on September 20, 1998.
The conference recommended $8.450B. The conference committee added $666M to the
President's request. Even with the additional funds, the FY1999 total is $759M less than what was
enacted for FY1998. This is an additional $216M to the House bill and a reduction of $31M from
the Senate bill.
Military construction accounts received emergency supplemental appropriations money for
FY1999 in the Omnibus Consolidation bill ( H.R. 4328 , H.Rept. 105-825 ) in October
1998. Due to monsoons in Korea and Hurricanes Georges & Bonnie, military construction
projects
secured an additional $209 million in funding.
Appropriations and authorization hearings on the FY1999 military construction budget have
highlighted the following issues:
importance of housing to the quality of life for
servicemembers;
privatization of military family housing and barracks
improvements;
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) concerns;
environmental issues; and
advanced procurement for Army military construction.
