Appropriations for FY1998: Military Construction (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Feb. 26, 1998 |
| Report Number |
97-210 |
| 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 paper reviews the appropriations and authorization process for military construction. The
appropriators have finished their work on H.R. 2016 . Both chambers approved the
conference report for the military construction appropriations bill ( H.Rept. 105-247 ) and the
President signed the bill on September 30, 1997, creating P.L. 105-45 . The defense authorizing
conference report ( H.Rept. 105-340 ) passed the House on October 23 and the Senate on November
7. The President signed the authorization bill on November 18, 1997, creating P.L. 105-85 .
The debate perennially centers on the adequacy of the President's budget for military
construction needs and the necessity for congressional add-ons, especially for Guard and Reserve
projects. FY1998 congressional additions to the military construction request have prioritized
projects to improve the quality of life for servicemembers and Guard and Reserve construction.
For FY1998, the Administration has requested budget authority of $8.4 billion. This is down
from the FY1996 level of $11.1 billion and the FY1997 level of $9.8 billion. The House and Senate
appropriations conference committee added $800 million and 129 additional projects to the request.
On October 6, 1997, the President exercised his line item veto authority on the FY1998 military
construction appropriations law. Thirty-eight projects were eliminated by the President because they
were not requested, could not be completed in FY1998 and did not contribute to the quality of life
for servicemembers. The savings of $287 million from the eliminated projects go directly to the U.S.
Treasury for deficit reduction -- not to the Department of Defense.
The Congress considered two disapproval bills. The Senate passed S. 1292 , which
would have reversed the cancellation of 36 of the 38 projects, on October 30. The House passed a
bill to reinstate all 38 projects -- H.R. 2631 -- on November 8. Then the House-passed
version was approved by the Senate on November 9, obviating the need for a conference committee.
The President vetoed the bill on November 13. On February 5, 1998, the House overrode the
President's veto of H.R. 2631 by voting 347-69. On February 26, 1998, the Senate
overrode the veto by a vote of 78-20. With the veto overturned, funding is restored for the 38
targeted projects.
