After
a Democratic attempt to add more funds was derailed, the House
passed legislation cutting military construction in 2004 by
$1.5 billion, or 14%, from fiscal 2003's level. The measure,
approved June 26 by a 428-0 vote, would provide $9.2 billion
for a variety of Dept. of Defense projects around the world.
The picture isn't any brighter
in the Senate, where the Appropriations Committee
unanimously approved a "milcon" measure that contained
the same amount of money as the House version.
The House bill includes $1.2 billion
for construction and rehabilitation of military family housing,
down 12% from 2003. Another $4.8 billion would be allotted
for barracks, DOD health care facilities and other projects,
down from $5.9 billion this year.
The DOD base closure account continues
to shrink, eight years after the most recent
round of installation shutdowns was announced. Under the House
bill, the closure program would receive $370 million, down
34% from 2003. More than 85% of the recommended 2004 total
would go for environmental cleanup.
Before approving the bill, an amendment
from Rep. David Obey (D-Wisc.) to add
about $1 billion to the measure was ruled out of order. Obey
said the legislation makes "only token progress"
toward improving housing for single and married people in
the armed services.
With passage of the milcon measure,
the House has approved two of the 13 appropriations bills
for 2004 as the July 4 recess is about to start. Another
five of the bills have cleared the Appropriations Committee.
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