Senate Appropriations Committee Issues Report on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2018 (Part 1 of 6)
BACKGROUND
Purpose of the Bill
Committee Recommendation
The Committee recommends new budget authority totaling
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
(TABLE OMITTED)
Overview and Summary of Bill
For America's 21.4 million veterans, the bill provides the necessary funding for veterans benefits and healthcare, from prescription drugs and clinical services to the construction of hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the Nation.
The bill also funds veterans cemeteries in
TITLE I
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
Items of Special Interest
HEARINGS
The Subcommittee on
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The fiscal year 2018 budget request for military construction and family housing totals
REPROGRAMMING GUIDELINES
The following reprogramming guidelines apply for all military construction and family housing projects. A project or account (including the sub-elements of an account) which has been specifically reduced by the
The reprogramming criteria that apply to military construction projects (25 percent of the funded amount or
Furthermore, in instances where prior approval of a reprogramming request for a project or account has been received from the Committee, the adjusted amount approved becomes the new base for any future increase or decrease via below-threshold reprogrammings (provided that the project or account is not a congressional interest item as defined above).
In addition to these guidelines, the services are directed to adhere to the guidance for military construction reprogrammings and notifications, including the pertinent statutory authorities contained in
REAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
The Committee recommends a continuation of the following general rules for repairing a facility under "Operation and Maintenance" account funding:
--Components of the facility may be repaired by replacement, and such replacement may be up to current standards or code.
--Interior arrangements and restorations may be included as repair, but additions, new facilities, and functional conversions must be performed as military construction projects.
--Such projects may be done concurrent with repair projects, as long as the final conjunctively funded project is a complete and usable facility.
--The appropriate Service Secretary shall submit a 21-day notification prior to carrying out any repair project with an estimated cost in excess of
The Department is directed to continue to report on the real property maintenance backlog at all installations for which there is a requested construction project in future budget requests. This information is to be provided on the form 1390. In addition, for all troop housing requests, the form 1391 is to continue to show all real property maintenance conducted in the past 2 years and all future requirements for unaccompanied housing at that installation.
INCREMENTAL FUNDING
In general, the Committee supports full funding for military construction projects. However, it continues to be the practice of the Committee to provide incremental funding for certain large projects, despite administration policy to the contrary, to enable the services to more efficiently allocate military construction dollars among projects that can be executed in the year of appropriation. Therefore, the Committee recommends incremental funding for three projects.
OTHER MATTERS
Naval Shipyard Modernization.--The Committee is concerned with likely impacts to Fleet readiness and operational availability of
The Committee is aware that public shipyards involved in
The Committee also notes that while the
Finally, the Committee notes that the
--A review of current and projected workload requirements for ship repairs to assess efficiencies in the use of existing facilities including consideration of new ship characteristics, obsolescence of facilities, siting of facilities and equipment, and various constrained process flows;
--An analysis of life cycle costs to repair and modernize existing mission essential facilities versus the cost to consolidate functions into modern, right-sized waterfront facilities to meet current and programmed future mission requirements;
--A review of the progress made in prioritizing and funding projects that facilitate implementation of the hub concept for ship repair in order to improve process efficiencies, and contribute to availability cost and schedule reductions;
--A Master Plan for each shipyard incorporating the results of a review of industrial processes, logistics streams and workload distribution required to support ship repairs at each shipyard and the facilities requirements to support optimized processes; and
--An updated investment strategy planned for each public shipyard, including timelines to complete the masterplan for each shipyard, a list of projects and brief scopes of work, and cost estimates necessary to complete projects for mission essential facilities.
Informed by the results of this study, the Committee urges the
Federal, State and Local Intelligence Collaboration.--The Committee is aware that several States utilize
Historic Buildings.--The Committee recognizes the historical value of many of our Nation's military installations, and the need for preserving these historic sites for posterity. However, the Committee is also aware of the challenges of maintaining historical buildings, particularly those that are still in use today. On certain military installations, these historical structures are still used for housing and other purposes, which can lead to a struggle to balance maintaining hospitable living and work environments with preserving the historical status of the building. The Committee requests that the Government Accountability Office conduct a review that assesses historical structures or sites on Department installations in
DoD Installation Energy Policy.--
In order to continue to conduct safe and robust testing of our military's newest munitions and systems, deployed by our fastest and longest-range aircraft, surface, and subsurface vessels, test and training range infrastructure and instrumentation must be modernized. The lack of needed investment at MRTFB facilities jeopardizes future technology development and threaten the Nation's ability to counter emerging threats. The Committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a comprehensive MRTFB modernization plan within 180 days of enactment of this act outlining a timetable and specific actions for repair, replacement and renovation of infrastructure, equipment and instrumentation at mission- critical facilities.
Infrastructure to Support Third Offset Capabilities.--The Committee notes that the
Water Conservation on Military Installations.--The Senate Report accompanying H.R. 5325 (S. Rept. 114-237) included language highlighting the status of water use on military installations, the vulnerability of installations to water scarcity, and water conservation potential at military installations based on both reduced water use and cost savings. The report directed the Secretary of Defense to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion.--The Committee is concerned about the increasingly harmful impact of sea level rise and flooding on facilities at
Among several compelling findings, GAO noted that
In a
Understanding the costs associated with mitigation of climate vulnerabilities is essential to an accurate assessment of future
Therefore, the Committee directs the Comptroller General to undertake a study of
--What is known about the historical and projected costs for facilities maintenance and repair beyond expected repair costs of
--What best practices has
--To what extent has
Local Hiring in
Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Joint Use Military/Civilian Airports.--The Committee is concerned that many existing Airport Joint Use Agreements [AJUA] were not written to accommodate the increasing use of remotely piloted aircraft [RPAs]. In some instances, a long term AJUA may need significant modifications to allow for the use of RPAs and to calculate the appropriate Federal compensation. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the authorities needed to update AJUAs and associated compensation for airfields impacted by a transition to RPA missions, and to report such findings to the congressional defense committees no later than
Special Operations Command Training Opportunities.-- Abandoned mine land and surface reclamation projects throughout the Nation can provide a unique environment for military training and range capabilities, to include mobility and irregular warfare opportunities for the Special Operations Command [
Viability of Armed Forces Reserve Centers.--The Committee is aware of the proposed closure of certain recently constructed reserve centers due to a lack of usage. This raises concerns about the adequacy and accuracy of the personnel and unit forecasting that led to the construction of such facilities. The Committee directs the
Accidental window fall prevention.--The Committee is concerned about the risks of unintentional falls from windows in military family housing. Deaths and injuries often occur when children push against window screens or climb onto furniture located near an open window. Therefore, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Committee directs the
The Committee also directs the
Military Construction Funding Initiatives.--The bill includes funding for military construction initiatives to address important unfunded priorities included in the
For this reason, the Committee includes an additional
Rescissions.--The Committee recommends an administrative provision rescinding prior year unobligated funds due primarily to project bid savings and the slow execution of projects.
Military Construction Overview
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 9,782,451,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,536,000,000
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTS--PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The military construction appropriation provides for acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 920,394,000
Committee recommendation................................ 930,394,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
Defense Laboratory Enterprise Facilities and Infrastructure.--The Committee is concerned the unspecified minor military construction [UMMC] request is insufficient to support the
Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.--The Committee understands that the
Badger Army Ammunition Plant.--In 2011, an Army Feasibility Study concluded that an offsite drinking water treatment system was needed as part of a comprehensive groundwater cleanup remedy for the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant [BAAP]. Accordingly, in 2015, the
Therefore, the Committee expects the Army to conduct required human health risk assessments expeditiously, and if needed, use expedited contracting authorities. Additionally, the Committee urges the Army to hold regular public meetings to update and engage with local stakeholders. The Committee expects the Army to integrate local priorities in its remediation plans. Furthermore, within 90 days of the date of enactment of this act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committee a report and provide a corresponding briefing regarding the Army's rationale and process for approving plans to construct and operate a drinking water system and its subsequent decision to terminate such plans, as well as the Army's completed and planned actions for environmental restoration at the site.
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,616,665,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,565,665,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
Navy Strategic Laydown and Dispersal.--The Committee recognizes the inherent risk of natural and man-made hazards associated with the stationing of
Innovative Ship Design & Technology Integration Collaboration Center.--The
Advanced Electric Ship Testbed.--The Committee notes the
Navy Yard Land Acquisition.--The Committee does not recommend providing
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,738,796,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,569,296,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
Air Force Ballistic Missile Facilities.--The Committee is concerned with the deteriorating infrastructure of the ground- based intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM] facilities at
Infrastructure is critically important to the nuclear mission, and the Committee urges the Secretary of the
KC-46 Main Operating Base 4.--The Committee notes that the budget request included a funding wedge for the KC-46 Main Operating Base 4. Shortly after the budget submission, the Secretary of the
Launch Support and Infrastructure Modernization.-- The Launch and Test Range System [LTRS] located at the
Continues with Part 2 of 6
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Senate Appropriations Committee Issues Report on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2018 (Part 5 of 6)
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