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109th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 109-464
======================================================================
MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2007
_______
May 15, 2006.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Walsh, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 5385]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making
appropriations for the military quality of life functions of
the Department of Defense, military construction, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2007.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose of the Bill.............................................. 2
Conformance With Authorization Bill.............................. 3
Summary of Committee Recommendation.............................. 3
Items of Interest................................................ 19
Department of Defense:
Military Construction........................................ 21
NATO Security Investment Program............................. 27
Family Housing Construction and Operation and Maintenance.... 29
Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide......... 32
Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990.............. 32
Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005.............. 32
Basic Allowance for Housing.................................. 33
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization........ 35
Environmental Restoration.................................... 38
Defense Health Program....................................... 39
Administrative Provisions.................................... 46
Department of Veterans Affairs:
Overview..................................................... 48
Veterans Benefits Administration............................. 51
Veterans Health Administration............................... 54
Departmental Administration.................................. 59
Administrative Provisions.................................... 65
Related Agencies:
American Battle Monuments Commission......................... 66
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.................... 68
Cemeterial Expenses, Army.................................... 68
Armed Forces Retirement Home................................. 68
Additional Appropriations........................................ 69
General Provisions............................................... 69
Changes in Application of Existing Law........................... 70
Appropriations Not Authorized by Law............................. 73
Transfer of Funds................................................ 75
Rescissions...................................................... 76
Constitutional Authority......................................... 76
Comparisons With Budget Resolution............................... 76
Five-Year Projection of Outlays.................................. 77
Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments.............. 77
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 77
Full Committee Votes............................................. 77
State List....................................................... 82
Additional Views................................................. 101
Purpose of the Bill
The structure of this bill allows for a more comprehensive
look at the quality of life for U.S. servicemen and women, from
recruitment through retirement. Since the advent of the All
Volunteer Force in 1973, quality of life has come to play an
increasingly prominent role in preserving the unmatched
professionalism and capability of the U.S. armed forces. All of
the witnesses, including the Chief of Staff of the military
services, who have testified before the Committee in
preparation for this bill, have spoken in full support of the
bill structure highlighting the importance of maintaining a
suitable quality of life for soldiers, sailors, airmen and
marines. This quality of life necessarily involves the
construction and maintenance of military facilities and
housing, the basic allowance for housing, the defense health
program, and environmental restoration. Several witnesses
affirmed the saying, ``you recruit the soldier and you retain
the family,'' and all of these elements contribute to that
purpose, while maintaining a high level of readiness.
Quality of life should also be a guiding concept upon a
service member's retirement, making veterans affairs another
primary component in achieving the purpose of this bill. The
Committee continues to hear repeatedly of gaps and flaws in the
transition from active duty to retirement, particularly in the
switch from active duty health care to veterans health care.
Unacceptable in peacetime, this situation becomes intolerable
in a time of war. Advances in battlefield medicine have
resulted in dramatic increases over previous conflicts in the
percentage of service personnel who survive their wounds. The
Committee is deeply concerned that wounded veterans receive the
treatment they require and deserve. The Committee is also
concerned that the mental health needs of servicemenbers and
veterans are properly addressed. Therefore, the Committee will
continue to examine opportunities for improving quality of life
for active and reserve personnel, veterans, and those making
the transition from active to veteran status.
The programs funded in the bill for the Department of
Defense (DOD) include: military construction, including
housing; operation and maintenance of family housing; the
family housing improvement fund; the basic allowance for
housing payment; facilities sustainment, restoration and
modernization; environmental restoration; the defense health
program; the U.S. share of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization Security Investment Program; funds to execute
projects identified by the base realignment and closure
authorities; and the chemical demilitarization construction
program. The bill also funds the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA). Finally, the bill funds four related agencies, including
the American Battle Monuments Commission, Cemeterial Expenses,
Army, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the
Armed Forces Retirement Home.
Conformance With Authorization Bill
On May 3, 2006, the Armed Services Committee reported out
the National Defense Authorization Act for 2007. At this time,
conference action on the legislation has not concluded;
therefore, projects in this bill are approved subject to
authorization.
Summary of Committee Recommendation
The Committee recommends $136,120,452,000 in new budget
authority for the programs and activities funded in the bill.
This recommendation is $824,000,000 below the President's
request and $13,923,359,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level. Included in this amount is $41,415,643,000 in mandatory
authority and $94,704,809,000 in discretionary authority. The
following table compares amounts recommended in the bill to the
President's request and amounts appropriated in fiscal year
2006:
Items of Interest
Budget Justifications.--The House Committee on
Appropriations is committed to enactment of all appropriations
bills prior to the start of the fiscal year. The Committee
waited more than eight weeks after the release of the
President's budget proposal to receive budget justifications
for all the programs in this bill. This is unacceptable. For
the Committee to adequately review the budget proposal and make
informed decisions on the recommendations therein,
justification material must arrive in a more timely manner. The
Department of Defense is directed to submit detailed
justification material to the Committee on the date the
President's budget is released.
Joint Incentives Program.--The Committee is concerned about
the large amount of carryover funding in the Departments of
Defense and Veterans Affairs Joint Incentive Fund and held a
hearing on the issue this year. While the Committee believes
that many of the issues that have precluded the funding from
being spent have been resolved, there is still a large amount
of funding that remains unobligated. This program has been
authorized for four years and as of January of this year, only
a small percentage of the funds had been obligated to projects.
The Committee does not disagree with the rationale for having
such a fund, but is waiting to see tangible results before
continuing to provide additional funding. The Committee has not
agreed to increase funding for payments into the fund in fiscal
year 2007 and, in the case of the Department of Defense, has
rescinded $15,042,000 in unobligated balances from the fund.
Information Technology Data Sharing.--The Committee is
concerned about the progress being made in implementing medical
record data sharing between the Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs and also held a hearing on this
issue earlier this year. While improvements are being made,
problems with data sharing are still being experienced at the
local level. In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs is
considering a new system for storing and housing individual
medical records data. The Committee feels strongly that the two
Departments should, to the maximum extent possible, use
identical software platforms, data standards, and data
repositories to increase the viability of data sharing and
reduce system development costs. The Departments should report
to the Committee on their plans for going forward with data
sharing systems and standards no later than December 15, 2006.
Incremental Funding for Military Construction Projects.--
The Committee understands that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) has altered Administration policy on incremental
funding of military construction projects. The Committee
understands that approval of incremental funding in the past
has been based on the following criteria: (1) the estimated
cost of the project must be at least $50,000,000; (2) the
construction schedule must be at least 24 months; (3)
incrementally funded contracts must conform with Federal
Acquisition Regulations; and (4) incremental funding will not
significantly increase the cost of the project. The Committee
further understands that OMB will now refuse to grant approval
for incremental funding except for those projects subjectively
determined by OMB to have a ``major national security impact.''
It is the Committee's view that military construction
projects should be fully funded or separated into stand-alone
phases whenever practical. In some cases, however, incremental
funding makes fiscal and programmatic sense, regardless of
OMB's subjective judgments. While the appropriations for
incrementally funded projects are spread across two or more
fiscal years, the total cost must be authorized in the first
year, which allows Congress to exercise oversight before
committing to such projects. The Committee will continue to
exercise its prerogative to recommend incremental funding where
it is deemed appropriate, in accordance with authorizing
legislation. The Committee has therefore recommended that two
projects be incrementally funded: Hangar 5 Recapitalization,
NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, under Military Construction,
Navy and Marine Corps; and Clinic Replacement, MacDill AFB,
under Military Construction, Defense-Wide.
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 account 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.
The Committee notes that, when adjusted for supplemental
appropriations, funding for facilities sustainment,
restoration, and modernization (FSRM) across the Department of
Defense will be reduced by $319,106,000, or 4.9 percent from
fiscal year 2006. The reduction for the active components and
Defense agencies alone is 7.1 percent. The Committee believes
that this decrease in funding does not result from a declining
requirement, but rather from current fiscal pressures and the
Department's historic unwillingness to fully fund FSRM in its
request. The Committee notes that under the recommended account
structure the Department will no longer have the option of
reprogramming funds between FSRM and base operating support
(which is also historically underfunded), as has been the usual
practice. It is the Committee's intention to stop this
practice, and therefore the Committee urges the Department to
begin budgeting up front for full funding of the FSRM
requirement.
Reprogramming Criteria.--Reprogramming requests are
required for military construction and family housing projects
when the increase equals or exceeds 25 percent of the
appropriated amount or $2,000,000, whichever is less.
Impact of 2005 BRAC Round and Global Rebasing on Local
Schools.--The Committee is deeply concerned by the impact that
the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, as well as
global rebasing, could have on school districts near recipient
installations. The Committee urges the Department of Defense to
be as proactive as possible in assisting local communities with
planning for growth in school enrollment due to increases in
personnel with children. The Department must share, to the
greatest extent possible, information concerning the schedule
of BRAC and global rebasing actions, as well as demographic
data and housing plans. The Committee intends to monitor the
Department's actions in this regard.
Basic Allowance for Housing Rate Calculations.--The
Committee is concerned that the annual process for determining
basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates is too cumbersome to
keep pace with a dynamic family housing market, leading to
shortfalls in the year of execution that must be made up either
with additional appropriations or funds from other accounts.
This concern will grow as the number of government-owned family
housing units decreases and more servicemembers move into
privatized housing. The Committee believes that the BAH rate-
setting process should be part of the 10th Quadrennial Review
of Military Compensation now underway. The Committee also
directs the Department of Defense to provide a report on the
execution of each BAH appropriation recommended in this bill
for the five most recent fiscal years for which data is
available. The report shall include for each year and
appropriation the budget request, appropriated amount
(including supplemental appropriations), and the actual
executed amount. The report shall also note legislative and
policy initiatives affecting any differences between the budget
request and executed amount in each year. This report shall be
submitted no later than September 1, 2006.
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Military Construction, Army
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,737,761,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 2,059,762,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including 1,712,950,000
rescissions).........................................
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (24,811,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (346,812,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,756,298,000
and a rescission of $43,348,000 for Military Construction,
Army, for fiscal year 2007. In addition, the Committee
recommends an appropriation of $379,300,000 in Title IV for
projects supporting contingency operations related to the
global war on terrorism. Together this is an increase of
$354,489,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and an
increase of $32,488,000 above the budget request. The Committee
recommends rescissions from previous appropriations to the
account due to bid savings as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Law/location Project title Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PL 109-114 (FY 2006):
Korea: Camp Humphreys........ Barracks Complex (11,898,000)
(PN 058248).
Korea: Camp Humphreys........ Barracks Complex (17,044,000)
(PN 058354).
Korea: Camp Humphreys........ Barracks Complex (14,406,000)
(PN 058398).
-----------------
Total...................... ................... (43,348,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona--Yuma Proving Ground: Special Operations Free Fall
Simulator Facility. Of the funds provided for planning and
design in this account, the Committee directs that not less
than $365,000 be made available for the design of this project.
Georgia--Fort Benning: Combat Pistol Qualification Course.
Of the funds provided for minor construction in this account,
the Committee directs that not less than $930,000 be made
available for this project.
Utah--Dugway Proving Ground: Community Dining Facility. Of
the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the
Committee directs that not less than $243,000 be made available
for the design of this project.
Virginia--Fort Belvoir: Sensitive Compartmented Information
Facility. Of the funds provided for planning and design in this
account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,260,000 be
made available for the design of this project.
Reducing Overhead for Army Military Construction Projects.
The Committee is aware that cooperative efforts with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers are underway to reduce design and
overhead costs on military construction projects. The Committee
understands that the increased use of standard designs and
changes in Supervision, Inspection and Overhead (SIOH)
practices will allow the Army to reduce the cost of projects.
The Committee supports and encourages these efforts, and
directs the Army to provide a status report on these efforts by
October 2, 2006.
Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,386,752,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,162,038,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including 1,155,834,000
rescissions).........................................
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (230,918,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (6,204,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,193,834,000
and rescissions of $38,000,000 for Military Construction, Navy
and Marine Corps, for fiscal year 2007. In addition, the
Committee recommends an appropriation of $26,037,000 in Title
IV for projects supporting contingency operations related to
the global war on terrorism. Together this is a decrease of
$204,881,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and an
increase of $19,833,000 above the budget request. When adjusted
for supplemental funding, the recommendation is an increase of
$86,338,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level. The
Committee recommends rescissions from previous appropriations
to the account due to cancelled or delayed projects as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Law/location Project title Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PL 108-132 (FY 2004)
Italy: La Maddalena.......... Consolidate Santo (30,000,000)
Stefano Facilities.
PL 108-324 (FY 2005)
NC: OLF Washington County.... OLF Land (8,000,000)
Acquisition (Phase
I).
-----------------
Total...................... ................... (38,000,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia: Full Scale Electric Test Drive
Facility. Of the funds provided for planning and design in this
account, the Committee directs that not less than $945,000 be
made available for the design of this project.
North Carolina: Outlying Landing Field. The Committee
expects the Navy to comply with the requirements of federal law
and relevant court decisions regarding the completion of a
supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the
Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in North Carolina. The Committee
further directs that, no later than 30 days after completion of
the draft SEIS, the Navy submit a report to the Committee
detailing how the SEIS addresses the deficiencies in the
initial EIS as identified by the relevant court decisions. That
report shall also include the Navy's explanation of how it has
complied with the Committee's previous direction to ``fully
reconsider alternative sites in cooperation with the State of
North Carolina.''
Military Construction, Air Force
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,299,157,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,156,148,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including 1,184,856,000
rescissions).........................................
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (114,301,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 28,708,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,187,550,000
and a rescission of $2,694,000 for Military Construction, Air
Force, for fiscal year 2007. In addition, the Committee
recommends an appropriation of $49,923,000 in Title IV for
projects supporting contingency operations related to the
global war on terrorism. Together this is a decrease of
$64,378,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and an
increase of $78,631,000 above the budget request. When adjusted
for supplemental funding, the recommendation is a decrease of
$11,766,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level. The
Committee recommends rescissions from previous appropriations
to the account due to bid savings and a cancelled project as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Law/location Project title Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PL 108-324 (FY 2005):
MD: Andrews AFB.............. ASA Munitions (1,100,000)
Storage Igloos.
Italy: Aviano AB............. Flight Simulator (1,594,000)
Facility.
-----------------
Total...................... ................... (2,694,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
California--Travis AFB: C-17 and C-5 Squadron Operations
and Aircraft Generation Squadron Facility. Of the funds
provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee
directs that not less than $1,134,000 be made available for the
design of this project.
Georgia--Robins AFB: Software Support Facility. Of the
funds provided for planning and design in this account, the
Committee directs that not less than $1,935,000 be made
available for the design of this project.
Idaho--Mountain Home AFB: Logistics Readiness Center. Of
the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the
Committee directs that not less than $1,530,000 be made
available for the design of this project.
New Mexico-Kirtland AFB: Parajumper/Combat Rescue Officers
Rescue Recovery Training Center. Of the funds provided for
planning and design in this account, the Committee directs that
not less than $1,026,000 be made available for the design of
this project.
North Dakota-Grand Forks AFB: Fire Station. Of the funds
provided for planning and design in this account, the Committee
directs that not less than $1,071,000 be made available for the
design of this project.
Ohio-Wright-Patterson AFB: Information Technology Complex,
Phase 1. Of the funds provided for planning and design in this
account, the Committee directs that not less than $2,070,000 be
made available for the design of this project.
Energy Conservation.--In previous years, the Committee
encouraged the Navy to expand opportunities for the use of
advanced photovoltaic technology such as triple junction
amorphous silicon photovoltaic roofing in military construction
projects. The Committee believes that many Air Force projects
would also benefit from a similar emphasis on renewable energy
technology. The Committee directs the Air Force to provide a
report on plans and opportunities to include photovoltaic
capability in Military Construction projects no later than
January 15, 2007.
Military Construction, Defense-Wide
(including rescissions of funds)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,023,766,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,208,198,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including 997,377,000
rescissions).........................................
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (26,389,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (210,821,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,107,606,000
and rescissions of $110,229,000 for Military Construction,
Defense-Wide, for fiscal year 2007. In addition, the Committee
recommends an appropriation of $44,500,000 in Title IV for
projects supporting contingency operations related to the
global war on terrorism. Together this is an increase of
$63,111,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and a
decrease of $166,321,000 below the budget request. When
adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$63,111,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level. Within
this appropriation is $55,000,000 for the Energy Conservation
Improvement Program, an increase of $5,000,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 level and a decrease of $5,000,000 below the budget
request. The Committee recommends rescissions from previous
appropriations to the account due to bid savings and projects
cancelled as a result of the 2005 base realignment and closure
process. The rescissions are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Law/location Project title Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PL 108-132 (FY 2004):
DC: Walter Reed AMC.......... Hospital Energy (9,000,000)
Plant Addition.
PL 108-324 (FY 2005):
VA: Fort Belvoir............. Hospital (43,000,000)
Replacement, Phase
I.
PL 109-114 (FY 2006):
VA: Fort Belvoir............. Alter Air Intakes.. (1,900,000)
VA: Fort Belvoir............. Hospital (56,329,000)
Replacement, Phase
II.
Subtotal, PL 109-114..... ................... (58,229,000)
-----------------
Total................ ................... (110,229,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida: MacDill AFB--Clinic Replacement. The Committee
recommends incremental funding of this project. The Committee
understands that this project was originally programmed by the
Department of Defense as an incrementally funded project. After
the Office of Management and Budget denied the Department's
request for incremental funding (see earlier in this report),
the project was reprogrammed as two phases: the Clinic
Replacement in fiscal year 2007, with a follow-on Pharmacare
addition in fiscal year 2008. Programming the project as two
separate phases increases overhead costs, as the two phases
will have to be done under separate contracts. Furthermore,
since the Pharmacare phase will not be awarded until fiscal
year 2008, the overall cost of the complete facility may
actually increase due to inflation. The Committee believes that
the entire project, including the Pharmacare addition, should
be done as a single project under one contract, which will both
control costs and ensure that the facility will be completed in
a timely manner as an integrated whole.
Military Construction, Army National Guard
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $892,219,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 473,197,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 512,873,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (379,346,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 39,676,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $512,873,000
for Military Construction, Army National Guard, for fiscal year
2007. In addition, the Committee recommends an appropriation of
$5,530,000 in Title IV for projects supporting contingency
operations related to the global war on terrorism. Together
this is a decrease of $373,816,000 below the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and an increase of $45,206,000 above the budget
request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $484,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level.
New York--Camp Smith: Combined Support Maintenance Shop. Of
the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the
Committee directs that not less than $1,031,000 be made
available for the design of this project.
Oregon--Salem: Readiness Center Addition/Alteration. Of the
funds provided for planning and design in this account, the
Committee directs that not less than $749,000 be made available
for the design of this project.
North Carolina--Raleigh: Armed Forces Reserve Center (Joint
Headquarters). The Committee has previously noted the
importance of this project, which is currently programmed for
fiscal year 2010 in the current Future Years Defense Plan
(FYDP). The Committee recommends that the Army National Guard
accelerate the programming of this project to fiscal year 2008,
and directs the Guard to submit a status report on the planning
and design for this project by December 1, 2006.
Military Construction, Air National Guard
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $334,256,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 125,788,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 207,088,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (127,168,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 81,300,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $207,088,000
for Military Construction, Air National Guard, for fiscal year
2007. This is a decrease of $127,168,000 below the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and an increase of $81,300,000 above the
budget request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $92,168,000 below the fiscal year 2006
enacted level.
New York--Gabreski ANGB: Replace Pararescue Complex. Of the
funds provided for planning and design in this account, the
Committee directs that not less than $502,000 be made available
for the design of this project.
South Carolina--McEntire JRB: Wing Operations and Training
Complex. Of the funds provided for planning and design in this
account, the Committee directs that not less than $1,000,000 be
made available for the design of this project.
Tennessee--McGhee-Tyson ANGB: Squadron Operations Facility/
Relocate Main Gate. Of the funds provided for planning and
design in this account, the Committee directs that not less
than $1,000,000 be made available for the design of this
project.
Military Construction, Army Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $151,043,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 166,487,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 167,774,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 16,731,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 1,287,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $167,774,000
for Military Construction, Army Reserve, for fiscal year 2007.
In addition, the Committee recommends an appropriation of
$1,713,000 in Title IV for projects supporting contingency
operations related to the global war on terrorism. Together
this is an increase of $18,444,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and an increase of $3,000,000 above the budget
request.
California--Camp Parks: Combat Support Training Center
Range Control Facility. Of the funds provided for planning and
design in this account, the Committee directs that not less
than $252,000 be made available for the design of this project.
New York--Mattydale: Syracuse Armed Forces Reserve Center/
Organizational Maintenance Shop/Area Maintenance Support
Activity/Unheated Storage. Of the funds provided for planning
and design in this account, the Committee directs that not less
than $2,414,000 be made available for the design of this
project.
Military Construction, Navy Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $149,967,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 48,408,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 55,158,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (94,809,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 6,750,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $55,158,000
for Military Construction, Navy Reserve, for fiscal year 2007.
This is a decrease of $94,809,000 below the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and an increase of $6,750,000 above the budget
request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $25,323,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level.
Military Construction, Air Force Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $91,009,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 44,936,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 56,836,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (34,173,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 11,900,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $56,836,000
for Military Construction, Air Force Reserve, for fiscal year
2007. This is a decrease of $34,173,000 below the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and an increase of $11,900,000 above the
budget request.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $174,789,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 220,985,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 200,985,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 26,196,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (20,000,000)
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 $200,985,000
for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment
Program (NSIP) for fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of
$26,196,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and
$20,000,000 below the budget request. The Committee believes
the exchange rate between the dollar and the euro will produce
savings. The Committee expects projects will be prioritized
with the highest priority given to NATO on-going missions such
as those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $4,438,332,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 4,084,040,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including 3,989,353,000
rescissions).........................................
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (448,979,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (94,687,000)
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
$4,055,553,000 and rescissions of $66,200,000 for the family
housing construction and operation and maintenance accounts for
fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of $448,979,000 below the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and a decrease of $94,687,000
below the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $11,094,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level.
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 as directed by House Report 109-95.
Foreign Currency Savings.--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 Committee on how these savings are allocated by
December 1, 2006. Likewise, only 10 percent of funds made
available to the construction and operation and maintenance
sub-accounts may be transferred between the sub-accounts. Such
transfers must be reported to the Committee within 30 days of
such action.
Leasing Reporting Requirement.--The Secretary of Defense is
directed to report to the Committee quarterly on the details of
all new or renewed domestic leases entered into during the
previous quarter that exceed $20,000 per unit per year,
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 $30,000 per unit per year 21 days prior
to entering into such an agreement; and (3) base leasing
decisions on the economic analysis.
Reprogramming Criteria.--The reprogramming criteria that
apply to military construction projects (25 percent of the
funded amount or $2,000,000, whichever is less) apply to new
housing construction projects and improvement projects over
$2,000,000 as well.
Family Housing Construction, Army
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $528,140,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 594,991,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 578,791,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 50,651,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (16,200,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $578,791,000
for Family Housing Construction, Army, for fiscal year 2007.
This is an increase of $50,651,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and a decrease of $16,200,000 below the budget
request. The reduction from the request is taken from family
housing improvements construction for general officers quarters
at Fort McNair. The appropriation includes $241,800,000 to
construct new family housing units, $320,659,000 to improve
existing units, and $16,332,000 for planning and design. This
funding level supports the elimination of 9,925 inadequate
family housing units.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $795,953,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 676,829,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 674,657,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (121,296,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (2,172,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $674,657,000
for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army, for fiscal
year 2007. This is a decrease of $121,296,000 below the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and a decrease of $2,172,000 below the
budget request for repair of general officers quarters in
Stuttgart, Germany.
Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $302,918,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 305,071,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 308,956,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 6,038,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 3,885,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $308,956,000
for Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps, for
fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $6,038,000 above the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and an increase of $3,885,000
above the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $92,203,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level. The appropriation includes
$126,025,000 to construct new family housing units,
$180,146,000 to improve existing units, and $2,785,000 for
planning and design. This funding level supports the
elimination of 7,811 inadequate family housing units.
California--Twentynine Palms: Install Air Conditioning--
Vista Del Sol, Phase 1. Of the funds provided for construction
improvements in this account, the Committee directs that no
less than $3,700,000 be made available for this project.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $631,662,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 509,126,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 509,126,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (122,536,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $509,126,000
for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine
Corps, for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of $122,536,000
below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the
budget request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $73,647,000 below the fiscal year 2006
enacted level.
Family Housing Construction, Air Force
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,324,968,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,183,138,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including 1,102,938,000
rescissions).........................................
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (222,030,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (80,200,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,169,138,000
and rescissions of $66,200,000 for Family Housing Construction,
Air Force, for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of
$222,030,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and a
decrease of $80,200,000 below the budget request. When adjusted
for supplemental funding, the recommendation is $55,970,000
above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level. The recommendation
includes a reduction from the request for an Air Force
programming error. The appropriation includes $752,159,000 to
construct new family housing units, $403,777,000 to improve
existing units, and $13,202,000 for planning and design. This
funding level supports the elimination of 17,457 inadequate
family housing units.
The Committee recommends rescissions from previous
appropriations to the account. The Committee believes that
these funds are not required to execute any currently scheduled
family housing projects. The Committee notes that the Air Force
frequently reprograms funds within the Family Housing
Construction account. In order to allow the Air Force to
maintain this flexibility, the Committee recommends general
rescissions as follows: -$23,400,000 from P.L. 108-324 (fiscal
year 2005), and -$42,800,000 from P.L. 109-114 (fiscal year
2006).
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $806,289,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 755,071,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 755,071,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (51,218,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $755,071,000
for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force, for
fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of $51,218,000 below the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget
request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $4,199,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level.
Family Housing Construction, Defense-Wide
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ ................
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... $8,808,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 8,808,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 8,808,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,808,000 for
Family Housing Construction, Defense-Wide, for fiscal year
2007. This is an increase of $8,808,000 above the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $45,927,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 48,506,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 48,506,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 2,579,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $48,506,000
for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide, for
fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $2,579,000 above the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget
request.
Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $2,475,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 2,500,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 2,500,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 25,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The 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 $2,500,000 for
the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund
(FHIF) for fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $25,000
above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the
budget request.
Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ ................
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... $130,993,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 90,993,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 90,993,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (40,000,000)
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 $90,993,000
for Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide, for
fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $90,993,000 above the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and a decrease of $40,000,000
below the budget request.
The Committee commends the Department for requesting funds
for the Chemical Demilitarization program and is committed to
the United States treaty obligations in this area. However, the
Committee notes that there are currently sufficient funds to
continue planning activities and begin construction in fiscal
year 2007. Additionally, the Committee is awaiting the revised
program baseline decisions that are due later this year.
Therefore, the Committee has reduced the recommended funding
level by $40,000,000.
Base Realignment and Closure Account 1990
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $252,279,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 191,220,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 216,220,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (36,059,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 25,000,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $216,220,000
for the Base Realignment and Closure Account 1990 for fiscal
year 2007. This is a decrease of $36,059,000 below the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and an increase of $25,000,000 above
the budget request to accelerate cleanup at closed
installations. 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 2006 enacted level........................ $1,489,421,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 5,626,223,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 5,309,876,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 3,820,455,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (316,347,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $5,309,876,000
for the Base Realignment and Closure Account 2005 for fiscal
year 2007. This is an increase of $3,820,455,000 above the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and a decrease of $316,347,000
below the budget request.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Army
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $3,880,723,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 3,687,905,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 3,687,905,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (192,818,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,687,905,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Army for fiscal year 2007.
This is a decrease of $192,818,000 below the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Navy
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $3,511,570,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 4,135,061,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 4,135,061,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 623,491,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,135,061,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Navy for fiscal year 2007.
This is an increase of $623,491,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Marine Corps
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,166,686,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,350,921,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 1,350,921,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 184,235,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,350,921,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Marine Corps for fiscal year
2007. This is an increase of $184,235,000 above the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Air Force
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $3,168,599,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 2,934,327,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 2,934,327,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (234,272,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,934,327,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Air Force for fiscal year
2007. This is a decrease of $234,272,000 below the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request. When
adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$227,746,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Army National Guard
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $477,113,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 469,109,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 469,109,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (8,004,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $469,109,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Army National Guard for fiscal
year 2007. This is a decrease of $8,004,000 below the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
When adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$24,290,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Air National Guard
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $248,685,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 277,533,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 277,533,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 28,848,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $277,533,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Air National Guard for fiscal
year 2007. This is an increase of $28,848,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
When adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$39,137,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Army Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $307,003,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 347,607,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 347,607,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 40,604,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $347,607,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Army Reserve for fiscal year
2007. This is an increase of $40,604,000 above the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request. When
adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$40,965,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Navy Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $190,194,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 208,838,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 208,838,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 18,644,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $208,838,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Navy Reserve for fiscal year
2007. This is an increase of $18,644,000 above the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request. When
adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$19,697,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Marine Corps Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $40,134,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 43,082,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 43,082,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 2,948,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $43,082,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Marine Corps Reserve for
fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $2,948,000 above the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget
request.
Basic Allowance for Housing, Air Force Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $69,442,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 76,218,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 76,218,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 6,776,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $76,218,000
for Basic Allowance for Housing, Air Force Reserve for fiscal
year 2007. This is an increase of $6,776,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
When adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$6,861,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Army
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,832,607,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,810,774,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 1,810,774,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (21,833,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,810,774,000
for facilities sustainment, restoration and modernization, Army
for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of $21,833,000 below
the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget
request.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Navy
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,547,020,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,201,313,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 1,201,313,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (345,707,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,201,313,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Navy
for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of $345,707,000 below
the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget
request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $130,208,000 below the fiscal year 2006
enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Marine Corps
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $548,420,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 473,141,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 473,141,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (75,279,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $473,141,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization,
Marine Corps for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of
$75,279,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Air Force
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,896,251,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,684,019,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 1,684,019,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (212,232,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,684,019,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Air
Force for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of $212,232,000
below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the
budget request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $143,227,000 below the fiscal year 2006
enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Defense-Wide
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $120,969,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 86,386,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 86,386,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (34,583,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $86,386,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization,
Defense-Wide for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of
$34,583,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $29,345,000 below the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Army National
Guard
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $441,796,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 387,882,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 387,882,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (53,914,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $387,882,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Army
National Guard for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of
$53,914,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $4,697,000 below the fiscal year
2006 enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Air National
Guard
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $191,550,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 255,322,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 255,322,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 63,772,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $255,322,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Air
National Guard for fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of
$63,772,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $77,329,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Army Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $203,454,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 215,890,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 215,890,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 12,436,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $215,890,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Army
Reserve for fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of
$12,436,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $13,564,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Navy Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $377,134,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 52,136,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 52,136,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (324,998,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $52,136,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Navy
Reserve for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of
$324,998,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $14,974,000 below the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Marine Corps
Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $11,098,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 9,579,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 9,579,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (1,519,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,579,000 for
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Marine
Corps Reserve for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of
$1,519,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $425,000 below the fiscal year
2006 enacted level.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Air Force
Reserve
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $51,777,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 59,849,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 59,849,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 8,072,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $59,849,000
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization, Air
Force Reserve for fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of
$8,072,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request. When adjusted for supplemental
funding, the recommendation is $9,989,000 above the fiscal year
2006 enacted level.
Environmental Restoration, Army
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $403,786,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 413,794,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 413,794,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 10,008,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $413,794,000
for Environmental Restoration, Army for fiscal year 2007. This
is an increase of $10,008,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Environmental Restoration, Navy
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $302,222,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 304,409,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 304,409,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 2,187,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $304,409,000
for Environmental Restoration, Navy for fiscal year 2007. This
is an increase of $2,187,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and the same as the budget request.
Environmental Restoration, Air Force
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $402,396,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 423,871,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 423,871,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 21,475,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $423,871,000
for Environmental Restoration, Air Force for fiscal year 2007.
This is an increase of $21,475,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $27,885,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 18,431,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 18,431,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (9,454,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $18,431,000
for Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide for fiscal year
2007. This is a decrease of $9,454,000 below the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $254,352,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 242,790,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 257,790,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 3,438,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 15,000,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $257,790,000
for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites for
fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $3,438,000 above the
fiscal year 2006 enacted level and an increase of $15,000,000
above the budget request.
The Committee understands that this is a large, nationwide
issue and urges the Department to increase funding levels in
future years.
Defense Health Program
(including rescissions of funds)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $20,340,550,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 21,025,121,000
Committee recommendation in the bill (including 21,025,121,000
rescissions).........................................
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 684,571,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The DHP appropriation provides for worldwide medical and
dental services to active forces and other eligible
beneficiaries, veterinary services, medical command
headquarters, specialized services for the training of medical
personnel, and occupational and industrial health care. The
budget request for normal peacetime funding sustains the
Military Health System (MHS) to ensure the nation has available
at all times a healthy force supported by a combat ready health
care system and to provide cost effective, quality healthcare.
The program provides medical care for 9.2 million beneficiaries
through a worldwide network of over 500 military hospitals and
health clinics, and the Department of Defense's extensive
private sector health care partners.
The Committee recommends a total appropriation of
$21,025,121,000 for the Defense Health Program (DHP) for fiscal
year 2007. This is an increase of $684,571,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
When adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$1,006,121,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
Mental Health.--The Committee is very concerned about the
mental health and wellness of troops returning from conflicts
overseas. The full impact of the emotional toll that combat
takes from our troops may not be fully realized for years into
the future. The Committee believes that mental health and
wellness need to be integrated into all aspects of military
training, combat and support and that care cannot stop when the
soldier returns home from the battlefield. The Department of
Defense should be commended for the work it is doing and the
improvements that have been made in the mental health area, but
more needs to be done. The primary reason for soldiers failing
to seek treatment for mental health issues is the stigma
associated with seeking help. The Committee feels that the
military needs to begin to integrate mandatory mental health
services and counseling into the daily activities of soldiers
and has included a $25,000,000 increase in funds for this
purpose. By making these programs a mandatory part of a
soldier's tour of duty, the stigma associated with seeking care
is eliminated. The Committee directs the Department of Defense
to use the increased funds to initiate programs that make
mental health screening and counseling a mandatory part of the
operating procedures of soldiers in battle. The Department of
Defense should report to the Committee on the use of these
funds and an assessment of future funding requirements for this
initiative by December 15, 2006. Further, the Committee directs
the Department to continue to work with the Department of
Veterans Affairs to study mental health issues, particularly
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Committee has
included Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a disease available
for study under the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Fund in the
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation section of this
appropriation and encourages increased research in this area.
Sustaining the Benefit.--The goal of the Committee is to
ensure that the absolute highest quality health care is
available to military personnel, retirees, and their families.
The Defense Health Program, like the rest of the Nation, is
facing the challenges of rising health care costs. This issue
is not new. In addition to health care inflation, the program
is experiencing an increase in the number of beneficiaries,
increased beneficiary demand, and military transformation all
of which are placing greater demands on the system. However,
the Department of Defense has had existing authority to
increase some fees and co-pays and has failed to use this
authority to make modest annual fee adjustments over time. The
result of this is that we are now faced with large fee
increases for beneficiaries and an extreme funding deficit if
fee increases are not enacted.
The budget request assumes a number of legislative changes
that have not been adopted by the Congress. The proposal to
increase co-pays and enrollment fees to combat the rise in
health care costs is a legislative proposal that is being
considered by the Authorization Committees of the House and
Senate. Additionally, the proposal to provide federal contract
prices for drugs at TRICARE retail outlets has not yet been
transmitted to Congress for consideration. The Committee cannot
responsibly address the funding implications of these proposals
until these legislative issues are resolved. The Committee will
continue to monitor the progress of these proposals throughout
the appropriations process.
Military Health System Office of Transformation.--The
Committee supports the establishment of the Office of
Transformation for the Military Health System, but feels that
this office should be working closely in conjunction with the
Department of Veterans Affairs on issues that affect service
men and women, specifically, seamless transition and co-
location of facilities. The Committee directs the Department to
report on the extent to which the Department of Veterans
Affairs is integrated into the Office of Transformation by
December 15, 2006.
Unified Medical Command.--The Committee understands that
there has been some interest in creating a unified medical
command structure to direct the management of health care
services in the Department of Defense. The Committee directs
the Department of Defense to report on the feasibility of this
option and the potential costs savings associated with this
command structure by December 15, 2006.
Madigan Army Medical Trauma Center.--The Committee is aware
of the critical needs at Madigan Army Medical Trauma Center and
expects the Department of Defense to continue to support the
needs of this facility at or above the fiscal year 2006 funding
level.
Avian Influenza.--The Committee is concerned about
increased cases of avian influenza around the globe and the
potential for pandemic influenza outbreak. Troops typically
share close living quarters and work in situations where the
spread of a virus could potentially impact overall troop
readiness. The Committee understands that the Department is
currently conducting basic research on avian influenza, but is
unclear on what steps are being taken to protect active troop
levels if there is an outbreak. The Committee directs the
Department of Defense to report on its plans to protect troop
readiness during an avian influenza outbreak scenario by
December 15, 2006.
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.--The
Committee fully supports the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning
Organization pilot project, authorized in last year's Defense
Authorization bill. The Committee believes that innovative
options for addressing health care needs in military
communities need to be investigated, particularly as military
transformation and the base realignment and closure process
move forward. The Committee directs the Department of Defense
to provide $400,000 for this pilot project and report on its
progress by December 15, 2006.
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.--The Committee is
aware that the Department is considering a realignment of the
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), and that one option
is the relocation of AFIP components to the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences. The Committee remains
strongly committed to maintaining the AFIP Tissue Repository
within the Department of Defense. The Tissue Repository is
recognized for its tremendous national value, housing over a
quarter of the nation's tissue that is available for cancer and
drug research. Therefore, the Department is directed to report
to the Committee on its plans for AFIP including plans to
maintain the Tissue Repository, pathology consultations,
training and education functions by November 1, 2006.
Unobligated Balances.--The Committee is concerned with the
amount of unobligated balances that are annually turned back to
the Treasury. While the Committee understands the need to
finalize remaining contracts and obligations, the amount of
funds being canceled and returned to the Treasury is
unacceptable. The Committee believes that the Department of
Defense should be fiscally responsible in its budgeting of the
Defense Health Program and should make annual adjustments to
the budget activity groups based on prior year execution. The
Committee does not agree with the proposal to increase the
amount of funds that can be carried into the next fiscal year
to three percent, and based upon the concerns stated above, has
reduced that percentage to one percent. The Committee directs
the Department to report on its plan to reduce the amount of
funding returned to the Treasury by December 15, 2006.
Special Items of Interest.--Programs or activities for
which additional funds have been provided above the budget
request are to be considered as congressional interest items
for the purpose of the Base for Reprogramming Form (DD 1414).
Therefore, each of these items must be submitted to the
Committee on the DD 1414 at the stated amount. These items
remain special interest items whether or not they are repeated
in a subsequent conference report.
Reprogramming Procedures.--The Committee has included
language in the bill, similar to last year, to limit the funds
available for Private Sector Care under the TRICARE program and
make transfers above this limit subject to prior approval
reprogramming procedures. This language should not be
interpreted by the Department as limiting the amount of funds
that may be transferred to the direct care system from other
budget activities within the Defense Health Program.
Operation and Maintenance
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $19,399,747,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 20,498,163,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 20,178,163,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 778,416,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (320,000,000)
The Committee recommends an appropriation of
$20,178,163,000 for operation and maintenance for fiscal year
2007. This is an increase of $778,416,000 above the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and a decrease of $320,000,000 below the
budget request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $1,071,374,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level. The Committee's recommendations are as follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee
Activity request recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations and Maintenance................ 20,249,163 20,178,163
In-House Care............................. 5,592,799 5,513,899
Mental Health Initiative.............. ............ 25,000
Pharmacy Reduction.................... ............ -48,000
Reversal of DOD/VA Joint Incentives ............ -15,858
Fund Payment.........................
Unobligated Balances--Joint Incentive ............ -15,042
Fund.................................
Unobligated Balances--Operations and ............ -25,000
Maintenance..........................
Private Sector Care....................... 10,638,784 10,638,784
Consolidated Health Care Support.......... 1,219,873 1,219,873
Information Management.................... 904,899 912,799
Integrated Clinical Systems ............ 1,500
Collaboration........................
Medical Records Digital Conversion at ............ 1,000
Bethesda and Walter Reed.............
Interactive Internet at Bethesda...... ............ 1,900
Trauma Registry and Research Database. ............ 3,500
Management Activities..................... 237,388 237,388
Education and Training.................... 460,082 460,082
Base Operations/Communications............ 1,195,338 1,195,338
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mental Health Funding.--The Committee, as stated
previously, has included an increase of $25,000,000 to begin to
integrate mandatory mental health services and counseling into
the standard operating procedures for soldiers.
Pharmacy Reduction in Direct Care.--The Committee remains
concerned that the current execution rate for pharmaceuticals
does not justify the requested increase in funding. The
Committee therefore reduces the amount provided for In-House
Care by $48,000,000.
TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy.--The Committee believes that
the Defense Health Program could realize additional savings by
increased use of the mail-order pharmacy option. In previous
years, the Committee asked the Defense Health Program to
increase the use of this option for beneficiaries through
marketing and education. This has had little effect. The
Committee believes that the Defense Health Program should
investigate the option of making the mail order pharmacy
mandatory, to the maximum extent possible, for beneficiaries
using long-term maintenance pharmaceuticals. The Department
should report to the Committee on its plans to do this by
December 15, 2006.
Joint Incentive Fund.--The Committee is concerned about the
large amount of carryover funding in the Departments of Defense
and Veterans Affairs Joint Incentive Fund and held a hearing on
the issue this year. While the Committee believes that many of
the issues that have precluded the funding from being spent
have been resolved, there is still a large amount of funding
that remains unallocated after four years of authorization. The
Committee does not agree to the proposed increase of
$15,858,000 for payment into the fund for fiscal year 2007. In
addition, the Committee has rescinded $15,042,000 from
unobligated balances in the Joint Incentive Fund.
Unobligated Balances.--The Committee has rescinded
$25,000,000 in unobligated operation and maintenance funding
and has shifted this funding to the mental health initiative
described above.
Information Technology.--The Committee has included funding
in the Information Technology account to continue and complete
several ongoing projects. Funds are included to continue the
Integrated Systems Collaboration Project in North Carolina,
continue digital conversion of medical records at Bethesda and
Walter Reed, establish interactive internet capabilities for
wounded soldiers at Bethesda Naval Hospital, and to complete
the Trauma Registry and Research Database.
The Committee fully supports the requested increase of
$4,644,000 for the Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support
(DMLSS) and Blood Standard Support.
Carryover Funds.--The Committee does not agree to proposed
bill language that increases the amount of funding available
for carryover into the next fiscal year to three percent, and
because of the amount of funding being cancelled and returned
to the Treasury every year, has reduced this carryover
percentage to one percent.
Procurement
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $403,920,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 396,355,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 402,855,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (1,065,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 6,500,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $402,855,000
for procurement for fiscal year 2007. This is a decrease of
$1,065,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and an
increase of $6,500,000 above the budget request. When adjusted
for supplemental funding, the recommendation is $27,527,000
above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level. The Committee's
recommendation is as follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee
Activity request recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procurement............................... 396,355 402,855
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protected Health Information ............ 3,000
Initiative...........................
Air Force Surgeon General Server ............ 3,500
Consolidation Initiative.............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee has included funding to continue the
protected health information initiative and the Air Force
general server consolidation program. The Committee believes
that in future years, these programs should be integrated into
an overall Defense-Wide plan for upgrading and consolidating
information technology hardware and developing data standards.
The Committee directs the Department to report back to the
Committee on its plan for upgrading, replacement, and
consolidation of information technology hardware by March 1,
2007.
Procurement of Information Technology Systems.--The
Committee is concerned with the increased number of requests it
receives for procuring information technology systems for the
Defense Health Program. Many of these requests are for
geographically localized systems to improve information sharing
with the Department of Veterans Affairs, consolidating and
upgrading hardware, software packages for reviewing and
auditing data, geographic information system tools, and
assorted other information technology issues. While many of
these requests represent worthy products, implementing multiple
systems in multiple locations could ultimately lead to more
problems with system interoperability rather than fewer
problems. The Committee directs the Department to include a
detailed report on its information technology needs in future
budget submissions. The Committee will be reluctant to fund
projects that are geographically localized or cannot be
implemented Defense-Wide in the future.
Research and Development
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level............. $536,883,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request............ 130,603,000
Committee recommendation in the bill....... 444,103,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level......... (92,780,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request........ 313,500,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $444,103,000
for research and development for fiscal year 2007. This is a
decrease of $92,780,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and an increase of $313,500,000 above the budget request.
The Committee's recommendation is as follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee
Activity request recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research, Development, Testing and 130,603 444,103
Evaluation...............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peer Reviewed Breast Cancer Research ............ 115,000
Program..............................
Peer Reviewed Ovarian Cancer Research. ............ 15,000
Peer Reviewed Prostate Cancer Research ............ 80,000
Program..............................
Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program ............ 45,000
Advanced Military Wound Healing and ............ 1,900
Treatment............................
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)... ............ 2,000
Bethesda Hospital Emergency ............ 5,000
Preparedness Partnership.............
Biomolecular Materials Composites ............ 1,000
Research Program.....................
Copper Antimicrobial Research Program. ............ 2,000
DOD Global HIV/AIDS Prevention Program ............ 7,000
Downed Pilot Forward Osmosis Water ............ 2,500
Filtration System....................
Early Diagnosis, Treatment and Care of ............ 2,500
Cancer Patients......................
Leukemia Research (CMLRP)............. ............ 5,000
Medical Surveillance Technology-- ............ 2,100
Clinical Looking Glass...............
Metabolic Defense Research Program.... ............ 2,500
Microencapsulation and Vaccine ............ 3,000
Delivery Research....................
Muscle Research Consortium............ ............ 3,500
Periscopic Surgery Research........... ............ 2,500
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Center ............ 2,000
at Phoebe Putney Medical Center......
Stress Disorder Research Initiative at ............ 3,500
Fort Hood............................
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)...... ............ 5,000
United States Military Cancer Care ............ 2,500
Institute at WRAMC...................
Water-Related Viral Disease ............ 3,000
Countermeasures for Air Force Medical
Service..............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peer Reviewed Cancer Research.--The Committee has provided
$210,000,000 for Peer Reviewed Cancer Research for Breast,
Ovarian, and Prostate Cancers.
Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.--The Committee has
provided $45,000,000 for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research
Program. The Committee recommends the following issues as
candidates for research: autism, chronic epilepsy, tissue
transplant technology, duchenne and limb girdle muscular
dystrophy, hemastasis and thrombosis, immunology research,
manganese research, obesity and nutritional factors in military
health, polycystic kidney disease, prader-willi syndrome,
pulmonary hypertension, post traumatic stress disorder, lupus,
and eye and vision research.
The Committee has included post traumatic stress disorder
in this fund and encourages increased research in this area.
Much more research needs to be initiated to determine the most
effective treatment methods for this disorder as more troops
return from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
The Administration proposed eliminating several
administrative provisions enacted in the Military Construction,
Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations
Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-114), including sections 111, 113, 118,
121, 122, 125, 126, 128, 129, and 130.
The Administration proposed eliminating three general
provisions enacted in the Department of Defense Appropriations
Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-148), including sections 8049, 8051, and
8085(b).
The Administration proposed one new administrative
provision to allow for the transfer of expired funds to the
``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense''
account.
The bill includes 34 provisions that were included in the
fiscal year 2006 appropriations bill and one new provision
proposed by the Administration. 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 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.
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.
Section 114 limits obligations to no more than 20 percent
during the last two months of the fiscal year.
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 the NATO, Japan, Korea, and
United States allies bordering the Arabian Gulf to assume a
greater share of defense costs.
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.
Section 121 prohibits the obligation of funds for
Partnership for Peace Programs in the New Independent States of
the former Soviet Union.
Section 122 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.
Section 123 provides transfer authority to the Homeowners
Assistance Program.
Section 124 requires that funds in this title be the sole
source of all operation and maintenance for flag and general
officer quarter houses, except at military service academies,
and limits the repair on these quarters to $35,000 per year
without notification.
Section 125 prohibits funds appropriated for the NATO
Security Investment Program from being obligated or expended
for the purpose of missile defense studies.
Section 126 requires the Secretary of Defense or any other
official of the Department of Defense to respond in writing to
a question or inquiry submitted by the chairman or another
member of the subcommittee within 21 days.
Section 127 makes funds in the Ford Island Improvement Fund
available until expended.
Section 128 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.
Section 129 allows the transfer of expired funds to the
``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense''
account.
Section 130 prohibits the reimbursement of any health care
provider for inpatient mental health services for care received
when a patient is referred to a provider of inpatient mental
health care or residential treatment care by a medical or
health care professional having an economic interest in the
facility to which the patient is referred, except under certain
conditions.
Section 131 allows the distribution of surplus medical and
dental equipment, at no cost to the Department of Defense, to
Indian Health Service facilities and to federally qualified
health centers.
Section 132 allows the Secretary of Defense to adjust wage
rates for civilian employees hired for certain health care
occupations.
Section 133 limits the amount of environmental remediation
funds that can be obligated under indefinite delivery/
indefinite quantity contracts with a total contract value of
$130,000,000 or higher.
Section 134 allows for the transportation of medical
supplies and equipment to American Samoa and the Indian Health
Service under certain conditions.
Section 135 allows the Secretary of Defense to exercise the
provisions of section 7403(g) of title 38, United Stated Code.
TITLE II
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level \1\.................... $70,871,913,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 77,908,797,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 77,908,797,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 7,036,884,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
\1\ Includes impact of 0.8% rescission totaling $246,828,040 pursuant to
Public Law 108-447 and additional funding of $124,070,000 pursuant to
Public Law 108-324, the Military Construction Appropriations and
Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005.
All funding cited above excludes amounts in the Medical Care Collections
Fund.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the largest
Federal agencies in terms of employment with an average
employment of approximately 223,327. It administers benefits
for more than 24,600,000 veterans, and 37,840,000 family
members of living veterans and survivors of deceased veterans.
Thus, close to 64,400,000 people, comprising about 21 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 $77,908,797,000 in new
budget authority for programs in fiscal year 2007. This is an
increase of $7,036,884,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and the same as the budget request. When adjusted for
supplemental funding, the recommendation is $8,884,520,000
above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
The funds recommended provide compensation payments to
3,215,492 veterans and survivors of deceased veterans with
service-connected disabilities; pension payments to 519,809
non-service-connected disabled veterans, widows and children in
need of financial assistance; education training, tuition
assistance, and vocational assistance to 589,478 veterans,
service members, and reservists, and 83,235 eligible dependents
of deceased veterans or seriously disabled veterans; housing
credit assistance in the form of 230,000 guaranteed loans to
veterans and servicepersons; administration or supervision of
life insurance programs with 7,270,907 policies for veterans
and active duty servicepersons providing coverage of
$1,100,182,000,000; inpatient care and treatment of
beneficiaries in 156 hospitals, 43 Department of Veterans
Affairs domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment
programs (formerly called ``domiciliaries''), 135 nursing
homes, and 935 outpatient clinics which includes independent,
satellite, community-based, and rural outreach clinics
involving 61,555,000 visits; and administration of the National
Cemetery Administration for burial of eligible veterans,
servicepersons and their survivors.
Joint Research Initiatives.--The Committee understands that
the Department has been involved in discussions with the
Israeli Ministry of Defense regarding a number of research
issues including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, virtual
reality rehabilitation for motor recovery and ambulatory
training for veterans with prosthetic limbs, and robotic
rehabilitation trials for the neurologically impaired and for
veterans with missing limbs. The Committee is supportive of
continued discussions regarding the possibility of developing a
working group composed of the Veterans Health Administration,
the Israeli Ministry of Defense, clinicians, and researchers
that would guide collaborative research in these areas.
Not later than March 1, 2007, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a
report that describes: (1) the ways in which the Department of
Veterans Affairs and Israel have cooperated on Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder, virtual reality rehabilitation for motor
recovery and ambulatory training for veterans with prosthetic
limbs, and robotic rehabilitation trials for the neurologically
impaired and for veterans with missing limbs; (2) projects
initiated; and (3) plans for future cooperation and joint
projects.
Veterans' Transportation Services.--The Committee is
concerned that veterans' transportation services are largely
uncoordinated with the existing community and public
transportation network and are heavily reliant upon a pool of
volunteer services and drivers that has dwindled in many areas
as fuel and insurance costs have soared. The current system is
inefficient and in some cases veterans find themselves isolated
from the vital health care they need. Further, studies have
shown that veterans who need health care transportation,
particularly those with long-term health care needs, are also
likely to need transportation solutions to work, to shop, to
socialize, and to otherwise enjoy a high quality of life. The
Department spends about $170,000,000 annually on various
transportation services for veterans, but has no uniform or
consistent approach to their mobility needs. Some facilities
work with local volunteers, others with available transit
services, some provide no transportation at all. The lack of
coordination of transportation services at the headquarters
level has led to inconsistent and inefficient mobility for many
veterans. Furthermore, the Department does not appear to have a
way to communicate with hospitals, clinics, and Veterans
Service Organizations on best practices in non-emergency
transportation and the most cost efficient ways to get
veterans, in both cities and rural areas, to hospitals and
clinics.
The Committee directs the Department to develop a program
of coordination, information sharing, and technical assistance
for veterans' transportation. In developing such a program, the
Committee recommends that the Department consult with
organizations, such as the Community Transportation Association
of America (CTAA), which have expertise in transit program
design and development and provides technical assistance to
transit systems and community and human services transportation
providers.
Fort Ord Cemetery.--The Committee notes the success of the
military housing Residential Communities Initiatives as a
public/private partnership. The Committee encourages the
Department of Veterans Affairs to work with the Fort Ord Reuse
Authority in Monterey, California to develop a pilot program to
demonstrate the cost effectiveness of using public/private
partnerships in establishing a state veterans cemetery at Fort
Ord.
Centers of Excellence.--The Committee recommendation for
Medical Services includes an additional $400,000,000 for mental
health programs, when compared to the fiscal year 2006 program
as adjusted for inflation. Within this amount, the Committee
directs the Department to ensure adequate resources are
dedicated to establishing and supporting the three Centers of
Excellence established by Public Law 109-114.
Veterans Centers.--The Committee has repeatedly noted its
concerns regarding the Department's efforts to detect and treat
increasing incidents of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among
returning soldiers. A recent Army report found that more than
one in three soldiers and Marines who returned from service in
Iraq later sought help for mental health problems. This data
indicates a clear need to improve the mental health services we
provide to our nation's service men and women. At the forefront
of the Department's efforts to ensure that the needs of
returning soldiers and their families are met are the Veterans
Centers. Specifically, the Veterans Centers provide outreach
and psychological counseling, war-related counseling, and
marital and family counseling, in addition to many other
services. An important step in addressing this need is to
ensure adequate Veterans Centers are located throughout the
nation, including rural areas, to ensure that veterans do not
fall through the cracks. The Committee directs the Department
to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress on the plans for expanding the network of Veterans
Centers over the next five years, with a particular emphasis on
rural centers. The report shall be submitted no later than
November 10, 2006.
Design-Build Project Delivery.--The Committee notes that
the Department has used the design-build project delivery
method in the past and believes the Department should expand
its use in order to expedite construction projects. In
addition, the Committee understands that current Department
regulations preclude the option of design-build when the
Department provides grants and loans for capital projects.
Since current Federal regulations allow the design-build
process to be used for federal projects, the Committee feels
the option should be available for grant-funded projects.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Department to study this
issue and report by March 1, 2007 on options for revising its
regulations.
Disability Determinations.--The Committee is concerned
about the length of time it takes the Department to determine
eligibility for disability compensation, in particular those
cases that may take three years or longer. The Committee
directs the Department to report, within 30 days of enactment,
on the number of cases which take three years or longer for a
final determination, and to report on those cases where the
beneficiary is a retired military person.
Veterans Benefits Administration
COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $33,897,787,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 38,007,095,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 38,007,095,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 4,109,308,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
This appropriation provides funds for service-connected
compensation payments to an estimated 3,215,492 beneficiaries
and pension payments to another 519,809 beneficiaries with non-
service-connected disabilities. The average cost per
compensation case in 2007 is estimated at $10,600, and pension
payments are projected at a unit cost of $6,811.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of
$38,007,095,000 for compensation, pension and burial benefits
for fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $4,109,308,000
above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the same as the
budget request.
The appropriation includes funding not to exceed
$28,112,000 of which $13,536,000 is for the general operating
expenses account and $14,576,000 is for the medical
administration account 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 savings provisions include verifying pension
income against Internal Revenue Service and Social Security
Administration (SSA) data; establishing a match with the SSA to
obtain verification of Social Security numbers; and the $90
monthly VA pension cap for Medicaid-eligible single veterans
and surviving spouses alone in Medicaid-covered nursing homes.
The bill includes requested 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 Administration has proposed to provide a cost-of-living
adjustment, based on the change in the Consumer Price Index, to
all compensation beneficiaries, including dependency and
indemnity compensation for spouses and children. It is
currently estimated at 2.6 percent. This 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, 2006, has an estimated cost of $590,293,000 during
fiscal year 2007 and is reflected in the Compensation and
Pensions budget request, pending authorization approval.
Claims Processing.--The Committee is concerned about the
lengthy wait time veterans experience in receiving a benefit
claims decision. The Committee directs the Department to report
on their plan for resolving the backlog and the timeline for
implementation of this plan, including any needs for additional
personnel. The report shall be submitted no later than November
10, 2006.
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $3,309,234,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 3,262,006,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 3,262,006,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (47,228,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
This appropriation finances the education and training of
veterans and servicepersons 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 Departments of Defense and Homeland
Security. 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
servicepersons who were captured or missing-in-action.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,262,006,000
for readjustment benefits for fiscal year 2007. This is a
decrease of $47,228,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and the same as the budget request.
VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $45,907,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 49,850,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 49,850,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 3,943,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
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 $49,850,000
for veterans insurance and indemnities for fiscal year 2007.
This is an increase of $3,943,000 above the fiscal year 2006
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 2,350 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
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Limitation on
direct loans
Program for specially Administrative
account adapted expenses
housing loans
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................................. \1\ $64,586,00 $500,000 $153,575,000
0
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................................. 196,692,000 500,000 153,185,000
Committee recommendation in the bill............................ 196,692,000 500,000 153,185,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.............................. 132,106,000 .............. (390,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request............................. .............. .............. ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Reflects subsidy estimate from last year's report. The new estimate for 2005 is $1,900,392.
The purpose of the VA 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. VA loan guaranties are made to
service members, 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 $42,892,000) for funding subsidy
payments, $500,000 for the limitation on direct loans for
specially adapted housing loans, and $153,185,000 for
administrative expenses. The appropriation for administrative
expenses may be transferred to and merged with the General
Operating Expenses account.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Limitation on Administrative
account direct loans expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................................. $53,000 $4,242,000 $305,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................................. 53,000 4,242,000 305,000
Committee recommendation in the bill............................ 67,000 3,369 305,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.............................. .............. .............. ..............
Fiscal year 2007 budget request............................. .............. .............. ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 $977.00
(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. In
addition, the Act requires all administrative expenses of a
direct loan program to be funded through a program account.
The Committee recommends $67,000 for funding subsidy
program costs and $305,000 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
program direct loans to $3,369,000. It is estimated that the
Department will make 4,630 loans in fiscal year 2007, with an
average amount of $728.00.
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Administrative expenses:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... $580,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget recommendation............ 615,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 615,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 35,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
This program tests the feasibility of authorizing VA to
make direct home loans to Native American veterans who live on
U.S. trust land. This is a pilot program which began in 1993
and expires on December 31, 2008. The Committee recommends the
budget request of $615,000 for administrative expenses, 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 Programs 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
2007. Bill language is included allowing the use of funds in
Medical Administration and General Operating Expenses to
administer this program up to a total of $750,000.
Veterans Health Administration
The Department of Veterans Affairs operates the largest
Federal medical care delivery system in the country, with 156
hospitals, 43 domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment
programs (formerly called `domiciliaries'), 135 nursing homes,
and 935 outpatient clinics which includes independent,
satellite, community-based, and rural outreach clinics.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is comprised of
four accounts: medical services, medical administration,
medical facilities, and medical and prosthetic research. For
these four accounts, the Administration has requested total
resources of $32,657,000,000 in direct appropriations and
$2,329,000,000 in Medical Care Collections Fund appropriations,
to fund the various operating programs of the VHA.
MEDICAL SERVICES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $22,772,406,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 25,512,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 25,412,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 2,639,594,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (100,000,000)
This appropriation provides for medical services of
eligible veterans and beneficiaries in VA 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
$25,412,000,000 for Medical Services for fiscal year 2007. This
is an increase of $2,639,594,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and a decrease of $100,000,000 below the budget
request. When adjusted for supplemental funding, the
recommendation is $2,864,859,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level.
The Committee recommendation builds on the information
provided in public hearings by the organizations responsible
for development of the Independent Budget for the Department of
Veterans Affairs. The Committee notes that during fiscal year
2006, when significant medical services shortfalls were
identified by the Department, there was general acceptance that
the model used by the Independent Budget performed better than
the model used by the Department of Veteran Affairs. With this
in mind, the Committee recommendation takes as its baseline,
the Independent Budget calculation of current services and
anticipated workload increases to arrive at a core funding need
of $24,821,600,000. To this baseline, the Committee
recommendation adds program enhancements, including
$400,000,000 for mental health initiatives, $100,000,000 for
prosthetics, $32,000,000 for dental care, and $58,400,000 for
activations and other operational changes not covered in the
baseline program adjustment.
Within the amount provided, not less that $2,800,000,000 is
designated for specialty mental health care.
The bill includes requested language in the Compensation
and Pension appropriation transferring $14,576,000 for
administrative expenses of implementing cost saving provisions
required by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, and
the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1992.
The Committee has included bill language to make available
through September 30, 2008, up to $1,100,000,000 of the Medical
Services appropriation. This provides flexibility to the
Department as it continues to implement significant program
changes.
The bill does not include requested language to allow for
the transfer of $15,000,000 to the DoD/VA Health Care Sharing
Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 721 of the Fiscal Year
2003 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law 107-314, to
transfer a minimum of $15,000,000, for any purpose authorized
by 38 U.S.C. 8111. The Committee notes that the Fund has a
large unobligated balance in its fourth year of existence and
additional funds are not recommended at this time.
The Committee has included bill language under
Administrative Provisions of this title to allow the Secretary
to transfer funds among the Medical Services, Medical
Administration, and Medical Facilities appropriations, after
notifying the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress and receiving approval. This authority is to be used
solely for the purpose of perfecting the accounts as the three-
account structure is implemented.
The Committee directs the Department to continue the use of
the long-employed Joslin Vision Network for its collaborative
diabetes project.
Telemedicine Programs.--The Committee notes that the
Department started telemedicine pilot projects in the mid 1990s
to confirm technical feasibility and started funding projects
in 1998 to define telemedicine's role in supporting home care
and making specialty consultations locally available. The
Committee notes the significant benefits already received as a
result of telemedicine programs and encourages the Department
to expand such programs to gain even greater benefits.
Genomic Medicine Program.--The Committee is aware the
Veterans Health Administration has created a Committee to
advise the Department on emerging issues in genomic medicine.
The Committee is also aware of the Department's long-term
relationship with the Research Foundation of the State
University of New York on this issue and urges the Department
to move forward with this important initiative.
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
(CBO) estimate of fees that will be collected in fiscal year
2007 is $2,329,000,000. The original budget request anticipated
collections of $2,832,778,000, which included new user fees
which have not been enacted by the Congress and are not
therefore included in the CBO scoring of the budget request.
The bill does not include any language regarding the Medical
Care Collections Fund since permanent authority was included in
the fiscal year 2005 appropriations bill, Public Law 108-447.
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $2,858,442,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 3,177,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 3,277,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 418,558,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 100,000,000
The Medical Administration appropriation provides funds for
the expenses of management and administration of the Department
of Veterans Affairs health care system. Included under this
heading are provisions for costs associated with operation of
medical centers, other facilities, and VHA headquarters, plus
the costs of Veteran's Integrated Service Network (VISN)
offices and facility director offices, chief of staff
operations, quality of care oversight, legal services, billing
and coding activities, procurement, and medical program
information technology personnel services, travel, and
training.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,277,000,000
for Medical Administration for fiscal year 2007. This is an
increase of $418,558,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and an increase of $100,000,000 above the budget request.
The Committee has included bill language to make available
through September 30, 2008, up to $250,000,000 of the Medical
Administration appropriation. This provides flexibility to the
Department as it continues to implement significant program
changes.
The Committee has included bill language under
Administrative Provisions of this title to allow the Secretary
to transfer funds among the Medical Services, Medical
Administration, and Medical Facilities appropriations, after
notifying the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress and receiving approval. This authority is to be used
solely for the purpose of perfecting the accounts as the three-
account structure is implemented.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $3,297,669,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 3,569,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 3,594,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 296,331,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 25,000,000
The Medical Facilities appropriation provides funds for the
operation and maintenance of the Department's health care
system's vast capital infrastructure. Included under this
heading are provisions for costs associated with utilities,
engineering, capital planning, leases, laundry and food
services, groundskeeping, garbage, housekeeping, facility
repair, and property disposition and acquisition.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,594,000,000
for Medical Facilities for fiscal year 2007. This is an
increase of $296,331,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and an increase of $25,000,000 above the budget request.
The Committee has included bill language to make available
through September 30, 2008, up to $250,000,000 of the Medical
Facilities appropriation. This provides flexibility to the
Department as it continues to implement significant program
changes.
The Committee has included bill language under
Administrative Provisions of this title to allow the Secretary
to transfer funds among the Medical Services, Medical
Administration, and Medical Facilities appropriations, after
notifying the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress and receiving approval. This authority is to be used
solely for the purpose of perfecting the accounts as the three-
account structure is implemented.
Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.--The Committee
continues to receive conflicting information from the
Department on the status of implementing the recommendations of
the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES)
Commission regarding new community-based outpatient clinics
(CBOC). In response to direction of the fiscal year 2006
appropriations conference report (H. Rept. 109-305), the
Department submitted a report on the status of establishing
CBOC's in various locations around the country. The report
submitted to the Committee on March 17, 2006 was a convoluted
discussion of the business plan review process, ``anticipate[d]
possible activation'' schedules, and undefined national CBOC
planning criteria. During the Committee's hearing on CARES last
year, in response to a direct question asking how many CBOC's
were opened in 2005, the Department did not provide a
definitive answer. During the Committee's hearing earlier this
year, the Secretary stated that 22 were opened in fiscal year
2005, 31 are under analysis for opening in fiscal year 2006,
and 27 are proposed for analysis in fiscal year 2007. Despite
these definitive statements during the hearing, the budget
material submitted to the Congress does not provide such
definition, and in no case does it give a listing of sites
under consideration. It is with this as background that the
Committee recommends an addition of $25,000,000 to the budget
request for the establishment of at least 10 new community-
based outpatient clinics in fiscal year 2007. This is in
addition to the 27 funded in the budget submission. In order to
have a clearer understanding about the status establishing new
CBOC's, the Department is directed to provide a report to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the
location of CBOCs opened in each of the last three years and
the cost of establishing each CBOC. In addition, the report
shall include a listing of all business plans not approved for
funding and the reasons for the rejection. The report shall be
submitted no later than August 4, 2006.
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $412,000,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 399,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 412,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... ................
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 13,000,000
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
service 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 agencies provide support for
the Department's researchers.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $412,000,000
for Medical and Prosthetic Research for fiscal year 2007. This
is an increase of $13,000,000 above the budget request. This is
the same amount as the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and
within the Construction, Minor Projects account, the Committee
recommendation includes $12,000,000 to begin an effort to
modernize and upgrade research facilities.
Smart Technologies for Electromechanical Prosthetic
Systems.--Continued advances in microsystem technologies, gait
analysis, computer-aided prosthetic design, and neurology may
one day provide the means to fully restore physical and sensory
capabilities lost as a result of amputation, injury, arthritis,
arterial disease, diabetes, and other causes. Because of its
competencies and extensive collaborative relationships, the
Committee believes the Infotonics Technology Center of
Rochester, New York is well positioned to work with the
Department of Veterans Affairs to help disabled veterans take
their first steps along this journey. The Committee urges the
Department to establish a beneficial working relationship with
the Center.
Photon-Mediated Pain Treatment.--The Committee is aware of
non-drug alternative treatments available for pain relief, in
particular the option of using light-based treatments, also
known as photon-mediated treatment for pain. The Committee
believes that such treatment options deserve careful study and
consideration by the Department and encourages the Department
to work with qualified researchers to validate the possible
benefits of such treatment.
Technology Transfer.--The Committee directs the Department
to continue its technology transfer activities with the West
Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation.
Departmental Administration
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,435,391,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,480,764,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 1,480,764,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 45,373,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The General Operating Expenses appropriation provides for
the administration of non-medical veterans benefits through the
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) 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
the budget requests totaling $132,374,000 in other accounts for
these credit programs. In addition, $13,536,000 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 207 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 $39,863,000 will be
utilized for such purposes in fiscal year 2007. Prior to fiscal
year 1996, such costs were included in the general operating
expenses appropriation. In total, $1,825,697,000 is requested
in fiscal year 2007 for administrative costs of non-medical
benefits.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,480,764,000
for General Operating Expenses for fiscal year 2007. This is an
increase of $45,373,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and the same as the budget request. When adjusted for
Supplemental funding, the recommendation is $70,244,000 above
the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $1,213,820,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 1,257,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 1,302,330,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 88,510,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 45,330,000
The Information Technology Systems account was established
in P.L. 109-114. The account encompasses the entire non-pay
information technology portfolio for the Department of Veterans
Affairs, including all automation efforts in all
administrations. The Committee recommends an appropriation of
$1,302,330,000 for Information Technology Systems. In addition,
the bill includes $21,731,000 in other accounts for information
technology in support of credit programs and $4,032,000 in
excess revenues from three insurance funds for information
technology support in fiscal year 2007. In total,
$1,328,093,000 is requested in fiscal year 2007 for information
technology.
The Committee recommendation includes an additional
$45,330,000, centrally managed by the Office of the Chief
Information Officer, to continue the Regional Data Processing
Center consolidation initiative, to include data center
consolidation, as well as the telecommunication network
enhancements necessary to support this initiative, and to
achieve a valid continuity of operations capability. The
Committee believes this will have significant benefit to the
Department and will result in reduced cost of operations.
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $156,647,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 160,733,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 160,733,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 4,086,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
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 servicepersons 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 provides for
the operation and maintenance of 158 cemeterial installations
in 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $160,733,000
for the National Cemetery Administration for fiscal year 2007.
This is an increase of $4,086,000 above the fiscal year 2006
enacted level and the same as the budget request. When adjusted
for Supplemental funding, the recommendation is $4,286,000
above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $70,174,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 69,499,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 69,499,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (675,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
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 prevent and deter recurring
and potential fraud, waste and inefficiencies.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $69,499,000
for the Office of Inspector General for fiscal year 2007. This
is a decrease of $675,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and the same as the budget request.
CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $974,600,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 399,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 283,670,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (690,930,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... (115,330,000)
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, Capital Asset
Realignment Enhanced Services (CARES) activities, assessments
and site acquisition where the estimated cost of a project is
$7,000,000 or more. Emphasis is placed on correction of life/
safety code deficiencies in existing Department medical
facilities.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $283,670,000
for Construction, Major Projects for fiscal year 2007. This is
a decrease of $690,930,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and a decrease of $115,330,000 below the budget request.
When adjusted for supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$323,430,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
The Committee recommendation does not include funding for
refurbishment of operating rooms at the Columbia, Missouri
VAMC, and refurbishment of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at the
Milwaukee, Wisconsin VAMC, both of which are relatively low
priority projects. The estimate submitted in the budget for the
Capital Region Data Center project includes a contingency
reserve of over 25 percent, well in excess of needs for such a
project. The funding for this project is therefore reduced by
$5,000,000, leaving 12.5 percent for a contingency reserve. The
Committee recommendation includes no funding for the
replacement hospital in Denver, Colorado. The Committee notes
that less than two years ago, when original planning funds were
appropriated for the Denver facility, the estimated total cost
of the project was $328,000,000. The current estimate for the
project is in the range of $621,000,000, almost double the
previous estimate. This is not the only instance of large cost
growth for construction projects of the Department, but this is
a project at a stage where work can be halted before
significant and irreversible financial damage is done. The
Committee is concerned with the rapid escalation in the cost of
building new facilities and cautions the Department that few,
if any, projects will be approved in the future if such costs
are not brought under control.
The Committee recommendation also includes a general
provision which places restrictions on the use of funds
previously appropriated for a new facility in Biloxi,
Mississippi. It is the Committee's direction that no funds can
be expended on a new facility unless it is a joint-use facility
shared with Keesler Air Force Base.
The specific amounts recommended by the Committee are as
follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 Committee
Location and description request recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veterans Health Administration [VHA]:
American Lake, WA Seismic Correction, $38,220 $38,220
NHCU & Dietetics......................
Columbia, MO OR Replacement............ 25,830 0
Denver, CO Replacement Medical Center 52,000 0
Facility..............................
Long Beach, CA Seismic Correction, 97,545 97,545
Bldg. 7 & 126.........................
Milwaukee, WI Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) 32,500 0
Center................................
St. Louis (JB), MO Medical Facil Improv 7,000 7,000
& Cem Exp.............................
Advance planning fund: Various 39,255 39,255
locations.............................
Asbestos abatement: Various locations.. 5,000 5,000
Claims Analyses: Various locations..... 2,000 2,000
Judgment Fund: Various locations....... 2,000 2,000
Hazardous Waste: Various locations..... 2,000 2,000
Facility Security Fund: Various 4,000 4,000
locations.............................
----------------------------
Total VHA construction, major 307,350 197,020
projects..........................
National Cemetery Administration [NCA]:
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Phase 2 Gravesite 13,000 13,000
Expansion.............................
Gerald B. H. Solomon-Saratoga, NY Phase 7,600 7,600
2 Gravesite Expansion.................
Great Lakes, MI Phase 1B Development... 16,900 16,900
Design Fund: Various locations......... 2,300 2,300
Advance planning fund: Various 13,600 13,600
locations.............................
----------------------------
Total NCA construction, major 53,400 53,400
projects..........................
General Administration (Staff Offices):
Martinsburg, WV Capital Region Data 35,000 30,000
Center................................
Asset Management (APF) Various 3,250 3,250
Locations.............................
----------------------------
Total construction, major projects. 399,000 283,670
------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Juan Veterans Medical Center.--The Committee remains
concerned that the need for medical facility improvements in
San Juan, Puerto Rico is not being adequately addressed. The
Committee urges the Department to explore all options,
including the option of a public/private partnership, to
construct and operate a facility which would replace the
current hospital.
CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $200,737,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 198,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 210,000,000
xlComparison with:....................................
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 9,263,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 12,000,000
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, CARES activities, assessment of
needs, architectural and engineering services, and site
acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is less than
$7,000,000.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $210,000,000
for Construction, Minor Projects for fiscal year 2007. This is
an increase of $9,263,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted
level and an increase of $12,000,000 above the budget request.
When compared to Supplemental funding, the recommendation is
$11,063,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level.
The Committee received testimony earlier this year from a
number of organizations concerned about the state of research
facilities within the Department of Veterans Affairs
organization. In the words of one witness, ``[S]tate-of-the-art
research requires state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and
facilities.'' Many Department research facilities have run out
of space, and ventilation, electrical supply, and plumbing
problems continue to fall at the bottom of the list when minor
construction funds are allocated. This situation cannot
continue long before serious problems begin to emerge. The
Committee shares the concern of the research community and
therefore has provided an increase of $12,000,000 to this
account to be used solely for a program of upgrade and
modernization of research facilities to ensure they maintain or
attain state-of-the-art status. The Committee directs the
Department to institute a process by which research
infrastructure needs are given full and careful consideration
for funding within this account. In addition, the Department is
directed to report to the Committee by March 1, 2007 on the
value of research infrastructure improvements, by project
location, made in each of the last three fiscal years and the
projects competing for the funding provided by this
appropriation.
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $85,000,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 85,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 105,000,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 20,000,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 20,000,000
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 $105,000,000
for Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities
for fiscal year 2007. This is an increase of $20,000,000 above
the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and an increase of
$20,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee
recommendation also includes bill language specifying that not
less that $20,000,000 shall be for grants for modifications to
existing facilities, including life/patient safety
improvements. The Committee has taken this action to ensure
that while new construction in some areas of the country is
urgently needed, such new construction will not crowd out
necessary modifications to existing older facilities.
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $32,000,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 32,000,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 32,000,000
Comparson with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... ................
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
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 $32,000,000 for Grants for Construction of State Veterans
Cemeteries for fiscal year 2007. This is the same as the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
The Committee encourages the Department to work with States
for maximum usage of this grant program. Given that over ten
percent of the nation's veterans reside in California, the
Committee encourages the Department to work with the state of
California as it applies for a grant.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The Administration proposed eliminating several
administrative provisions enacted in the Military Construction,
Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations
Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-114). Including section 203, 208, 211, 217,
220, 221, 223-226, 228, and 229.
The bill continues 22 administrative provisions, all of
which were included in the fiscal year 2006 appropriations
bill.
Section 201 allows for the transfer of funds among three
mandatory appropriations.
Section 202 allows for salaries and expenses funds to be
used for hire of passenger vehicles, lease of facilities or
land, and purchase of uniforms.
Section 203 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 204 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 205 allows for the use of funds appropriated in
fiscal year 2007 for ``Compensation and pensions'',
``Readjustment benefits'', and ``Veterans insurance and
indemnities'' for payment of accrued obligations recorded in
the last quarter of fiscal year 2006.
Section 206 allows for the use of fiscal year 2007 funds to
pay prior year obligations resulting from implementation of
sections 3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States
Code.
Section 207 allows the Department to use surplus earning
from the National service life insurance, U.S. Government life
insurance, and veterans special life insurance program to
administer these programs.
Section 208 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 209 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 210 requires the Secretary to submit a report to
the Committees on Appropriations to approve new leases of real
property more than $300,000.
Section 211 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 212 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.
Section 213 allows the Department to use the ``Medical
services'' appropriation for expenses related to the broader
mission of medical care to veterans.
Section 214 allows the Department to transfer Medical Care
Collections to the ``Medical services'' appropriation to be
used for veterans' medical care.
Section 215 allows the Department to transfer funding
between the three medical care appropriations in fiscal year
2007 to implement the three-account structure which was
directed by Congress in fiscal year 2004.
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.
Section 219 provides that no funds may be used to prohibit
Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks form
conducting outreach or marketing programs.
Section 220 requires the Secretary to submit quarterly
reports on the financial status of the Veterans Health
Administration.
Section 221 requires the Department to request
Congressional authority to transfer funding in excess of
$1,000,000 between information technology system projects.
Section 222 extends authorization for the Department of
Veterans Affairs homeless programs until September 30, 2007.
TITLE III
RELATED AGENCIES
American Battle Monuments Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $35,888,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 35,838,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 37,088,000
Comparsion with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 1,200,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... 1,250,000
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
twenty-four permanent American military cemetery memorials and
thirty-one monuments, memorials, markers and offices in fifteen
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 and the World War II and Korean
War Veterans Memorials in Washington, D.C.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $37,088,000
for the American Battle Monuments Commission's fiscal year 2007
salaries and expenses account. This is an increase of
$1,200,000 above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and
$1,250,000 above the budget request. Included in the increase
is $300,000 to continue the study being conducted to determine
what, if any, action is warranted to preserve the stability of
the site of the World War II Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument
located near the Normandy American Cemetery in France. Also
included in the increase is additional funding for maintenance
and repair work.
Language is included allowing up to $7,500 to be used for
official reception and representation expenses.
Normandy Interpretive Center.--The recommendation includes
funding for the Normandy Interpretive Center at the Normandy
American Cemetery in France. The new center will provide a full
array of interactive services to put the D-Day landings and the
following battles in Europe in perspective as one of the
greatest military achievements of all time. The Committee looks
forward to the opening of this important facility on June 6,
2007, the anniversary of D-Day.
FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATION ACCOUNT
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $15,098,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 4,900,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 4,900,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (10,198,000)
Fiscal year 2007 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 recommends an appropriation of $4,900,000 to
re-capitalize the Commission's Foreign Currency Fluctuations
account. This is a decrease of $10,198,000 below the fiscal
year 2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request. Re-
capitalization of the account ensures that funds are available
to offset dollar losses during fiscal year 2007.
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $18,607,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 19,790,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 19,790,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... 1,183,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Veterans' Judicial Review Act established the Court of
Appeals for Veterans Claims. The Court reviews appeals from
Department of Veterans Affairs 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 $19,790,000
for the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for fiscal year
2007. This is an increase of $1,183,000 above the fiscal year
2006 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
The bill also identifies $1,260,000 to be used for the pro
bono representation program, the same as proposed in the budget
request.
Department of Defense--Civil
Cemeterial Expenses, Army
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $28,760,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 26,550,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 26,550,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (2,210,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
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 $26,550,000
for salaries and expenses for fiscal year 2007. This is a
decrease of $2,210,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level
and the same as the budget request.
The Committee notes that the 1998 Master Plan for Arlington
National Cemetery recommended relocating all utilities from
under open space to below roadways. Such a change would yield
between 8,000 and 10,000 additional gravesite spaces. The
Committee believes the Department of the Army should actively
pursue this course of action and directs the Department to
report by March 1, 2007 on the cost and barriers to moving
forward with this project.
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level........................ $123,499,000
Fiscal year 2007 budget request....................... 54,846,000
Committee recommendation in the bill.................. 54,846,000
Comparison with:
Fiscal year 2006 enacted level.................... (68,653,000)
Fiscal year 2007 budget request................... ................
The Armed Forces Retirement Home 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 old 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
$54,846,000 from the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund
for operations of the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home
and the United States Naval Home. This is a decrease of
$68,653,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and the
same as the budget request.
The bill does not provide authority to expend funding from
the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund for capital
activities at the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home and the United
States Naval Home as proposed in the budget request. This is a
decrease of $1,236,000 below the fiscal year 2006 enacted level
and the same as the budget request.
TITLE IV
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Additional Appropriations
The Committee recommends $507,003,000 in additional funds
for military construction accounts for projects supporting
contingency operations related to the global war on terrorism.
In its recommendation, the Committee has emphasized projects
related to urgent transformation efforts, as well as projects
directly supporting operations in the theater and those that
will enhance training in urban operations and close quarters
combat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Military Construction, Army........................... $379,300,000
Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps.......... 26,037,000
Military Construction, Air Force...................... 49,923,000
Military Construction, Defense-Wide................... 44,500,000
Military Construction, Army National Guard............ 5,530,000
Military Construction, Army Reserve................... 1,713,000
-----------------
Total............................................. 507,003,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
The Administration proposed to delete two general
provisions in the Military Construction, Military Quality of
Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006, including
section 406 and 408.
The bill includes seven provisions that were included in
the fiscal year 2006 appropriations bill and one new provision.
The general provisions included in the bill are as follows:
Section 501 prohibits the obligation of funds beyond the
current fiscal year unless expressly so provided.
Section 502 requires pay raises to be absorbed within the
levels appropriated.
Section 503 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 504 prohibits the use of funds to support or defeat
legislation pending before Congress.
Section 505 encourages the expansion of E-Commerce
technologies and procedures.
Section 506 limits funds from being transferred from this
appropriations measure to any instrumentality of the United
States Government without authority from an appropriation Act.
Section 507 specifies the congressional committees that are
to receive all reports and notifications.
Section 508 requires funds provided for medical facilities
of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans
Affairs in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to
Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic
Influenza, 2006 division of Public Law 109-148 to be used for
joint-use and/or co-located facilities.
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) 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 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 in the Defense Health Program
limiting the amount of funding available for contracts entered
into under the TRICARE Program.
Language is included in the Defense Health Program
providing funds for HIV educational activities.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting payments for cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract
under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing the hire of passenger motor vehicles.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing advances to the Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation under certain
circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for implementing construction of new
bases in the United States without specific appropriations.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for purchase of land or land
easements under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions 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, Administrative
Provisions 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, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for initiating new installations
overseas without notifying the Committees on appropriations.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting the use of funds for architect and engineer
contracts under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for awarding contracts to foreign
contractors under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions 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, Administrative
Provisions limiting funding obligations in the last two months
of the fiscal year to 20 percent.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing prior year construction funding to be
available for current year projects.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing payment for the cost associated with
supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and design on
family housing or military construction projects that are being
completed expired or lapsed funds.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing funds to be expended on military
construction projects for four fiscal years after enactment
under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide the
Committees on Appropriations and annual report on actions to
encourage other member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization to assume a greater share of common defense
burden.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions that limiting funds for the Partnership for Peace
Programs in the New Independent States of the former Soviet
Union.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions that requiring the various military departments to
submit notice to the Committee on Appropriations of
solicitation for contracts with the private sector for military
family housing under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for the operation and maintenance of
family housing to those provided in this appropriations with
exceptions under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization Security Investment Program for the conduct of
missile defense studies.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions requiring officials from the agencies covered in
this appropriation to respond to requests within 21 days.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing funds for the Ford Island Improvement
Account to be available until expended for certain purposes.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for realignment of installations
under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing transfer of expired funding to the Foreign
Currency Fluctuation Account under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting funds for reimbursement for mental health
services under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing surplus medical equipment to be distributed
to other federal agencies under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing the Secretary of Defense to adjust wage
rates for civilian medical employees under certain
circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions limiting the amount of funds for indefinite/
indefinite quantity contracts for environmental remediation
under certain circumstances.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing funds to be used for transportation of
medical supplies and equipment to American Samoa and the Indian
Health Service.
Language is included under Title I, Administrative
Provisions allowing the Secretary of Defense to appoint and
promote certain health care professionals.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans
Affairs, General Operating Expenses, providing for the
reimbursement to the Department of Defense for the costs of
overseas employee mail. This language has been carried
previously and permits free mailing privileges for personnel
stationed in the Philippines.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans
Affairs, Construction, Major Projects, 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 the Department of Veterans
Affairs, Construction, Major Projects, providing that
unobligated balances of previous appropriations may be used for
any project with an estimated cost of less than $4,000,000,
allowing the use of funds for program costs, and making funds
available for damage caused by natural disasters.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans
Affairs, Grants for Construction of State Extended Care
Facilities, providing that not less than $20,000,000 may be
used for modifications to existing facilities.
Language is included under the Department of Veterans
Affairs, Administrative Provisions, permitting transfers
between mandatory and discretionary accounts, limiting and
providing for the use of certain funds, funding administrative
expenses associated with VA life insurance programs from excess
program revenues, allowing reimbursement from enhanced-use
leases, allowing for reimbursement for certain services,
requiring notification of new lease agreements, requiring
disclosure of insurance and income information, allowing the
Secretary to establish a priority system for medical services,
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 V, General Provisions
requiring sums necessary for pay raises to be absorbed within
levels appropriated.
Language is included under Title V, General Provisions
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 V, General Provisions
limiting funding for publicity or propaganda designed to
support or defeat legislation pending before Congress.
Language is included under Title V, General Provisions
encouraging the expanded use of ``E-Commerce'' technology.
Language is included under Title V, General Provisions
delineating the recipients of reports required in this Act.
Language is included under Title V, General Provisions
limiting funding for construction of certain Department of
Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs facilities unless
these facilities are co-located.
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 $2,800,000,000 for
specialty mental health care.
Appropriations Not Authorized by Law
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1) 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:
Transfer of Funds
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, a statement is required describing
the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying bill.
Language under ``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'',
``Environmental Restoration, Army'', ``Environmental
Restoration, Navy'', ``Environmental Restoration, Air Force'',
``Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide'', ``Environmental
Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites'', and sections 115,
119, 120, 123, 128 of Administrative Provisions provide certain
transfer authority.
The Committee has included language transferring not to
exceed $28,112,000 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.
The Committee recommends transferring 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 ($153,185,000), the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans
Program Account ($305,000) and the Native American Veteran
Housing Loan Program Account ($615,000). 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 Homeless Veterans Program
Account.
The Committee recommends providing authority for the
Department of Veterans Affairs for any funds appropriated in
2007 for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and
Veterans Insurance and Indemnities to be transferred between
those three accounts. This will provide the Department of
Veterans Affairs flexibility in administering its entitlement
programs.
The Committee has included language permitting the funds
from three life insurance funds to be transferred to General
Operating Expenses for the costs of administering such
programs.
The Committee recommends language permitting up to
$34,305,000 to be transferred to General Operating Expenses
from any funds appropriated in 2007 to reimburse the Office of
Resolution Management and the Office of Employment
Discrimination Complaint Adjudication for services provided.
The Committee has included language that would transfer
certain funds derived from enhanced-use leasing activities to
the Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor
Projects accounts.
The Committee has included language under the Department of
Veterans Affairs that would transfer funds from the Medical
Care Collections Fund to Medical Services.
The Committee recommends providing authority for the
Department of Veterans Affairs to transfer amounts among the
Medical Services, Medical Administration and Medical Facilities
accounts to the extent necessary to implement the restructuring
of these accounts subject to certain notification and approval
requirements.
The Committee recommends providing authority for the
Department of Veterans Affairs to transfer amounts among the
programs within the Information Technology Systems account
subject to certain notification and approval requirements.
The Committee recommends language under the Department of
Veterans Affairs that would allow the transfer of funds from
the General Operating Expenses account to the Veterans Housing
Benefit Program Fund Program Account for certain purposes.
The Committee recommends language under the Department of
Veterans Affairs that would allow the transfer of funds from
the Capital Asset Fund to the Construction, Major Projects and
Construction, Minor Projects accounts.
Rescissions
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is submitted describing
the rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts
Department/Activity recommended for
rescission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Defense, Military Construction, Army.... $43,348,000
Department of Defense, Military Construction, Navy.... 38,000,000
Department of Defense, Military Construction, Air 2,694,000
Force................................................
Department of Defense, Military Construction, Defense- 110,229,000
Wide.................................................
Department of Defense, Family Housing Construction, 66,200,000
Air Force............................................
Department of Defense, Defense Health Program......... 40,042,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Constitutional Authority
Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives states that:
Each report of a committee on a bill or joint
resolution of a public character shall include a
statement citing the specific powers granted to the
Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed
by the bill or joint resolution.
The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to
report this legislation from Clause 7 of Section 9 of Article I
of the Constitution of the United States of America which
states:
No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in
consequence of Appropriations made by law * * *
Appropriations contained in this bill are made pursuant to
this specific power granted by the Constitution.
Comparisons With Budget Resolution
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires an explanation of compliance with
section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as
amended, which requires that the report accompanying a bill
providing new budget authority contain a statement detailing
how that authority compares with the reports submitted under
section 302 of the Act for the most recently agreed to
concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year from
the Committee's section of 302(a) allocation.
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
302(b) allocation This bill
---------------------------------------------------
Budget Budget
authority Outlays authority Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary............................................... 94,705 36,388 94,705 36,388
Mandatory................................................... 88,728 36,284 88,728 36,284
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Five-Year Projection of Outlays
In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-344), as amended, the following table contains
five-year projections associated with the budget authority
provided in the accompanying bill:
[In millions of dollars]
Outlays:
2007.............................................. 106,267
2008.............................................. 16,013
2009.............................................. 6,708
2010.............................................. 2,964
2011 and beyond................................... 1,287
The bill will not affect the levels of revenues, tax
expenditures, direct loan obligations, or primary loan
guarantee commitments under existing law.
Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments
In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-344), as amended, the financial assistance to
State and local governments is as follows:
[In millions of dollars]
New budget authority.................................. 692
Fiscal year 2007 outlays resulting therefrom.......... 488
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.
Full Committee Votes
Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of
the Rules of the House of Representatives, the results of each
rollcall vote on an amendment or on the motion to report,
together with the names of those voting for and those voting
against, are printed below:
ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVES CHET EDWARDS, SAM FARR, AND DAVID
R. OBEY
----------
Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
Appropriations Bill, 2007
The two most important decisions affecting the Military
Quality of Life bill were not made while the bill was before
the Committee.
On May 9, 2006, on a party-line vote, Committee Republicans
cut the allocation for this bill by $824 million below the
President's request.
The next day the Majority pushed a bill through the House
that provides taxpayers with incomes greater than $1 million
per year tax cuts of $42,000, while families with incomes of
$50,000 a year would only get on average a $46 tax cut.
Those two actions by the Republican Majority are the reason
for this bare bones bill. While it provides a $635 million
increase in veterans spending above the President's request it
also has to rely on a $500 million budget gimmick; even with
this fiscal sleight of hand the bill still fails military
retirees' and veterans' medical needs.
Democrats offered three amendments that would have
significantly improved the bill by eliminating the budget
gimmick, making certain military retirees would not face
increased costs, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of VA
medical care. These amendments were part of a fiscally
disciplined, balanced Democratic approach that would return
Congressional budgeting to the principle of ``paying-as-you-
go'', providing additional funding for key investments and
reducing the deficit by scaling back the supersized tax cuts
for those making more than $1 million a year.
MILITARY RETIREES
The President proposed to increase enrollment fees, co-
payments and deductibles for military retirees less than 65
years of age within the Defense Health Program. The President's
proposal included:
Raising the annual enrollment fees for
TRICARE Prime;
Establishing annual enrollment fees for the
more basic TRICARE Standard;
Increasing annual deductibles; and,
Raising the mail-order and retail pharmacy
co-payments.
The Administration's budget claimed that these increased
costs imposed on military retirees would raise $735 million.
Democrats wholly reject imposing these fee increases on
military retirees. Thankfully, the House Committee on Armed
Services agreed and rejected the proposal. However, this bill
fails to deal with the President's proposal to increase fees,
leaving a $735 million hole in the Defense Health Program.
Mr. Edwards offered an amendment to provide the necessary
$735 million that is needed to get the Defense Health Program
through the next year, and to offset the costs proposed a minor
reduction in the tax cut for those with annual incomes above a
million dollars. A less than two percent reduction in the
average tax cuts for people making over $1 million a year would
ensure the Defense Health Program is fully funded. Presented
with a choice between reducing the tax cut for millionaires or
adequately funding healthcare for military retirees,
Republicans voted to protect the super-sized tax cuts for
millionaires and rejected Mr. Edwards' amendment on a party-
line vote.
BUDGET GIMMICKRY
The second Democratic amendment would have eliminated the
budget gimmick that designated $507 million for 20 routine
military construction projects as an ``emergency'' so that this
funding would not count against the bill's allocation.
None of these projects were unforeseen. The Administration
budget requested 310 military construction projects, including
these 20 projects. They are all conventional military
construction projects--things like hangars, barracks and unit
headquarters. These projects are selected through long-term
planning exercises developed by the services, coordinated by
the Department of Defense, and then vetted by the Office of
Management and Budget. None of these projects were designated
by the Administration as emergency requirements.
Democrats recognized these projects as valid and continue
to support our service men and women. However, the Minority has
a more fiscally disciplined and balanced approach to addressing
these critical needs.
Mr. Obey offered an amendment to pay for these 20 military
construction projects by reducing the tax cuts for people
making more than $1 million a year by $1,400 or one percent.
Republicans defeated the amendment on a party-line vote.
VETERANS HEALTHCARE
Last year, the Administration was twice forced to admit
that it failed to adequately budget for veterans health care.
Twice, at the urging of Democrats, Congress provided additional
funding to close the shortfall. After that fiasco, Congress
understandably cast a skeptical eye on the President's 2007
request for VA healthcare.
This year, the Committee wisely chose to set its mark to
the estimates offered in the Independent Budget, which is
drafted by veterans service organizations, rather than the
request of the Administration. As this report notes, the
Independent Budget provides a more reliable yardstick. In
total, the Committee provided an additional $635 million above
the President's budget.
While this increase is necessary and commendable we still
believe that the bill leaves much room for improvement. The
bill's allocation is still too low to meet many of the
Independent Budget's recommendations, high priority
construction projects were cut, and increases recommended by
the authorizers could not be accommodated.
Mr. Farr offered an amendment to increase veterans health
care funding by $1.82 billion. For example, the amendment would
have provided:
$300 million to fully fund the Independent
Budget's mental health and prosthetics initiatives;
An additional $119 million to increase the
number of full-time employees as suggested by the
Independent Budget;
An additional $48 million in medical and
prosthetic research;
An additional $232 million to offset in
unjustifiable ``savings'' claimed by the President's
budget;
An additional $471 million for long-term
care the VA is statutorily required to provide;
An additional $341 million to enroll ``lower
priority'' veterans who, while often called high
income, are excluded from the VA healthcare system even
though they make as little as $27,000 a year;
An additional $8 million to allow the
Inspector General to expand oversight efforts to make
certain that veterans get the best healthcare in a
timely manner;
An additional $115 million to restore badly
needed hospital construction projects cut from the
Administration's request; and,
An additional $73 million for General
Operating Expenses to help reduce the claims processing
backlog. Last year, 74,000 veterans waited more than
six months to resolve a claim; today, over 95,000 are
waiting.
The Farr amendment was paid for by reducing the average tax
cut for people making more than $1 million a year by slightly
more than $5,000, leaving them with $109,025. The Majority
defeated the amendment on a party-line vote.
Time and again, the Majority prioritized the needs of
people making more than $1 million a year ahead of key
investments, such as health care for our veterans.
As a result, veterans will continue to wait too long for
care, many will not get the mental health assistance they need,
prosthetic research and services will be under funded, and
``wealthy'' lower priority veterans will continue to be denied
access to VA healthcare altogether.
Meanwhile, there are 362,000 taxpayers with annual incomes
over $1 million who are scheduled to receive an average tax cut
of $114,172.
Committee Democrats only asked that we give a little bit
less to those who already have much so that we could do a
little bit better
by our veterans. We were told by the Majority that this was not
``legitimate.''
In a time of war, reducing a millionaire's tax cut in order
to care for those ``who shall have borne the battle'' is not
only legitimate, it is a moral imperative.
Chet Edwards.
Sam Farr.
David R. Obey.
