WASHINGTON, DC -- The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) today approved a $64.7 billion spending bill to boost military construction, upgrade veterans health care, and improve the quality of life for military families.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the acting Chairman of the subcommittee, announced that the fiscal year 2008 Military Construction Appropriations bill includes $57.66 million for key Rhode Island projects. This funding will be used for upgrades at military installations such as the National Guard facilities at Quonset and Naval Station Newport and to bolster work at the Army Aviation Support Facility in North Kingstown and Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich.

The bill provides $37.2 billion for veterans health spending, $2.6 billion above the President's request. This major funding boost will allow the VA to increase critical investments in medical services, which include treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans; fund new claims processors to address the VA's backlog; and invest in VA repair and maintenance needs to prevent a Walter Reed type situation in the VA system.

"This increase in funding is a major victory for our veterans, soldiers, and their families," said Reed, a former Army Ranger. "The money in this bill will help address the health needs of our service members and allow the VA to accelerate its efforts to clear the current backlog in the processing of benefits claims. "

The Senate bill also addresses key quality of life needs for U.S. troops and their families. It provides $21.56 billion for military construction projects, such as barracks, hospitals, and runways, including money to upgrade the National Guard facilities at Quonset and Naval Station Newport.

"Rhode Island plays a critical role in defending our nation. This funding will significantly improve Rhode Island's military facilities and help keep them modern and up-to-date," stated Reed. "This federal investment is vitally important to the continued presence and growth of Rhode Island's military installations."

The bill provides federal funding for military construction projects throughout the state, including $9.9 million for the reconstruction of the wharf connecting Piers 1 and 2 at the Naval Station in Newport. These piers are an integral part of naval operations at the base with Pier 1 anchoring two inactive carriers and Pier 2 serving as the primary operational pier for the Naval Station supporting four Coast Guard ships, visiting ships, and a building that houses port operations, Coast Guard Offices and shops, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) periscope repair facility. Since its construction in 1954, the wharf connecting the piers has deteriorated significantly. It was closed in 2004 due to its inability to support any loading.

The bill would also provide $5 million for a Special Operations Training Facility at the National Guard facilities at Quonset.

Additionally, $750,000 is included for planning and design of an addition to the Bachelor Quarters on Coddington Point at Naval Station Newport and $810,000 for planning and design of a new building for the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in North Kingstown.

The bill now must be approved by the full Appropriations Committee before it moves to a vote on the Senate floor.

SUMMARY: FY 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

Total Discretionary Funding:

Subcommittee Mark: $64.7 billion

President's Request: $60.7 billion

2007 Enacted: $49.8 billion (Excluding $6.6 Billion in emergency supplemental funding)

Department of Veterans Affairs:

The VA faced catastrophic budget shortfalls in fiscal years 2005 and 2006, due in large part to the growing needs of veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the fiscal year 2007 supplemental funding bill, Congress provided an additional $1.8 billion for veterans health care, veterans benefits, and construction needs. This included $1.3 billion targeted primarily to the unique health care needs of veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to ensuring that VA facilities are maintained at the highest level.

The Senate legislation includes $43 billion for the VA, $3.6 billion over President's request, and $6.5 billion above FY 2007 level (excluding $1.8 billion in emergency supplemental funding).

Veterans Health Administration: $37.2 billion, $2.6 billion over the President's request and $4.5 billion (13.9%) over FY 2007 level (not including FY 2007 Supplemental). This includes funding for medical services, facilities, administration, and research.

o Medical Services: $29 billion, $1.8 billion above the President's budget request and $3.5 billion above FY 2007 to improve access to medical services for all veterans. The additional funding for Medical Services provided in the Senate bill directs the VA to prioritize its emphasis on polytrauma care and mental health services, including the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which has become an issue of major concern among returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

o Medical Administration: $3.6 billion, $200 million above the President's budget request and $464 million (14.6%) above FY 2007 (excludes $250 million in emergency supplemental funding).

o Medical Facilities: $4.1 billion, $500 million above the President's budget request and $522 million (14.6%) above FY 2007 (excludes $595 million in FY 2007 emergency supplemental funding).

Veterans Benefits Administration: $1.3 billion, $131 million above the President's budget request. Includes $131 million in additional funds for the VA to hire at least 500 additional claims processors to reduce the backlog of VA medical claims. This is in addition to $61 million included for claims processors in the FY 2007 supplemental.

Minor Construction and Non-Recurring Maintenance: Adds $1 billion over the President's budget request for minor construction and non-recurring maintenance of VA hospitals and clinics. The purpose of this funding increase is to ensure that VA facilities do not experience the same type of deterioration experienced at Walter Reed.

Military Construction:

Excluding the carve out for base realignment and closure activities [BRAC] and for the President's "Grow the Force" initiative, the Administration's request for military construction remains consistent with, and, in some instances, significantly below, the level of funding in fiscal year 2007, particularly in the case of the National Guard and Reserve. For example, the budget request for the Army National Guard is down 14.5 percent from the fiscal year 2007 appropriated amount. The Air National Guard request is down 32 percent, the Army Reserve is down 27.9 percent, and the Air Force Reserve reflects a 41 percent reduction. These reductions reflect a troubling multi-year downward trend in the Department's investment in infrastructure for the Reserve components.

The Senate legislation provides $21.56 billion for military construction, approximately $400 million above the President's request and $8.8 billion above FY 2007 (excluding FY 2007 supplemental).

"Grow the Force" Initiative: $2.74 billion to support the Administration's proposal to increase the size of the Army by 65,000, the Marine Corps by 27,000, and the Guard and Reserve by 9,200 during the next five years. The bill requires GAO to study the adequacy of the Administration's planning and budgeting process for construction of housing and operational facilities to support this growth.

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Re-stationing Costs: $8.17 billion for BRAC 2005, fully funding the President's budget request, to implement base closures and realignments, as well as the re-stationing of 70,000 troops and their families from overseas bases to bases in the United States.

National Guard and Reserves: $929.8 million, $234.7 million above the President's budget request. The National Guard and Reserve have been stretched to near breaking point with continual and extended deployments. Infrastructure requests to support Guard and Reserve training and readiness have been steadily declining. Without the support of Congress, the infrastructure so vital to the preparation of U.S. Guard and Reserve forces would be in failing condition. This legislation continues to invest in the Guard and Reserve and to ensure that they are prepared to answer the call to duty, whether here at home or on battlefields around the world.

All major construction projects funded through the military construction appropriations accounts are included in either the President's budget request or the Services' Future Years Defense Programs [FYDP] and are consistent with the criteria for additional funding for military construction projects in section 2856 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1995 (Public Law 103-337).

Related Agencies: $174 million, $11 million above the President's budget request and $25 million above FY 2007.

  • American Battle Monuments Commission: $56.6 million for military monuments and cemeteries.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: $24.2 million to review appeals from veterans denied benefits.
  • Department of Defense, Civil, Cemeterial Expenses: $31.8 million for improvements to the safety and appearance of Arlington cemetery.
  • Armed Forces Retirement Home: $61.6 million for operation and maintenance of the Armed Forces Retirement Home

Rhode Island Projects

  • Army Aviation Support Facility: $33 million
  • East Greenwich Readiness Center: $8.2 million
  • Wharf between Piers 1 & 2: $9.9 million
  • Special Operations Training Facility at Quonset: $5 million
  • Bachelor quarters Addition at Naval Station: $750,000
  • U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, North Kingstown: $810,000