MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2004 HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE NOTE: Under Committee Rules, Mr. Young, as Chairman of the Full Committee, and Mr. Obey, as Ranking VALERIE L. BALDWIN, BRIAN L. POTTS, and MARY C. ARNOLD, Subcommittee Staff MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2004 NOTE: Under Committee Rules, Mr. Young, as Chairman of the Full Committee, and Mr. Obey, as Ranking Minority Member of the Full Committee, are authorized to sit as Members of all Subcommittees. VALERIE L. BALDWIN, BRIAN L. POTTS, and MARY C. ARNOLD, Subcommittee Staff COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS RALPH REGULA, Ohio C. W. BILL YOUNG, Florida, Chairman JERRY LEWIS, California HAROLD ROGERS, Kentucky JIM KOLBE, Arizona JAMES T. WALSH, New York CHARLES H. TAYLOR, North Carolina ERNEST J. ISTOOK, JR., Oklahoma JOE KNOLLENBERG, Michigan JACK KINGSTON, Georgia RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN, New Jersey ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR., Washington RANDY "DUKE" CUNNINGHAM, California TODD TIAHRT, Kansas ZACH WAMP, Tennessee TOM LATHAM, Iowa ANNE M. NORTHUP, Kentucky JOHN E. PETERSON, Pennsylvania JOHN E. SWEENEY, New York JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON, Texas ANDER CRENSHAW, Florida DAVID R. OBEY, Wisconsin ALAN B. MOLLOHAN, West Virginia PETER J. VISCLOSKY, Indiana DAVID E. PRICE, North Carolina CHET EDWARDS, Texas ROBERT E. “BUD” CRAMER, JR., Alabama JAMES E. CLYBURN, South Carolina LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD, California JESSE L. JACKSON, JR., Illinois CHAKA FATTAH, Pennsylvania STEVEN R. ROTHMAN, New Jersey JAMES W. DYER, Clerk and Staff Director (II) 2003426944 HON. MARIO P. FIORI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (INSTALLATIONS AND ENVIRONMENT) MAJOR GENERAL LARRY J. LUST, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF FOR INSTALLATION MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY MAJOR GENERAL COLLIS N. PHILLIPS, DEPUTY CHIEF, ARMY RESERVE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL CLYDE A. VAUGHN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN Mr. KNOLLENBERG [presiding]. Welcome everybody. And, in fact, good morning, as well. Everybody got here, I guess, without too much hardship. As all of you know, this is the first hearing that we have had. This is my first time that I have conducted a hearing as chairman of MILCON. I am very, very pleased with this new assignment. In fact, I am looking forward to working with all of my colleagues, the Department of Defense and each service component as this bill winds its way through the appropriations process. I am joined by my ranking member, Chet Edwards, whom I have known for quite some time, and certainly he has more experience on this bill than I do. We will be turning to him many times for his help and his assist ance. I think you have been on the committee for six years now- Mr. KNOLLENBERG [continuing]. The subcommittee. And in particular Fort Hood is a presence that he claims a great deal of interest in. But he will be a good partner and I am looking forward to working with him. Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman. Mr. KNOLLENBERG. He and I have known each other for a number of years and, as I say, he has a solid working relationship. We want that, we certainly expect that to continue. Before I move into the substance of the hearing, I would like to commend our predecessors, David Hobson and John Olver, for their contribution to the quality of life of the men and women in our armed forces. Both Mr. Hobson and Mr. Olver were committed to |