Appropriations Bills

The House Appropriations Committee has approved a change to the 2005 Military Construction Appropriations bill sought by U.S. Representative Chet Edwards (D-TX) enabling more construction and renovation for military family housing. The Department of Defense reports that 60% of the family housing on military bases—163-thousand units— are substandard. The amendment to the $10 billion Military Construction Appropriations bill lifts a mandatory $850 million cap on an innovative public-private housing program and makes an additional $500 million available beginning October 1. Without the change, the Pentagon is expected to reach its mandatory spending ceiling in November and freeze all housing construction and renovation.

“We have a solution that provides decent and more affordable housing for military families much more quickly and has saved billions of taxpayer dollars,” said Edwards, who helped initiate the innovative housing plan eight years ago. “It is unconscionable to freeze this program, especially in time of war.”

Under the program, the federal government provides some up front funds while a private contractor provides the bulk of the capital and performs or oversees the construction, renovation and maintenance on the base housing. Military families then rent the homes, and their Basic Allowance for Housing pays the developer.

Homes are constructed more affordably and more quickly than possible using annual appropriations. The government saves money (estimates are 10-15% over the life of the project) and military families are receiving improved homes in one-tenth of the time it would take using old methods of family housing construction

Edwards worked closely with Military Construction Subcommittee Chairman Joe Knollenberg on the issue. However, despite their success and the support of the full Appropriations Committee, there may be difficulty keeping the amendment in the legislation when it comes to the House floor next week. Edwards is concerned that the House leadership might try to strip the provision from the bill through procedural maneuvers.

“The House leadership and their Rules committee will make a crucial decision. They will either allow us to continue the most successful military housing program ever or tell 50,000 military families at 27 military installations in 22 states that decent housing will be put on hold despite all the sacrifices they have made during a time of war.”