[104th Congress Public Law 196] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office] <DOC> [DOCID: f:publ196.104] [[Page 110 STAT. 2385]] Public Law 104-196 104th Congress An Act Making appropriations for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Sept. 16, 1996 - [H.R. 3517]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That <<NOTE: Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1997.>> the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure functions administered by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes, namely: Military Construction, Army (including rescissions) For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Army Corps of Engineers and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, and for construction and operation of facilities in support of the functions of the Commander in Chief, $565,688,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001: Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $50,538,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, and host nation support, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ``Military Construction, Army'' under Public Law 103-110, $2,028,000 is hereby rescinded. Military Construction, Navy (including rescissions) For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, facilities, and real property for the Navy as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, $707,094,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001: Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $49,927,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense [[Page 110 STAT. 2386]] determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ``Military Construction, Navy'' under Public Law 102-380, $9,000,000 is hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ``Military Construction, Navy'' under Public Law 103-110, $2,300,000 is hereby rescinded. Military Construction, Air Force (including rescissions) For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently authorized by law, $754,064,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001: Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $50,687,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ``Military Construction, Air Force'' under Public Law 103-307, $2,100,000 is hereby rescinded. Military Construction, Defense-wide (including transfer of funds and rescissions) For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, installations, facilities, and real property for activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military departments), as currently authorized by law, $763,922,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001: Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such appropriations of the Department of Defense available for military construction or family housing as he may designate, to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes, and for the same time period, as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated, not to exceed $12,239,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ``Military Construction, Defense-wide'' under Public Law 104-32, $7,000,000 is hereby rescinded. Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund (including transfer of funds) For the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund, $5,000,000, to remain available until [[Page 110 STAT. 2387]] expended: Provided, That subject to thirty days prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations, such additional amounts as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to the Fund from amounts appropriated for the acquisition or construction of military unaccompanied housing in ``Military Construction'' accounts, to be merged with and to be made available for the same purposes and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund: Provided further, That appropriations made available for the Fund in this Act shall be available to cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans and loan guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant to the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military unaccompanied housing and ancillary supporting facilities. Military Construction, Army National Guard For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Army National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United States Code, and military construction authorization Acts, $78,086,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001. Military Construction, Air National Guard For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United States Code, and military construction authorization Acts, $189,855,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001. Military Construction, Army Reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United States Code, and military construction authorization Acts, $55,543,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001. Military Construction, Naval Reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the reserve components of the Navy and Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United States Code, and military construction authorization Acts, $37,579,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001. Military Construction, Air Force Reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United States Code, and military construction authorization Acts, $52,805,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001. [[Page 110 STAT. 2388]] North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program For the United States share of the cost of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for the acquisition and construction of military facilities and installations (including international military headquarters) and for related expenses for the collective defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized in military construction authorization Acts and section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, $172,000,000, to remain available until expended. Family Housing, Army For expenses of family housing for the Army for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension and alteration and for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction, $158,503,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001; for Operation and Maintenance, and for debt payment, $1,212,466,000; in all $1,370,969,000. Family Housing, Navy and Marine Corps For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension and alteration and for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction, $499,886,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001; for Operation and Maintenance, and for debt payment, $1,014,241,000; in all $1,514,127,000. Family Housing, Air Force For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension and alteration and for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction, $317,507,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001; for Operation and Maintenance, and for debt payment, $816,509,000; in all $1,134,016,000. Family Housing, Defense-wide For expenses of family housing for the activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military departments) for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension and alteration, and for operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor construction, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction, $4,371,000, to remain available until September 30, 2001; for Operation and Maintenance, $30,963,000; in all $35,334,000. [[Page 110 STAT. 2389]] Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund (including transfer of funds) For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund, $25,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That, subject to thirty days prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations, such additional amounts as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to the Fund from amounts appropriated for construction in ``Family Housing'' accounts, to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund: Provided further, That appropriations made available to the Fund in this Act shall be available to cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant to the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169, title 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing and supporting facilities. Homeowners Assistance Fund, Defense For use in the Homeowners Assistance Fund established by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3374), $36,181,000, to remain available until expended. Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part II For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law 101-510), $352,800,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not more than $223,789,000 of the funds appropriated herein shall be available solely for environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor. Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part III For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law 101-510), $971,925,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not more than $351,967,000 of the funds appropriated herein shall be available solely for environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor. Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law 101-510), [[Page 110 STAT. 2390]] $1,182,749,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not more than $200,841,000 of the funds appropriated herein shall be available solely for environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor. GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 101. None of the funds appropriated in Military Construction Appropriations Acts shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a- fixed-fee contract for work, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be performed within the United States, except Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons therefor: Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply in the case of contracts for environmental restoration at an installation that is being closed or realigned where payments are made from a Base Realignment and Closure Account. Sec. 102. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for construction shall be available for hire of passenger motor vehicles. Sec. 103. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for construction may be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, for the construction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized therein are certified as important to the national defense by the Secretary of Defense. Sec. 104. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used to begin construction of new bases inside the continental United States for which specific appropriations have not been made. Sec. 105. No part of the funds provided in Military Construction Appropriations Acts shall be used for purchase of land or land easements in excess of 100 per centum of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except (a) where there is a determination of value by a Federal court, or (b) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or his designee, or (c) where the estimated value is less than $25,000, or (d) as otherwise determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in the public interest. Sec. 106. None of the funds appropriated in Military Construction Appropriations Acts shall be used to (1) acquire land, (2) provide for site preparation, or (3) install utilities for any family housing, except housing for which funds have been made available in annual Military Construction Appropriations Acts. Sec. 107. None of the funds appropriated in Military Construction Appropriations Acts for minor construction may be used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another, without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations. Sec. 108. No part of the funds appropriated in Military Construction Appropriations Acts may be used for the procurement of steel for any construction project or activity for which American steel producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such steel procurement. Sec. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of Defense for military construction or family housing during the [[Page 110 STAT. 2391]] current fiscal year may be used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. Sec. 110. None of the funds appropriated in Military Construction Appropriations Acts may be used to initiate a new installation overseas without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations. Sec. 111. None of the funds appropriated in Military Construction Appropriations Acts may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts estimated by the Government to exceed $500,000 for projects to be accomplished in Japan, in any NATO member country, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded to United States firms or United States firms in joint venture with host nation firms. Sec. 112. None of the funds appropriated in Military Construction Appropriations Acts for military construction in the United States territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be used to award any contract estimated by the Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor: Provided, That this section shall not be applicable to contract awards for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a United States contractor exceeds the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor by greater than 20 per centum. Sec. 113. The Secretary of Defense is to inform the appropriate Committees of Congress, including the Committees on Appropriations, of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving United States personnel thirty days prior to its occurring, if amounts expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated to exceed $100,000. Sec. 114. Not more than 20 per centum of the appropriations in Military Construction Appropriations Acts which are limited for obligation during the current fiscal year shall be obligated during the last two months of the fiscal year. (transfer of funds) Sec. 115. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for construction in prior years shall be available for construction authorized for each such military department by the authorizations enacted into law during the current session of Congress. Sec. 116. For military construction or family housing projects that are being completed with funds otherwise expired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may be used to pay the cost of associated supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and design on those projects and on subsequent claims, if any. Sec. 117. <<NOTE: 10 USC 2860 note.>> Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds appropriated to a military department or defense agency for the construction of military projects may be obligated for a military construction project or contract, or for any portion of such a project or contract, at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal year for which funds for such project were appropriated if the funds obligated for such project (1) are obligated from funds available for military construction projects, and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated for such project, plus any amount by which the cost of such project is increased pursuant to law. [[Page 110 STAT. 2392]] (transfer of funds) Sec. 118. <<NOTE: 10 USC 2860 note.>> During the five-year period after appropriations available to the Department of Defense for military construction and family housing operation and maintenance and construction have expired for obligation, upon a determination that such appropriations will not be necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obligations incurred during the period of availability of such appropriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations may be transferred into the appropriation ``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense'' to be merged with and to be available for the same time period and for the same purposes as the appropriation to which transferred. Sec. 119. <<NOTE: Reports.>> The Secretary of Defense is to provide the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives with an annual report by February 15, containing details of the specific actions proposed to be taken by the Department of Defense during the current fiscal year to encourage other member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Japan, Korea, and United States allies bordering the Arabian Gulf to assume a greater share of the common defense burden of such nations and the United States. (transfer of funds) Sec. 120. During the current fiscal year, in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense, proceeds deposited to the Department of Defense Base Closure Account established by section 207(a)(1) of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act (Public Law 100-526) pursuant to section 207(a)(2)(C) of such Act, may be transferred to the account established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991, to be merged with, and to be available for the same purposes and the same time period as that account. Sec. 121. No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c, popularly known as the ``Buy American Act''). Sec. 122. (a) In the case of any equipment or products that may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided under this Act, it is the sense of the Congress that entities receiving such assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only American- made equipment and products. (b) <<NOTE: Notice.>> In providing financial assistance under this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress. Sec. 123. <<NOTE: 10 USC 10503 note.>> The National Guard Bureau shall annually prepare a future years defense plan based on the requirement and priorities of the National Guard: Provided, That this plan shall be presented to the committees of Congress concurrent with the President's budget submission for each fiscal year. Sec. 124. It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the Army should name buildings numbered 5308 and 5309 at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, as the Howell Heflin Complex. [[Page 110 STAT. 2393]] (transfer of funds) Sec. 125. During the current fiscal year, in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be transferred from the account established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991, to the fund established by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program. Any amounts transferred shall be merged with and be available for the same purposes and for the same time period as the fund to which transferred. This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1997''. Approved September 16, 1996. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3517: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOUSE REPORTS: Nos. 104-591 (Comm. on Appropriations) and 104-721 (Comm. of Conference). SENATE REPORTS: No. 104-287 (Comm. on Appropriations). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): May 30, considered and passed House. June 26, considered and passed Senate, amended. Aug. 1, House agreed to conference report. Sept. 5, Senate agreed to conference report. WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 32 (1996): Sept. 16, Presidential statement. <all>