Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2005

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - July 22, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). Pursuant to House Resolution 732 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 4837.

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Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend Chairman KNOLLENBERG and the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee Staff once again for their hard work and efforts to produce an excellent bill for us to consider here today.

The importance of our willingness here in Congress to immediately and effectively take care of the needs of our men and women in the Armed Services, and to look after their families, certainly goes without saying. It does not matter whether they are located here at home protecting our homeland security, or whether they are directly in harm's way while serving abroad to serve their country. We must support them in every way that we possibly can.

This legislation represents a vital and immediate need for our troops and their families-to provide adequate and improved facilities for training and equipment; to provide better housing for these brave men and women, and their families, who unselfishly protect our national interests on a daily basis; to provide quality of life improvements such as chapels, child development centers, schools, and fitness centers; to better equip our hospitals and medical and dental facilities; for public safety and security here in our local communities; and to ensure the continued strength, construction and development of our overseas bases and our weapons systems that protect American interests.

The sacrifice that these men and women have made to this Nation demands our attention and steadfast support to help them do the job that they have chosen to do, and to better their lives in any way that we can find. Many of you are concerned that this bill contains an increase on the cap on Federal contributions to the Military Housing Privatization program from $850 Million to $1.3 Billion in this Fiscal Year. This money is urgently needed to fully fund family housing construction and maintenance, and to eliminate inadequate housing that our troops must live in. This funding directly supports two bases in my home State of Alabama, at Redstone and at Fort Rucker, and I want to rise in support of the men and women serving there.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to thank the Chairman for an excellent bill, and to urge its passage to fully support these men and women in our Armed Services.