Heinrich Chairs Hearing To Review FY22 Budget Request For Military Construction, Seeks Funding Return For Holloman AFB And Action On Energy Resilience
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) Chaired the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies hearing to review the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget request for military construction and family housing.
On May 28, the Biden administration submitted to Congress the President’s FY22 budget request of $752.9 billion for national defense, $715 billion of which is for the Department of Defense (DOD). The budget request included nearly $10 billion for investments in military construction and family housing.
In the hearing, Senator Heinrich relayed the challenges of getting dozens of military construction projects back on track after the previous administration raided their funding for border wall construction. “I understand these projects were anticipating some unrelated cost increases prior to the diversion, but, we lost two years of trying to tackle those challenges because of the decision to pull funding and stop design, and the taxpayers are paying for that now,” said Heinrich.
Senator Heinrich pointed to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico that had $85 million diverted from the base’s military construction project that would support a Formal Training Unit (FTU) for MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. In the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act, Senator Heinrich – a then-member of the Senate Armed Services Committee - included language in the Senate Report that encourages the Air Force to move forward with funding for construction of the facility.
Senator Heinrich also expressed that he was “encouraged by the Department’s increased focus on energy resilience. Specifically, the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program.” This program, ERCIP, saw a 73 percent increase over last year’s request and is a critical resource to improve energy resilience. Within this program there is also a $10 million request for planning and design funds associated with electric vehicle infrastructure upgrades.
Heinrich noted, “I have been vocal about the need for the United States to embrace and accelerate electrification, and the Department needs to understand its capacity and plan for its requirements at an installation and at a community level.”
Senator Heinrich’s full opening remarks as prepared for delivery are below.
Good afternoon, everyone.
This hearing of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee is now called to order.
I’d very much like to thank our witnesses for being here today:
- From OSD we have Mr. Paul Cramer, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment.
- Representing each of the services are Lieutenant General Jason Evans, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9, Installations,
- Vice Admiral Ricky Williamson, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics,
- Lieutenant General Charles Chiarotti, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics,
- and Lieutenant General Warren Berry, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection.
This year the Department has sent over a budget request of $9.85 billion for the military construction and family housing accounts.
That’s a 20 percent increase over last year’s request.
I am encouraged to see DOD taking seriously the need to invest in its infrastructure, which is the foundation of military readiness.
In addition to significant increases to most service accounts, the request demonstrates a clear intent to prioritize quality of life projects for our service members and their families.
While the request rebounds from a significant decrease last year, it remains lower than Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020, and still accounts for just over one percent of the total DOD budget.
At the same time, the need for recapitalization of existing facilities and new mission infrastructure continues to grow.
Our subcommittee hearing last month highlighted the vulnerable state of many of our aging and outdated facilities.
Broadly, this request is a step in the right direction, but we need sustained and dedicated investment over more than just one or two years.
The request notably does not include funding for Overseas Contingency Operations, shifting those projects, which are part of the European Deterrence Initiative, into the base budget, which is a more appropriate place for them.
This move is long overdue and I applaud it.
I am encouraged by the Department’s increased focus on energy resilience.
Specifically, the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) saw a 73 percent increase over last year’s request.
This program, which is a critical resource to improve energy resilience, had been held flat in budget requests for the past decade, relying on Congressional increases to address rising demand and more complex and expensive projects.
Within this program there is also a $10 million request for planning and design funds associated with electric vehicle infrastructure upgrades.
I have been vocal about the need for the United States to embrace and accelerate electrification, and the Department needs to understand its capacity and plan for its requirements at an installation and at a community level.
I look forward to hearing from the witnesses about what the funding request for ERCIP will achieve and whether it meets the existing need.
I am encouraged by the increase for ERCIP but I would also note that there are 10 projects on the ERCIP Unfunded Priority List totaling some $162 million, which may not even account for the full need.
I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today about the need for these additional projects and the ability to execute them in FY22 – should additional funding be provided.
While this request includes many positive stories, we also continue to see the negative impacts of the previous administration’s decision to raid funding from military construction projects for border wall construction.
There are sixteen projects that were defunded and are included in the Fiscal Year 2022 request for Congress to appropriate funding to - again.
The cost of these projects is $221 million more than what they were originally appropriated at.
I understand these projects were anticipating some unrelated cost increases prior to the diversion, but, we lost two years of trying to tackle those challenges because of the decision to pull funding and stop design, and the taxpayers are paying for that now.
For example, in my home state, the MQ-9 Formal Training Unit operations facilities at Holloman Air Force Base, originally funded three years ago, remains in a dilapidated state and our airmen have been working in unsafe conditions for far too long.
General Berry I appreciated our conversation on the subject yesterday and look forward to working together to find a solution in this fiscal year.
I would also call attention to fact the federal government will need to address critical safety concerns and undertake environment remediation projects that are now necessary because of border wall construction.
I understand that the Department of Defense will likely not be the lead agency for this effort, but I will remain engaged on this front.
Lastly, I must note my disappointment that the budget documents do not include FYDPs.
I understand the delays associated with the Presidential transition this year, and that it was not your decision to withhold this information, but these lists are truly critical to our ability to conduct oversight, understand the Department’s planning, and appropriately resource its military construction needs.
I hope you will bring that message back with you after today.
And with that, I will recognize the Ranking Member.
