STATUS OF METRICATION ACTIVITIES
AT CPSC

In accordance with Department of Commerce direction, in 1992, CPSC developed and submitted a Plan for conversion to the use of metric units of measurement. The Plan included provisions within the contracting process to assure compliance with the requirements of the Act, in addition to providing the bases for granting exemptions under the law. The Plan also outlined training to be provided to agency personnel to help meet the requirements.

Procurement activities at CPSC have adopted full instructions for the use of metric units in all procurements where feasible. Scheduled procurements (of GSA items) are subject to metric conversion by GSA. Procurements of programmatic technical support are being effected in metric units.

Programmatic activities are handled on a case-by-case basis. Some regulatory development actions consist of amendments to or modifications of preexisting regulations that employed customary units. In other cases, prospective regulatory development activities are based upon unique data sources originating in customary units. Because of the unique problems associated with such regulatory activity, details of the adoption of metric units of measurement are being addressed individually for each case. Extensive training materials have been procured to allow for full training of agency personnel on an as-needed basis.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1995.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM

WITNESSES

GIL CORONADO, DIRECTOR

G. HUNTINGTON BANISTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LEWIS C. BRODSKY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS

Mr. LEWIS. Good afternoon. Today's subcommittee hearing will involve testimony from the Selective Service System and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation regarding their fiscal year 1996 budgets.

We will begin with Selective Service, whose 1996 budget request is $23,304,000, represents an increase of $374,000 or 1.6 percent over fiscal year 1995.

Testifying on behalf of SSS is new Director Gil Coronado. Welcome, Mr. Coronado. And I would ask you to formally introduce the gentlemen with you, then we will hear your testimony and then go to questions. You can put it all in the record or you can read it all, whichever you prefer.

INTRODUCTION OF WITNESSES

Mr. CORONADO. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

First of all, sir, I would like to introduce the staff I have with

me.

On my right is Hunt Banister. Mr. Banister was the Acting Director for some nine months during one of the most critical periods in the agency's history. He went through some very difficult times and had to make very hard decisions on budget and personnel reductions and the closing of three of our six region headquarters. He provided outstanding leadership during this period of time, and I am pleased to say Hunt Banister serves as the Executive Director of the Selective Service.

Two seats down on my left is Lew Brodsky, whom you and Congressman Stokes have met. Lew has been wearing two hats for the past two years-as Assistant Director for Public Affairs, and Acting Assistant Director for Congressional Affairs. He is an outstanding professional. Mr. Brodsky is the link between our agency, the Congress, the media and the public.

Furthermore, if I may, Mr. Chairman, I would like to say the Selective Service is indeed fortunate to have a very professional, very competent and very dedicated senior staff in place.

Sir, I do have a written statement I would like to submit for the record, if that meets with your approval.

Mr. LEWIS. It will be so included.

(359)

OPENING REMARKS

Mr. CORONADO. Some people say things never change in Washington. It is apparent things do change. I am new. I am appearing before a new Chairman, a new Congress and a few new subcommittee members. Change is good, and I can assure you that there has been plenty of it at Selective Service.

We have, to use a popular buzzword

Mr. LEWIS. Some of my friends have said change is good, but let's don't be ridiculous.

Mr. STOKES. Sort of in the eye of the beholder.
Mr. LEWIS. Yes.

PRESIDENT REVALIDATES AGENCY

Mr. CORONADO. The agency has been reinvented over the past few years. Last May, the President explained to the Congress why it is important to fund the agency and the peacetime registration program for America's men. And the Congress agreed. Selective Service provides a hedge against unforeseen threats and is a relatively low cost insurance policy against our underestimating the maximum level of threat that we expect our armed forces to face. In the President's words, it is a symbol of U.S. resolve that maintains the link between the all-volunteer force and society at large. With the ongoing registration program, the men and the women who serve in the all-volunteer force know that the general population stands behind them, committed to serve, should the preservation of our national security so require.

FY 1996 BUDGET REQUEST

The President's budget request for 1996 proposes funding the Selective Service at $23,304,000 and that is an increase, as you pointed out, of $374,000. A small increase is needed to provide current services, fund a study to design a new computer system and to accommodate pay raises and keep up with inflation.

This chart, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Stokes depicts a year-by-year fiscal history of the Selective Service System from fiscal year 1982 to fiscal year 1996. As shown, the 1996 request provides funding at the current services level after two years of very significant budget reductions. There was a major reduction in fiscal year 1994. Then, in 1995, our new baseline was 8 percent below the 1994 appropriation and 20 percent below the funds approved for fiscal year 1993. We expedited many planned changes, and we cut operating costs to arrive at today's minimum essential funding level.

REVISED DOD TIME FRAMES

As the President directed, the Department of Defense recently revalidated its requirements and adjusted the time frames for the Selective Service System. The new DOD report reflects current post-Cold War thinking. As a result, we will be able to conduct a fair and equitable draft in a crisis that would permit potential draftees to organize their personal affairs prior to induction.

SUBCOMMITTEE'S ROLE IN NATIONAL DEFENSE

The Selective Service System is the only part of the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies budget that directly supports a component of national defense readiness. It is with your continued support that this agency provides the Nation with an inexpensive defense manpower insurance policy in a still dangerous and uncertain world.

Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to respond to any questions that you or any other Members of the subcommittee might have. Mr. LEWIS. Thank you, Mr. Coronado.

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