FY 1995 REQUESTED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS There are major new construction projects proposed for fiscal year 1995 and they include repairs to existing structures. A total of $1.3 million is requested for design and construction to repair and restore the McClellan gate, the Kennedy Gravesite electrical system, and the upper-deck pavement at the parking facility. And a total of $1.1 million for design only for the remaining two unstarted projects in the 1967 master plan, namely, the Project 90 Land Development and Custis Walk replacement. I am pleased to report that the work in Section 27 is progressing ahead of schedule. Ninety percent of the upright marble headstones have been installed and we will continue to work on completing the installation this year. The original burial register for U.S. Colored Troops buried in Section 27 has now been restored and the superintendent, Mr. Chairman, has brought it along this morning as tangible representation of the progress which is being made. I conclude, Mr. Chairman, by urging the subcommittee's approval of this request. It is a sound budget that will permit the Department of the Army to continue the high standards of maintenance Arlington National Cemetery deserves. Thank you. [The information follows:] STATEMENT OF STEVEN DOLA DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY (MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET), MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE: INTRODUCTION the I appreciate the opportunity to appear before subcommittee in support of the Fiscal Year 1995 appropriation request for Cemeterial Expenses, Department of the Army. With me today are Mr. John C. Metzler, Jr., Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, and Mr. Rory D. Smith, Budget Officer, also from Arlington National Cemetery. We are appearing on behalf of the Secretary of the Army, who is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Arlington and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemeteries. FISCAL YEAR 1995 BUDGET OVERVIEW The request for Fiscal Year 1995 is $12,017,000. The funds requested are sufficient to support the work force, to assure adequate maintenance of the buildings, to acquire necessary supplies and equipment, and to provide maintenance standards expected at these national shrines. The funds requested will finance operations at both cemeteries and provide for various design and construction projects. The requested funding is $721,000 less than the Fiscal Year 1994 appropriation. The request reflects implementation at Arlington National Cemetery of the government-wide directive to the Bureaucracy and incorporates results of the "hard domestic discretionary spending agreed to in the budget It will be a challenge at this funding level to provide the high standards of maintenance Arlington National Cemetery deserves but we will strive to meet this challenge. Streamline freeze" on resolution. FUNERALS In Fiscal Year 1993, there were 3,056 interments and inurnments; 3,500 interments and 1,500 inurnments are estimated in Fiscal Year 1994; and 3,500 interments and 1,500 inurnments are 1,583 PUBLIC LAW 103-160 PO ELIGIBILITY Public Law 103-160, which was enacted November 30, 1993, extended eligibility for interment in Arlington National Cemetery to any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval or air service and who dies on or after the date of enactment of the Public Law. This is to be carried out under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army. A proposed rule has been drafted and is currently being prepared for publication in the Federal Register. CEREMONIES Arlington National Cemetery is this Nation's principal shrine to honor the men and women who served in the Armed Forces. It is a visible reflection of America's appreciation for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our freedom. In addition to the thousands of funerals, with military honors, held there each year, hundreds of other ceremonies are conducted to honor those who rest in the cemetery. Thousands of visitors, both foreign and American, visit Arlington to participate in these events. During Fiscal Year 1993, about 1,900 ceremonies were conducted and the President of the United States hosted the ceremony on December 21, 1993, breaking ground for a memorial to the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster. During Fiscal Year 1993, Arlington National Cemetery accommodated over 4 million visitors, making Arlington one of the most visited historic sites in the National Capital Region. PARKING FACILITY The Arlington National Cemetery visitors center parking facility opened to the public in January 1989. This modern facility combines convenience and information for visitors to Arlington National Cemetery. There is parking for 570 cars and 42 buses in the three story parking facility. There is a fee for parking at this facility. The method of operating the parking facility is by lease to private vendor. A new lease began for a term of 1 year, beginning January 16, 1994, with a Government option to renew at the same annual rate, on a yearly basis for the next 4 years. The fee for cars under the new lease is $1.25 per hour for the first three hours. The fee for buses is unchanged $5.00 per hour for the first three hours. The new lease provides for an annual payment of $500,000 to the government. In addition, of every dollar earned after $744,422, ninety six percent is received by the government and four percent goes to the vendor. Based on the 1992 usage of the facility and the new fee structure, the annual payment to the government would be $929,277 compared to $756,861 that was actually received in 1992. COLUMBARIUM Inurnment activities in the Columbarium continue to increase. In 1980, the first year of operation, we had 657 inurnments. Because of the advanced age of World War I and World War II Veterans, we are now averaging approximately 1,500 inurnments per year. At this rate, all available space in the existing Columbarium will be exhausted in FY 1998. Design of the next increment of the Columbarium will begin in the third quarter of fiscal year 1994. The aim is to advance the design sufficiently so that a valid construction cost estimate could be developed in time for consideration in connection with the Fiscal Year 1996 budget submission. REIMBURSEMENT FOR WATER The Arlington National Cemetery water supply is provided through Federally-Owned Water Mains (FOWM). The compensation for the FOWM transported water has heretofore been provided for by the District of Columbia Appropriations Act under the heading "Federal Payment for Water and Sewer Services". In recognition of the Conference Committee Report (House Report 101-270) accompanying Public Law 101-168, the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, and of executive branch policy that agencies should budget this cost in individual budgets, $200,000 has been requested in Fiscal Year 1995 to begin making payments for water consumption. GRAVELINERS Public Law 100-322 authorized the Secretary of the Army to provide graveliners for use in Arlington National Cemetery. An evaluation of the specific conditions which exist at Arlington National Cemetery was performed and a graveliner program was implemented at Arlington National Cemetery in Fiscal Year 1994. The Fiscal Year 1995 request includes $200,000 for this program. UPDATE ON PREVIOUSLY FUNDED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS The following presents the status on several construction projects. previously funded In Fiscal Year 1992, the Memorial Amphitheater Combined Project $4.82 million was appropriated for repair of rainwater leaks at Memorial Amphitheater. In FY 1993, $4.5 million was appropriated for a marble restoration to be undertaken in conjunction with the rainwater leaks repair project. The design for the combined project is now complete. Although we had expected the construction would now be underway, resolution of two award protests is required. As a result, construction will begin in the late Spring or early Summer of 1994; and the previously scheduled completion date of July 1995 Facility Maintenance Complex - In Fiscal Year 1991, $4.8 million was provided to design and construct the facility maintenance complex to replace buildings constructed in the 1930's. The project was advertised in August 1993 and bids were opened on September 23, 1993. Although aggressive efforts were made during design to scope the project to the minimum essential requirements achievable within available funds, award to the responsive low bidder required additional funding of $1.7 million. A reprogramming action that was submitted to this subcommittee has provided the additional funding from Fiscal Year 1994 funds intended for road repairs. The construction contract for the project was awarded on January 25, 1994, and the facilities maintenance complex is forecast to be occupancy in June 1995. The process ready for of evalua$100,000 removed. was re Removal Of Underground Storage Tanks tion and removal of underground storage tanks began with provided in Fiscal Year (FY) 1993 and is continuing with an additional $350,000 provided in FY 1994. There were 15 underground fuel storage tanks located throughout the cemetery. To date, ten of these tanks which were no longer in use, have been During the removal process, any soil that was contaminated moved and the area left clean. Five monitoring wells were installed in January to monitor the area on a schedule approved by the Virginia State Water Control Board and an area for soil remediation established within the cemetery, also approved by the state. Approximately $77,000 has been spent so far. The five remaining tanks, which are larger, will be removed and three of them will not be replaced because they are no longer needed, while two of them will be replaced during FY 1994. FISCAL YEAR 1995 REQUESTED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Major new construction projects planned for Fiscal Year 1995 include repairs to existing structures and design for the remaining two unstarted projects in the 1967 Master Plan. McClellan Gate The Fiscal Year 1995 request includes $660,000 for design and construction required to repair and restore the Gate. Work will include removal and resetting of stone including some stone replacement, structural repairs, repointing, patching and cleaning of the entire arch, a new concrete ring foundation, new copper roofing and flashing, repair and painting of the iron gate, and new granite cobblestone paving around the arch. Project 90 Land Development One of two remaining projects in the 1967 Master Plan is the development of the final 52 acres of land in the cemetery for burial purposes. The Fiscal Year 1995 request includes $800,000 to design this project. This development, providing approximately 31,000 gravesites, will include construction of new roads, paving, curbing, a new drainage system, installation of a potable and non-potable water distribution system, 1,500 feet |