The Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representative voted to cut about $3 billion from the military construction budget for FY 2015 when compared to FY 2014 funding levels.
The Army would see the sharpest cuts on a percentage basis, with a $578 million, or 52% reduction in FY 2015. However, a provision in the bill provides the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve Accounts an additional $245 million for use and disbursement at the discretion of the Secretary of the Army.
The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) program, encompassed in the Navy and Marine account, would see a $631 million, or 39%, cut in FY 2015.
The Veteran’s Administration, also impacted by this budget proposal, would be funded at the same level as in FY 2014 ($1.057 billion). The funds for FY 2015 would be evenly split between the two primary VA construction accounts.
The VA’s Major Construction Account—for projects over $10 million—would increase from $342 million in FY 2014 to $561 million in FY 2015. The Minor Construction Account—for projects below $10 million—would decrease from $714 million to $495 million.
The House bill figures are identical to the president’s FY 2015 budget request.
(http://news.agc.org/2014/04/25/house-panel-approves-fy-2015-milconva-funding/)
Related Stories
| Mar 5, 2014
Quebec's building code doesn't meet needs of its aging population
The issue was raised in the wake of a tragic fire at a seniors' residence in L'Isle-Verte.
| Mar 4, 2014
Massachusetts Congressional delegation asks FEMA to slow flood zone map requirements
After a recent successful challenge of the scientific methodology used to redraw the coastal high-hazard zones, the Massachusetts congressional delegation is asking federal officials to put the brakes on new flood zone maps for the Bay State.
| Mar 3, 2014
Injury-liability law responsible for higher construction insurance cost in New York
Construction contractors and developers in New York state face $3 billion more in costs and 667 more accidents per year because of a state law that holds builders solely liable for such accidents, according to a study commissioned by the New York Civil Justice Institute.
| Feb 28, 2014
GBI issues guide to help federal agencies meet sustainability mandates
The Green Building Initiative has released “The Guiding Principles Compliance for New Construction,” for federal buildings to help federal agencies meet sustainability mandates in the construction of new buildings.
| Feb 28, 2014
Steel Joist Institute standards open for review
The 2015 draft of the Steel Joist Institute’s “Single Joist Standard Specification for K-, LH-, and DLH-Series and Joist Girders” will be available for public review until May 31, 2014.
| Feb 28, 2014
Metcalf Construction wins key reversal from federal appeals court in Hawaii on military contract
Metcalf spent more than $76 million on a military construction project and sued to recoup costs.
| Feb 19, 2014
Obama Administration moves to boost fuel efficiency standards on heavy-duty vehicles
The Obama Administration wants to boost fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks for models made in 2019 and later.
| Feb 19, 2014
Net Positive Energy + Water is latest green certification standard
The advancement of sustainable construction has reached a new milestone with the development of Net Positive Energy+Water, a new green building certification standard that aims to improve net zero approaches to energy and water conservation.
| Feb 19, 2014
Obama’s climate resilience panel says PVs, cool roofs should be part of solution
Among the suggestions were rooftop solar energy systems and cool roofs, which could be encouraged by policies from local governments.
| Feb 19, 2014
OSHA proposes three-year postponement of crane operator certification requirement
OSHA’s proposal to postpone the compliance date for crane operator certification by three years was made official on Feb. 7 when it was published in the Federal Register.