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
| Dec 22, 2011
Federal home weatherization program has impacted 6.8 million homes
More than 6.8 million homes have been weatherized using federal, state, utility, and other funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
| Dec 22, 2011
Group developing BIM data standards
A collaboration among Georgia Tech’s Digital Building Lab, the Precast Concrete Institute, the American Concrete Institute, and the American Institute of Steel Construction aims to develop global standards for transportation of three-dimensional digital models among fabricator, architecture, engineering, and construction groups.
| Dec 22, 2011
New green code spells out thermal requirement for roof retrofits
The 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) includes a straightforward approach to minimum thermal requirements for roof and wall systems.
| Dec 22, 2011
AGC’s safety conference Jan. 11-13 in San Antonio
The Associated General Contractors of America’s national meeting for safety and health professionals will take place Jan. 11-13, 2012 in San Antonio, TX.
| Dec 22, 2011
Proposed New York City zoning revamp encourages rooftop solar and wind energy
New zoning regulation proposals to make it easier for building owners in New York City to make their structures more sustainable have entered the public approval process.
| Dec 15, 2011
Dayton, Ohio schools saving $2.6 million annually by building to LEED
On average, green schools save about $100,000 a year on operating costs, including energy and water savings.
| Dec 15, 2011
Building to LEED standards can pose new risks for construction workers
Workers on these projects suffer a 24% increase in falls to lower levels during roof work, which researchers attributed to the installation of solar panels, and a few other risks.
| Dec 15, 2011
NRDC charges Maine governor with weakening green wood requirement
The FSC program is administered through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and requires wood to be harvested in a sustainable way.
| Dec 15, 2011
Post-tornado, Tuscaloosa seeks to create walkable urban, retail areas
Block sizes initially were limited to a maximum perimeter of 1,750 feet, with no side of the block being longer than 500 feet.
| Dec 15, 2011
Allentown, Pa. city council asked to repeal union-friendly law
The mayor of Allentown, Pa. asked the City Council to repeal a year-old ordinance that forces contractors to hire union workers for large city projects funded with state and federal dollars.