Chuck Grassley: “I understand the committee is prepared to accept my amendment on Department of Defense [DOD] disbursements. My amendment…”

“I understand the committee is prepared to accept my amendment on Department of Defense [DOD] disbursements. My amendment is simple and straightforward. It says that each disbursement made by the DOD over $1 million must be matched with the correct obligation before payment is made. It also says that this threshold must be met by June 30, 1998. This is the next, logical step in a process that began with section 8137 of the fiscal year 1995 DOD Appropriations Act. My amendment is fully consistent with the policy first adopted in 1994. This policy has been developed under the leadership of my friend from Alaska, Senator Stevens, and my friend from Hawaii, Senator Inouye. This policy has been incorporated in the last three appropriations bills--fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997. The policy is embodied in section 8106 of the current law. The current law says that all disbursements over $3 million must be prematched. That's down from $5 million the previous year. What we are trying to do is gradually ratchet down the dollar thresholds. I think there is a general consensus for cranking down the thresholds.”