John W. Olver: “Mr. Chairman, the major function of this military construction bill deals with the training and housing facilities for…”

“Mr. Chairman, the major function of this military construction bill deals with the training and housing facilities for the men and women who serve us in our military forces, but also with the education, the health clinics and hospitals and the daycare centers that serve their families while they serve us. At the very outset of this discussion I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Hobson) particularly for the bipartisan spirit in which this bill has been prepared, and I wanted to recognize the close and cooperative relationship that has existed between the majority and minority staffs as the legislation has been prepared. The bill before us, I believe, deserves our support. It is a good bill, prepared in that bipartisan spirit that I have mentioned. It provides for better workplaces and housing for the men and women that serve our Nation, but also for better housing for their families. The funds that are appropriated in this legislation are between 3 and 4 percent more than last year, so we are not losing ground in dealing with the facilities and housing backlog, which is a severe backlog in trying to keep up the quality of life for our personnel.”