For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 5, 2001
President Signs Military Construction Appropriations Bill
Statement by the President
Today I have signed into law H.R. 2904, the "Military Construction
Appropriations Act, 2002," which provides $10.5 billion for military
construction and family housing programs administered by the Department
of Defense.
I appreciate the bipartisan effort that has gone into producing
this Act. The Act abides by the agreed upon aggregate
funding level for Fiscal Year 2002 of $686 billion and funds the vast
majority of my request for military construction projects, the military
housing program, and other projects for our military personnel and
their families. The requested projects are critical to
supporting military readiness and the quality of life for our
soldiers. My Administration showed its commitment to
improving the quality of housing available to our military personnel
and their families by including an additional $400 million in the FY
2002 Budget. I want to thank the Congress for including it
in this bill. However, I am disappointed that the bill includes a
1.127 percent general reduction, and a rescission of $55 million from
the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
As America battles terrorism, we must ensure that our men and women
in uniform live in, train at, and deploy from adequate
facilities. This bill shows our commitment to our service
members by constructing and upgrading military installations, and
military family housing in the United States and overseas.
My Administration appreciates that the Congress has worked
expeditiously during this difficult and trying time in our Nation's
history to consider the FY 2002 appropriations bills. Now,
through a renewed sense of bipartisanship, the Congress and my
Administration must work together to ensure the timely enactment of the
remaining bills.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 5, 2001.
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