PREPARED STATEMENT OF BRIG. GEN. G. L. BARTLETT

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to have the opportunity to present the Marine Corps military construction program. This years authorization request of $35,270,000 continues to emphasize our major effort to provide new and improved personnel support facilities. In addition, construction dollars for operational, training, maintenance, and utility facilities are requested. This total will be complemented by a Navy request for a $6,710,000 in support of pollution abatement and energy conservation projects for our Marine Corps installations.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Approximately three-fourths of our $35,270,000 request is dedicated to our continued concern to satisfy deficiencies in Personnel Support Facilities. For the past eight fiscal years the Marine Corps has applied the major portion of its construction effort to bachelor housing facilities. We are convinced that the provision of modern and reasonably comfortable living accommodations for our bachelor Marines is in the best interest of both the Marine and the Corps. In view of this conviction, we are continuing to emphasize the construction of Personnel Support Projects and will do so until a reasonably sound functional physical plant exists to meet the living needs to our men and women. The remaining portion of our request amounts to $7,343,000 and will be invested as follows: $1,739,000 for operational and training support facilities: $1,889,000 for an automotive maintenance facility; $1,815,000 for a dining facility and $1,900,000 for improvements to an existing utility system.

Gentlemen, that summarizes the Marine Corps military construction authorization request. I will be happy to attempt to answer any questions that you may have.

Admiral MARSCHALL. I would like to address briefly two topics that are of special significance at this time. These topics are the withdrawal of this year's project for the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, and the construction of the drydock for the Naval Submarine Base in Bangor, Wash.

I will also briefly address the projects denied by the House Armed Services Committee.

With respect to the university, in my prepared statement, I indicated that the university project in the amount of $9,851,000 was being withdrawn. I have a statement for the record from Dr. A. R. Curreri. president of the university, which provides information on the progress being made toward the establishment of the medical school and the reasons for withdrawing this year's project.

[The statement of Dr. Curreri, follows:1

PREPARED STATEMENT BY ANTHONY R. CURRERI, M.D., PRESIDENT, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I greatly appreciate this opportunity to make a statement to this Committee concerning the decision of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences to defer its request for funding of the third increment of the University's construction program.

Because the establishment of the medical school has stimulated considerable interest on the part of prospective students as manifested by the 9,000 inquires, a considerable number of which have been forwarded through Congressional offices, I would also like to bring the Members of this Committee up to date on its present status.

Through the continuing support of the Congress as a whole, and this Committee in particular, the University's FY 76 request for $64.9 million to construct the second and final increment of the medical school was authorized and funds appropriated. Work on the medical school's first increment is 20 percent finished with completion scheduled for February, 1977. It is anticipated that a contract for the construction of Increment II will be awarded by mid-March. This phase is expected to be completed by September, 1978.

Plans are proceeding to enroll a charter class of 36 to 40 medical students in September of this year. Within the next four weeks, we anticipate eight to 10 chairpersons will be appointed. I believe this Committee will be gratified and proud of the type and caliber of candidate faculty members this institution is attracting. They, as you, see the great opportunities and potential for this University to become a great health science center and a National resource in the education of health professionals. In April, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education will review our program to consider granting provisional academic accreditation. I am optimistic that such accreditation will be given.

As will be recalled, the legislation overwhelmingly passed by the Congress authorized this institution to establish a total health science university. Initial emphasis was given to the development of a medical school. The inclusion of other health science disciplines such as nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and the allied health professions of physicians assistants, nurse clinicians, medical technologists, and health management, was left to the discretion of the Secretary of Defense with the ultimate concurrence of the Congress. While the establishment of the medical school has been given the immediate attention, in the consideration of facilities, academic curriculum, and faculty recruitment though has also been given to the possible inclusion of schools of the other health disciplines. As a result, the Board of Regents and the staff of the University have endeavored to design and develop an institution which achieved a high-quality program with maximum flexibility at a low cost.

In terms of construction, we have sought to design and build an austere, yet aesthetically pleasing, functional, efficient physical complex composed of laboratories, classrooms, and research areas whose multi-purpose use will serve not only the medical school but also, to a large extent, other disciplines eventually included within the University. Moreover, many members of the faculty will be involved in teaching students who are participating in the various health science schools included in the University.

The University's construction program has been continuously reviewed, reevaluated, and revised in an effort to assure optimum quality at the minimum cost. Indications of these efforts are readily apparent. Original cost estimates to build a total University involving four construction increments-three dedicated to a medical school and the fourth to accommodate all other health disciplines were $200 million. In 1975, this figure was revised to $150 million. Today, I can say the cost of the medical school will be under $80 million. The total completion of the University as presently conceived will be less than $100 million.

The inclusion of other health disciplines in addition to the medical school has been carefully reviewed. The current philosophy of training health professionals embraces the concept of the "health care team" approach: that is, all health disciplines in an environment where there is educational and practical interaction among students. Cognizant of this philosophy, along with cost and need considerations, the inclusion of other health disciplines has been reviewed. We have conluded that the incorporation of nurse, physician assistant, nurse clinician, medical technology, and health management training within the University would be highly desirable.

When I appeared before this Committee last year, I indicated that a third increment would be requested to complete the medical school. Subsequent to that time, the University's construction program was again re-evaluated. As a result of this undertaking, it was determined that sufficient space existed in Increments I and II to accommodate a medical school enrollment of 700 students making the third increment, which had been designed for additional medical school faculty research and office space, unnecessary. Therefore, it was decided that the third increment should be devoted to the accommodation of the additional schools alluded to above.

When it was determined that Increments I and II would suffice for the medical school, it was hoped that with modest redesign sufficient space in the third increment could be adapted to University purposes. It is now evident that additional time will be required to define the physical needs of the other health disciplines and to redesign Increment III accordingly.

With the deferral of the request, the funds for Increment III are not required during FY 77. This action has been unanimously approved by the University's Board of Regents and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

An orderly, well conceived plan which will optimally meet the requirements of the additional schools is being developed. The outcome of this effort will be

reflected, in part, in the University's request for funds for construction of the third increment, which can be expected to be presented for consideration to this Committee within the ensuing two years.

Thank you.

Admiral MARSCHALL. When we appeared before the House Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, we suggested three fiscal year 1978 projects as substitutes for the withdrawn university project. These projects are: First, a project for nuclear weapons security at various locations in the amount of $7,375,000; second, electrical system improvements for the Marine Corps at Camp Smith, Hawaii, in the amount of $1,046,000; and third, a supply and support center in the amount of $1,430,000 for the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla.

The House Armed Services Committee approved $1,920,000 for nuclear weapons security and the other two projects. We respectfully request favorable consideration of these substitute projects.

Trident drydock construction: In last year's report of the committee of conference on appropriations, the Navy was directed to report its plans with regard to Trident drydock construction to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House and seek their approval prior to initiating any construction work at the site. We have completed our review of this situation and plan to construct the Trident dryock under two separate contracts.

We have made detailed investigations of the subsurface conditions at the site upon which the drydock will be constructed and have developed a plan which will allow us to proceed safely with construction. On March 16, 1976, this plan was presented to the Appropriations Committees and early approval was requested for proceeding with design and construction.

With respect to projects denied by the House Armed Services Committee, tennis courts were generally denied. There are two points that I wish to make. First, we are confident that the cost for uncovered, lighted courts should range from $20,000 to $30,000, depending on the site work and the area construction cost factor, and we will adjust the costs accordingly within this range.

Second, and more importantly, although some tennis courts have been provided from nonappropriated funds, and we endeavor to do so wherever feasible, the nonappropriated account does not generate sufficient sums to take care of all recreational facilities. Therefore, it will be necessary to provide some tennis courts using military construction funds. If we do not do this, new bachelor quarters will be built without some amenities that are available to the physical well-being of our personnel. Since tennis courts do not generate any revenue for the nonappropriated account, I think the construction of the tennis courts with the new quarters is a proper use of military construction funds and prudent from a construction cost standpoint.

Senator SYMINGTON. How many courts do you want to build?

Admiral MARSCHALL. I think it is about 15 or 20. I do not have the specific number, Mr. Chairman. They are spread throughout the total bill at various locations.

Senator SYMINGTON. At $4 million to $6 million?

Commander KIRKPATRICK. Twenty-three courts at an average of about $25,000 each.

Senator SYMINGTON. And you have $5 million?
Commander KIRKPATRICK. Half a million dollars.

Senator SYMINGTON. Half a million dollars. Could you not charge for the use of the court? Would that be enough to make it up?

Admiral MARSCHALL. That would probably never be enough to accommodate the construction costs; it would probably only take care of maintenance.

Senator SYMINGTON. Thank you.

Please continue.

Admiral MARSCHALL. We have requested a number of personnel support facilities for the Trident base in this year's program. We are concerned that without adequate recreational opportunities at this relatively remote base, we will be adversely affecting the retention of a community of some of the most highly capable and highly trained people in whom the Navy has made significant investment.

At the naval submarine base, Bangor, Wash., the reduction of the exchange service station appears to have been made on the basis that the authority for this facility could be provided later and construction would be in time for the major buildup of personnel for the support site.

If the project is approved in this year's program, the facility would be operational by June 1978. By that time, there will be approximately 1,200 military personnel on board the submarine base, Bangor. If the project were to be deferred a year, there will be approximately 2,000 military personnel plus their dependents on board by the time it would be operational.

The submarine base is located in a relatively isolated area with very few service stations nearby. In addition, the auto hobby shop, which comprises over 75 percent of this facility, is one of the most popular recreation facilities. There will be a sizable resident military population which will make great use of this facility.

Further, I would like to point out that no funds have been included in our request for this facility. It is our intention to construct this facility with savings from the fiscal year 1977 Trident construction program, if sufficient savings are realized.

If the committee desires that the facility be deferred, it is requested that this be specifically stated, but that no authority be eliminated since this would impact on other facilities also in the request.

Senator SYMINGTON. How much money is involved here?

Admiral MARSCHALL. Approximately $1.2 million, Mr. Chairman. Senator SYMINGTON. I read somewhere you were going to ask for a new base for Trident. Is that right?

Admiral MARSCHALL. No, sir; that is not correct. Not at this time, certainly.

Senator SYMINGTON. Not at this time? OK.

Thank you.

Admiral MARSCHALL. The tennis courts and bowling alley denied are needed for the physical well-being of highly trained personnel. The bowling alley will generate sufficient revenue for the nonappropriated fund account, but nonappropriated funds are simply not available to provide the initial, basic recreational facilities needed for new bases such as the Trident support site. The Trident support site is in a semirural area, as I indicated, and just does not have the community support for this type of recreation.

The community impact assistance was denied because it was believed that $18 million, that is $7 million authorized last year, and

$11 million requested this year, could not be obligated prior to the start of fiscal year 1978.

By December 1976, it is expected that the initial $7 million will be fully committed. The delay in obligating these funds was caused by the late completion of the county's planning efforts. Applications are now flowing in keeping with the plan, and many millions of dollars of applications have been sent to Washington. Some of this sum will, of course, be paid by the domestic agencies, but the majority is expected to be funded by Defense.

As you are aware, the Department of Defense has been placed in the position of budgeting shortfalls for Federal domestic agency grantin-aid programs, as well as assisting those impacted communities in meeting their own matching share contributions. It is our conviction that if Defense is required to provide a detailed advance spending plan for these efforts, we would, as a consequence, also be relieving the domestic agencies of their own responsibilities to assist financially. The result would be that Defense would be expected to pay a greater share of the impact aid effort than we consider to be the intent of the legislation.

Conversely, Defense should not be placed in a position whereby we are unable to respond to legitimate shortfall situations in a manner consistent with the Trident population buildup.

We must work through other Federal agencies, so I cannot give you any guarantee that we will obligate all funds prior to October 1,

1977.

I do feel, however, that we are in a position to say that we think we can expect reasonable success in this area.

At any rate, we estimate the total community impact assistance to be about $40 million, and any carryover from fiscal years 1976 and 1977 will be used to reduce the fiscal year 1978 request. In this area of community relations, we prefer to err on the conservative side of availability to satisfy legitimate requests in a timely manner. The safeguards built into the authorizing language require the Federal agencies and the Department of Defense to screen carefully all requests and make a determination that the need is based on Trident's impact on the community.

Senator SYMINGTON. A letter from Senators Jackson and Magnuson requesting authorization of $11 million for community impact assistance will be inserted into the record at this point. [The letter follows:]

U.S. SENATE,

Washington, D.C., March 29, 1976.

Hon. STUART SYMINGTON, Chairman, Military Construction Authorization Subcommittee, Senate Committee on Armed Services, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We strongly urge that when the Subcommittee marks up the FY 1977 Military Construction Authorization Bill it authorize the full $11 million requested by the President for the TRIDENT community impact assistance program established by Section 608 of P.L. 93-552. The House Bill authorizes only $2 million.

As you know, Section 608 is identical to an earlier law which provided assistance to communities that were impacted by the SAFEGUARD installation. You will recall, too, that Section 608 is narrowly drawn to assure that the Department of Defense will not end up paying for facilities or services that should rightfully be paid for by state or local government or other federal agencies. The purpose of the Section 608 program is, of course, to permit the Department of Defense