On October 10, the House approved, 419-0, the conference report for the FY2003 military construction appropriations bill (H.R. 5011). The next day, the Senate cleared the measure, by voice vote. H.R. 5011 provides $10.5 billion for military construction programs in FY2003.
H.R. 5011 also provides $4.23 billion for military family housing, with $1.33 billion for the construction of new family housing units and improvements to existing units and $2.9 billion for the operation and maintenance of existing units. In FY2002, Congress allocated $4.1 billion for military family housing.
While the Senate measure would have provided $25.73 million for child development centers, H.R. 5011 allocates $18 million for child development centers. Currently, the Department of Defense runs more than 800 child development centers that are critical for single-parent families and spouses left behind during deployments. Congress provided $43 million for child development centers in FY2002.
