on the western bank of the Chatahoochee River, directly across from Fort Benning in Georgia. A full report of preliminary investigation is set forth in the memorandum which the writer prepared for the files of the Veterans Affairs Committee on November 18, 1975, following an inspection of the site on Saturday, November 15, 1975. That memorandum is still a part of the files of the Committee on Veterans Affairs and should be considered by the entire committee. The Fort Mitchell site is the property of Russell County, Ala., which received it as a gift from the former owner with the restriction that it could be used only for parks or related purposes. The government of Russell County, Ala., has offered to cede the land to the Federal Government for use as a national cemetery. There are no residences, commercial premises, or other works of improvement on the land, which would require demolition. The site is centrally located within 10 miles of Fort Benning and Columbus, Ga., and Phenix City, Ala.; within 100 miles of Albany, Ga. and Montgomery, Ala., and near such military installations as Albany Naval Air Station, Craig Air Force Base, Maxwell Air Force Base, Fort Pherson, Dobbins Air Force Base, and Lawson Airfield. If the Committee on Veterans Affairs exercised its jurisdiction and duty to authorize expenditures, it would be a simple matter to authorize an appropriation to establish a national cemetery at Fort Mitchell. The time has long since come for the Congress fully to meet its responsibilities and to make the decisions which the Congress alone should make on major Government policies and among these are authorizations for expenditures by the Veterans' Administration, and the final decisions on matters of site selection for veterans installations and national cemeteries. This responsibility can be exercised with a high degree of cooperation between the congressional committee and the Veterans' Administration which should make suggestions and recommendations to the legislative committee. The suggestions and recommendations of the Veterans' Administration should receive fair and full consideration and should carry a great deal of weight with the committee, but the decisions should be made by the Congress and not by the Veterans' Administration. Such decisions should be made by elected representatives of the people since only they are accountable and responsible to the people. GEORGE E. DANIELSON. DISSENTING VIEWS OF JACK BRINKLEY An opportunity is afforded in this budget resolution to deal with the reality that our Reserve Forces and National Guard Forces are integral, vital organs of our national defense establishment. It follows that after sufficient service has been rendered in those categories the term "veteran" should encompass them so as to entitle them to certain educational and housing benefits. Presently there is a shortfall in the strength of both the Reserves and National Guard. What better way to avoid a return to conscription than proper basic motivation through two basic incentives which I have offered. First, permit the accumulation of educational benefits on a pro rata basis with active duty personnel. This is presently a 2-1 matching system in the service person's favor. As the author of that system when the GI bill was phased out, I advocate improving the formula to a 3-1 system. It is a self-help, voluntary system. The Government now matches the individual's dollar, deleted from his or her pay, with two from the U.S. Treasury. I think it would be far more attractive to make it 3-1. Second, permit the accrual of housing benefits after 3 years of service. The law presently impacts only upon retirees, other veterans and active duty personnel who have served a certain length of time. The Reserves and Guards would be phased into the system through a broader definition of "veteran" and the initial cost of this housing extension would be only $200,000. This twofold approach should attract far greater numbers of our youth and will take a lot of pressure off any need to reconsider the draft. Funding should be approved. (37) JACK BRINKLEY. |