PREPARED STATEMENT Senator HILL. General, we will be delighted to have you proceed. We will put your full statement in the record at this point. General HAISLIP. Thank you, sir. (The statement referred to follows:) As Governor of the U.S. Soldiers' Home, I take considerable pride in representing the home before this committee and I appreciate the opportunity of justifying the requirements as set forth in the budget now before you. As a preamble to my statement, I would like to remind the committee that while the home estimate appears in the President's budget, it is not included in the total. PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHMENT The conception of a home was apparently first brought up in Congress in 1829 and a report by the Committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives favored the establishment of such a home and stated that it was to be "without cost to the Government." In 1841, the matter was again reported on by the same committee which favored a "plan which imposes no additional burden on the community." Still again in 1845 and 1846 we find favorable reports, the one stating "without calling for the appropriation of a single dollar" and the other "that it does not ask any contributions of the Treasury of the Government." Finally, the act of 1851 established the home for the relief and support of certain old, invalid or disabled soldiers of the Regular Army. In 1947, applicability of the laws governing the home was extended to include airmen. The establishment is devoted solely to the interests of the professional soldiers and airmen and recognizes and rewards their service both in peace and in war. The home is open to career soldiers and airmen only and benefits provided by other agencies do not overlap. It is not the mission of the home to rehabilitate members for return to civilian life, but to provide a home for them for the remainder of their lives. ADMINISTRATION AND ADMISSION CRITERIA The original act provided also for the government of the home and criteria for admission thereto. Although there have been minor statutory changes from time to time there has been no material change in the basic concepts envisioned by the original legislation in the ensuing 107 years. In fact, during that long period, the Soldiers' Home has become almost as much a part of the military system as the uniform. As recently as 1940, a report of a subcommittee of the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate contained the following statement: "Your committee are of the opinion that the whole legislative idea of the National Soldiers' Home was so well and so carefully worked out by our ancestors specifically in the acts of 1851 and 1883, that it is believed that even in the light of present day changes throughout the world it would be difficult indeed to improve upon the statutory provisions made for the comfort, care, and protection of the members." As governor of the home, I report to a Board of Commissioners, established by the basic law, consisting of myself as the President of the Board, and six of the principal staff officers of the Army: The Surgeon General, the Chief of Engineers, the Chief of Finance, the Quartermaster General, the Judge Advocate General, and the Adjutant General. The basic legislation empowers this Board to establish regulations for the general and internal direction of the institution. These regulations must be submitted to the Secretary of the Army for approval. MEMBERSHIP Membership in the home is confined to former warrant officers and enlisted men who have had some service in the Regular Army or Air Force. In addition, membership is further limited to 1. Those who have served honestly and faithfully 20 years or more; and 2. Those with a service-connected disability which renders them incapable of earning their own livelihood. On April 13, 1959, the membership of the home was 2,045. Not all of these men occupied beds on the reservation. Some were on leave, at other hospitals, or on outdoor relief and outside privileges. The Army and Air Force have shown a stimulated interest in the home and in the summer of 1956 a net increase in membership began which has developed into a persistent trend upward. The net gain in members in fiscal year 1958 was 166, and the financial effect of the predicted continuation of this increase will be elaborated upon in connection with my explanation of the budget request. FINANCING The act of 1851 provided that the home would be and not from the general revenues of the Treasury. from this fund annually for the support of the home. the following principal sources: financed from a trust fund, The Congress appropriates This fund is built up from 1. A monthly contribution of 10 cents made by each enlisted member of the Regular Army and Air Force; 2. Fines and forfeitures imposed upon soldiers and airmen of the Regular forces by sentence of courts martial; and 3. Interest of 3 percent per annum on the fund balance in the U.S. Treasury. The permanent fund balance was $84,480,929.74 as of April 13, 1959. It is gratifying to know that for many years to come, as in the past, the fund will be large enough to support the home and enable it to expand as necessary without becoming a burden on the taxpayer. There are today some 70,000 enlisted men who may be eligible for membership in the home. While only a small percentage may wish to enter the home this reserve provides a painless method of satisfying these requirements. ANNUAL REPORT The U.S. Soldiers' Home, in accordance with law, makes a report of its activities annually to Congress. Included in this document, which is transmitted to Congress, is a report by the Inspector General of the Army, who is required by law to make an annual inspection of the home and report the results to Congress. It is pertinent to quote an extract from his most recent report, dated November 25, 1958: "II. SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS "4. The appearance of the interior of the domiciliary buildings and the hospital was excellent. The appearance and police of the home grounds was considered to be generally excellent. "5. It was evident that continuing progress on a well planned program had been made since the last inspection in the maintenance and renovation of the domiciliary and hospital buildings. "6. It was noted that the U.S. Soldiers' Home had received the National Safety Council Award of Merit for having completed 1,329,953 man-hours of work without a disabling injury during the period June 26, 1957 to February 13, 1958, and, on November 17, 1958, received the Army Award of Merit for Safety for fiscal year 1958. "7. Member participation in the recreation program of the home, including the hospital, appeared to be excellent. The directors of these programs were constantly alert to accommodate the changing desires of the members and to create an interest in new hobbies. "8. The professional care of patients in the hospital was of the highest order and was in accordance with the best principles of medical standards. The reports of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals were examined. Patient-doctor relationships were well established. Patient morale and confidence in the professional staff were worthy of note. "9. The operation of the general mess in the Winfield Scott Building was worthy of commendation. Food preparation, service and sanitation were of the highest standards. "10. It was noted that the staff and members of the home had participated wholeheartedly in the United Givers' Fund campaign in that the home had exceeded its monetary goal for contributions. "11. The responsibilities of the secretary-treasurer were efficiently administered. The records and accounts were current and properly maintained (TAB C). "12. The construction, repair and maintenance shops had only a 2-day backlog of work orders which was worthy of comment." ANNUAL BUDGET The Permanent Appropriations Repeal Act of of 1934 prescribed that the home would follow the same procedure in obtaining funds for operation as any other Government agency. Therefore, the home submits a budget through the same route, but the appropriations are made from the home trust fund. JUSTIFICATION OF 1960 REQUEST The fiscal year 1960 budget now before you is based on obligations for the fiscal year 1958 (actual); 1959 (estimated); and 1960 (estimated). The amounts shown include no-year funds carried forward from year to year for obligation. These carryover figures do not have any effect on the amount of new obligational authority being requested for appropriation. In order to compare the funds requested for 1960 with the amount available in the current year, the no-year funds carried forward are removed, as follows: The budget now before you of $10,948,000 is $5,219,500 greater than funds for 1959, as follows: The amount requested for 1960 of $5,587,000 for "Capital outlay," includes $5,184,500 for final design and construction of a new 512-bed domiciliary building and $402,500 for final design and expansion of one side of the Pipes ward wing to provide 70 additional beds. Preliminary planning funds for construction of the domiciliary building were included in the first supplemental, 1959. Since the summer of 1956 there has been a persistent increase in the membership of the home and an overcrowded condition now exists in the domiciliary area. The number of domiciliary beds of acceptable standards is 1,445. Spaces on a temporary basis, not suitable for permanent occupancy, for 173 additional beds have been found by utilizing corridors, dayrooms, lobbies, and by exceeding the normal capacity of certain bedrooms. All of the permanent beds are now filled and emergency beds are being used. In accordance with plans, the Sheridan Building, closed in 1954 after completion of the new 840-bed domiciliary building, was held in a standby condition to be used in the event overstrength occurred until such time as new construc tion could be completed. The 1959 appropriation provided for the rehabilitation of this 168-bed building to relieve the critical shortage of permanent beds. This building was opened on February 2, 1959. By careful planning the home has provided temporary accommodations for an overstrength of 341 members during the period of construction as requested in the budget now before you. Based on the continued rate of increase in membership it is expected that the new domiciliary building will be needed by the end of fiscal year 1962. There fore, it is imperative that funds be provided for this construction now. Funds for construction will provide for the erection of one-half of a new domiciliary building with a capacity of 512 beds. Funds for completing the building to a total of 905 beds will be requested as the demand for additional space becomes apparent. Since hospital facilities must be expanded in direct ratio to the domiciliary load, funds are also requested for extending one side of the hospital ward wing (completed in 1954) to provide 70 additional beds. Expansion of the other side will be accomplished in conjunction with the completion of the final wings of the new domiciliary building. There are currently 469 permanent hospital beds available and with space down middle aisles and in basements to establish 100 emergency beds, enough space is available for the 20 to 22 percent of the total members present ordinarily hospitalized until expansion of the hospital ward wing is complete. The amount requested for "Maintenance and operation" for 1960 of $5,361,000, is $192,130 greater than the amount available for the current year. This net increase is due to the following additions and reductions: (a) Provision for increased number of members and patients, including more employees, rations, supplies, equipment, dental and spectacle contract work, additional Sister nurses and greater payments into the retirement fund for additional employees-- (b) A planned program for painting buildings which runs in a 4-year cycle. The majority of buildings will have to be repainted in 1960 since the last major painting was done in 1956___. (c) Fiscal year 1960 is a leap year and provision for salaries, payment to other hospitals, and rations is made for the extra day-- (d) The daily rate to be paid to St. Elizabeths Hospital has been increased by the Bureau of the Budget from $6.72 to $7.17--(e) An increase of 2 cents per ration for patients and hospital employees and 1 cent per ration for members and domiciliary employees based on the actual value of the ration as recorded for 1958---. (f) Providing a safe level of inventory of hospital supplies. Based on additional amounts and costs of supplies issued during 1958, the sum included in the current year appropriation will provide approximately one-half of a safe level. This has made it necessary to request additional funds for hospital supplies for 1960_. (g) Request for 1 passenger car, 3 trucks, and 1 ambulance costing $16,150 are offset by a reduction of $23,645 for replacement of all other equipment_-_. (h) 2 large decreases are included; the 1 a drop in the price of fuel oil, $8,019; the other a reduction in the amount of nonrecurring maintenance projects, $12,509_. (i) Miscellaneous small increases and decreases amounting to a net increase of +$103, 375 +54, 016 +18, 265 +8, 392 +7, 973 +23, 320 -7, 495 -20,528 +4, 812 The net increase of $192,130 represents a dollar increase over the amount available for the current year of approximately 4 percent. In view of the estimated 4-percent increase in total membership, the request is considered reasonable. CONCLUSION Let me assure the committee that those officials entrusted with the accomplishment of the mission of the home are continuing to do so efficiently and with prudence. I wish to thank you again for the opportunity of appearing here and at the same time convey to you the gratitude of the members of the home for the keen interest shown by the Congress. INCREASE IN BUDGET REQUEST General HAISLIP. If you permit, Mr. Chairman, I would like to go directly to the budget. Senator HILL. All right, sir. General HAISLIP. The budget now before you of $10,948,000 is $5,219,500 greater than the funds for 1959. |