will look into this matter and make the recommendations necessary to provide for adequate housing and medical care installations at Fort Drum, New York. Thank you for your consideration.

With best regards,

Sincerely,

JACOB K. JAVITS.

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Washington, D.C. 22, 1976.

Hon. STUART SYMINGTON,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Military Construction Authorization, Senate Committee on Armed Services, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR SYMINGTON: Having been advised that your subcommittee does not contemplate scheduling a session to hear from other members of Congress, I am taking this means to request your consideration on two urgently needed projects which have not been included in the FY 77 DOD budget request. One is for a new dispensary, and the other is for a barracks and dining hall complex. Both pertain to Fort Drum, New York, where upwards of 80,000 Reserve Component citizen soldiers (including four of the Army's total of eight National Guard Divisions) conduct Annual Training; where Reserve Component units from the Northeast conduct weekend drills throughout the fall, winter and spring months; and where active duty units of all military Services conduct winter training.

I am attaching a copy of my testimony before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Military Construction, which provides details and justifications for these projects. Included are photographs of the present medical facility and of a typical barracks and dining hall. I believe these pictures show convincingly the dire necessity for both projects. Should you desire further information, I would be most pleased to appear before your subcommittee or to provide information in any other manner which you might desire.

I would appreciate your consideration and, if possible, approval of these necessary and worthwhile projects.

Sincerely yours,

ROBERT C. MCEWEN.

TESTIMONY OF HON. ROBERT C. MCEWEN

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this Committee on two items which I consider to be of extreme urgency. Both pertain to Fort Drum, New York, where upwards of 80,000 Reserve Component citizen soldiers (including four of the U.S. Army's total of eight National Guard Divisions) conduct Annual Training; where Reserve Component units from the Northeast conduct weekend drills throughout the fall, winter and spring months; and where active duty units of all services conduct winter training.

First, I will discuss the desperate need for a new medical dispensary. This project is essential to replace an outmoded, 31 years old, temporary medical facility and to restore the X-ray and surgery capability lost as a result of a fire in March, 1972. At present, there is no surgery capability and the only X-ray capability comes from a portable machine set up in an over-crowded physical examination room. Of the sprawling mass of 46 one-story old wooden buildings, only six are heated-including one area where a potbelly stove is the only source of heat. It is a fire hazard, as was demonstrated by the fire in 1972. It is a maintenance burden. The emergency room can accommodate only two persons at a time. I could go on and on, but these pictures, which I am leaving for your examination, show the problem better than I can describe it. After seeing these, I am certain that you will agree that this is a deplorable facility for providing medical care to any human being, and is totally inadequate to serve the medical and dental needs of a military community whose population often exceeds 10,000. I think you will also agree that it would be a waste of money to attempt to restore this facility to a barely acceptable standard.

This medical facility serves a full-time patient population of over 5,000 active military, retired military and dependents. From May through September, there is an average of 10,000 Reserve Component and Active duty military personnel at Fort Drum. During peak periods there are as many as 15,000 present at one

time. Active Army units come to Fort Drum from other posts for winter training. During Februay alone, there was an average of 1,164 Army. Marine Corps and Navy Construction (Seabee) units in training there. While the facility is inadequate to handle routine care for this large number of troops, it would be disastrous should a mass casualty situation ever occur-easily resulting in untold loss of life and limb. Ironically, some of the finest doctors-specialists and surgeons-in the Nation are assigned to Reserve Component units which train at Fort Drum. Their abilities would be restricted to First Aid and field expedients should such a situation occur. Two local civilian hospitals in Watertown, 10 miles away, are seriously overcrowded. The nearest military installation with modern medical facilities is Griffiss Air Force Base, 80 miles away.

Further, this facility is inadequate in meeting training requirements of Reserve Component medical units which come to train there. It would be completely unsatisfactory in meeting Fort Drum's mobilization responsibility for a 50-bed hospital.

I am not asking that this hospital be replaced by a new hospital. But, to meet minimum medical needs, I am asking that this Committee authorize the construction of a permanent health complex, to include a 10 chair dental clinic and a 20 bed (expandable to 50 beds) dispensary with emergency room, out-patient clinic, pharmacy, laboratory and other necessities. This would replace what is presently being used in this total inadequate facility and would restore the surgery and full X-ray capability. The estimated cost is $3.3 million. Certainly. this is a modest sum when we consider that the health and welfare-and even the very lives of so many Reserve Component, active military, retired military and dependents are at stake. The Army has recognized that the existing health clinic is in need of replacement and has programmed this for FY 79. I do not believe we can afford to wait that long when the need is so apparent and immediate.

Next, I would like to discuss the need for an improved barracks facility to aecommodate active military and Reserve Component troops of all services which train at Fort Drum during the winter and for active Army troops which are on temporary duty there for long periods during the summer. The 10th Special Forces conducted winter training at Fort Drum for one month this winter. 1,200 Marines spent almost a month in winter training there. A battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division was flown up there for training. Two Naval Construction (Seabees) battalions trained there this winter. While admittedly these troops are there for winter training, their training periods are of such duration that they spend time in garrison and they deserve to live in suitable quarters. Additionally. from April through September each year, about 500-600 active Army troops are sent to Fort Drum to support Reserve Component training. These men on TDY. who leave modern permanent facilities at other Posts, deserve to live in decent accommodations while performing this important mission. In fact, the Secre tary of the Army announced recently that an engineer company would be sent TDY to Fort Drum from March until November. These men, who will be there during this extended period, deserve decent living conditions, and the Reserve Component units which come to Fort Drum on weekends during cold winter months could use these better facilities. Certainly, then, an improved set of buildings would be well utilized and are fully justified.

The National Guard has been engaged in a cantonment renovation project at Fort Drum for several years and are still at it, but this should not be confused with what I am proposing. They are putting on steel siding and providing for automatic hot water, but not renovating the interior of the buldings. I have here some pictures of the exterior of these renovated buildings. They are colorful and quite attractive from the outside. But the interior of these same buildings are unfinished, have holes in the walls, outmoded latrines and lighting, etc. While this preserves these structures and enhances their outside appearance. it in no way changes the deplorable and unlivable interior which presently exist. Further. they are still heated by coal fired furnaces. Supply rooms have pot belly stoves. Firing these furnaces and stoves takes away valuable training time during winter exercises.

In recognition of this dire need, I had proposed that a set of wooden buildings be rehabilitated. Senators Javits and Buckley have supported me on this. However, the Army has indicated that it would prefer construction of a permanent type building which would be more economical. The permanent barracks would accommodate 300 personnel. The cost would include a 600 man mess hall which would be utilized by other support personnel as well as barracks occupants. More importantly, it would provide a more economical single mess hall (rather than the

construction and operation of 2 mess halls) should another barracks be constructed at a later date. This will cost $5.1 million. They have programmed this for FY 78. While I defer to their judgment that a permanent facility be constructed rather than rehabilitating the World War II wooden buildings, I believe that the need is of such urgency that it should be included in the FY 77 budget. With this the Army now agrees.

Again, I thank you for the opportunity of appearing before this Committee. I would appreciate thoughtful consideration and approval of these worthwhile and necessary projects.

General WRAY. The Army would prefer to construct a new 300-man barracks with a 600-man mess at a cost of $5,150,000 rather than rehabilitate an old World War II wooden barracks. Design of a new barracks can be completed and the construction contract advertised for bids within fiscal year 1977.

The Army supports the requirement for a medical facility with 25 beds, 8 dental treatment rooms, outpatient clinic, pharmacy, X-ray facilities, laboratory, heated ambulance garage and miscellaneous support facilities. The estimated cost of such a facility is approximately $2,014,000. The design can be completed and the construction contract awarded within fiscal year 1977.

Senator LEAHY. Congressman McEwen is here.

STATEMENT OF HON. ROBERT C. MCEWEN, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 30TH DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, ACCOMPANIED BY GEORGE H. HALLANAN, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO CONGRESSMAN ROBERT MCEWEN

Senator LEAHY. Congressman McEwen is the ranking minority member of the Military Construction Subcommittee of the House. We are delighted to have you here.

Mr. McEwEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator LEAHY. I understand you have a couple of requests and coincidentally you have a certain local interest here in your district? Mr. McEwEN. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to see you presiding here today.

As you know as part of the 50th Armored Division, one of the four of our eight National Guard divisions which train at Fort Drum, we have one brigade from the great State of Vermont.

Senator LEAHY. I am quite aware of that. Your General there made a point to bring that to my attention in case I had forgotten it.

Senator Symington is tied up at the joint committee meeting, and that is why he is not here.

Please feel free to give us your testimony.

Mr. McEwEN. Senator Cannon and Mr. Chairman, if I may I will read this statement. I think it is about as brief as I can get.

I do appreciate the opportunity to appear before this committee on two items which I consider to be of extreme urgency. Both pertain to Fort Drum, N. Y., where upward of 80,000 Reserve component citizen soldiers, including four of the U.S. Army's total of eight National Guard divisions, conduct annual training; where Reserve component units from the Northeast conduct weekend drills throughout the fall, winter and spring months; and where active duty units of all services conduct winter training.

First, I will discuss the desperate need for a new medical dispensary. This project is essential to replace an outmoded, 35-year-old, temporary medical facility and to restore the X-ray and surgery capability lost as a result of a fire in March 1972. At present, there is no surgery capability and the only X-ray capability comes from a portable machine set up in an overcrowded physical examination room. Of the sprawling mass of 46 one-story old wooden buildings, only 6 are heated-including one area where a potbelly stove is the only source of heat. It is a fire hazard, as was demonstrated by the fire in 1972. It is a maintenance burden.

The emergency room can acommodate only two persons at a time. I could go on and on, but these pictures, which I am leaving for your examination, show the problem better than I can describe it. After seeing these, I am certain that you will agree that this is a deplorable facility for providing medical care to any human being, and is totally inadequate to serve the medical and dental needs of a military community whose population often exceeds 10,000.

I think you will also agree that it would be a waste of money to attempt to restore this facility to a barely acceptable standard.

This medical facility serves a full-time patient population of over 5,000 active military, retired military, and dependents. From May through September, there is an average of 10,000 Reserve component and active duty military personnel at Fort Drum. During peak periods there are as many as 15,000 present at one time. Active Army units come to Fort Drum from other posts for winter training. During February alone, there was an average of 1,164 Army, Marine Corps. and Navy construction, Seabee, units in training there. While the facility is inadequate to handle routine care for this large number of troops, it would be disastrous should a mass casualty situation ever occur easily resulting in untold loss of life and limb.

Ironically, some of the finest doctors-specialists and surgeons-in the Nation are assigned to Reserve component units which train at Fort Drum. Their abilities would be restricted to first aid and field expedients shauld such a situation occur. Two local civilian hospitals in Watertown, 10 miles away, are seriously overcrowded. The nearest military installation with modern medical facilities is Griffiss Air Force Base, 80 miles away.

Further his facility is inadequate in meeting training requirements of Reserve component medical units which come to train there. It would be completely unsatisfactory in meeting Fort Drum's mobilization responsibility for a 50-bed hospital.

I am not asking that this hospital be replaced by a new hospital. But, to meet minimum medical needs, I am asking that this committee authorize the construction of a permanent health complex, to include a 10-chair dental clinic and a 20-bed, expandable to 50 beds, dispensary with emergency room, outpatient clinic, pharmacy, laboratory, and other necessities. This would replace what is presently being used in this total inadequate facility and would restore the surgery and full X-ray capability. The estimated cost is $3.3 million.

Certainly this is a modest sum when we consider that the health and welfare, and even the very lives, of so many Reserve component, active military, retired military, and dependents are at stake. The Army has

recognized that the existing health clinic is in need of replacement and has programed this for fiscal year 1979. I do not believe we can afford to wait that long when the need is so apparent and immediate.

Next, I would like to discuss the need for an improved barracks facility to accommodate active military and Reserve component troops of all services which train at Fort Drum during the winter and for active Army troops which are on temporary duty there for long periods during the summer.

The 10th Special Forces conducted winter training at Fort Drum for 1 month this winter; 1,200 Marines spent almost a month in winter. training there. A battalion of the 82d Airborne Division was flown up there for training. Two naval construction, Seabees, battalions trained there this winter.

While admittedly these troops are there for winter training, their training periods are of such duration that they spend time in garrison and they deserve to live in suitable quarters. Additionally, from April through September each year, about 500-600 active Army troops are sent to Fort Drum to support Reserve component training. These men on TDY, who leave modern permanent facilities at other posts, deserve to live in decent accommodations while performing this important mission. In fact, the Secretary of the Army announced recently that an engineer company would be sent temporary duty to Fort Drum from March until November. These men, who will be there during this extended period, deserve decent living conditions, and the Reserve component units which come to Fort Drum on weekends during cold winter months could use these better facilities.

Certainly, then, an improved set of buildings would be well utilized and are fully justified.

The National Guard has been engaged in a cantonment renovation project at Fort Drum for several years and are still at it, but this should not be confused with what I am proposing. They are putting on steel siding and providing for automatic hot water, but not renovating the interior of the buildings.

Here is a picture of the exterior before renovation. Here is a picture of the exterior after the steel siding was put on [indicating]. After renovation they are colorful and quite attractive from the outside. But here are pictures of the interior of these same buildings [indicating], which are unfinished, have holes in the walls, outmoded latrines and lighting, and so forth.

While this preserves these structures and enhances their outside appearance, it in no way changes the deplorable and unlivable interiors which presently exist. Further, they are still heated by coal-fired furnaces. Supply rooms have potbellied stoves. Firing these furnaces and stoves takes away valuable training time during winter exercises. In recognition of this dire need, I had proposed that a set of wooden buildings be rehabilitated. Senators Javits and Buckley have supported me on this. However, the Army has indicated that it would prefer construction of a permanent-type building which they believe to be more economical. The permanent barracks would accommodate 300 personnel.

The cost would include a 600-man messhall which would be utilized by other support personnel as well as by barracks occupants. More im