death in 1960, General Devers became Chairman in 1960 and served until 1969, when he was succeeded by the present Chairman, Gen. Mark W. Clark. Our budget request for fiscal year 1982 is austere and will provide for little more than minimum maintenance and repair of our facilities. We, as a country, made a commitment to care for these cemeteries properly. Not to do so is to renege on our promise to the next of kin who decided to leave their loved ones overseas. The needs to do the job properly in terms of people and dollars is really quite small compared to the price paid by those buried in the cemeteries and as compared to our national budget. Nevertheless, the need for austerity is understood in view of the size of the 1981 budget deficit, the rate of inflation, and the desire to balance the fiscal year 1982 budget. We will be glad to answer any questions you have concerning our submission. [The statement follows:] the Commission provides information and assistance on request to relatives and friends of the war dead interred in or commemorated at its facilities. The Commission is requesting $10,507,000 and 398 positions in fiscal year 1982. This is an increase of $922,000 above fiscal year 1981 when the $797,000 supplemental appropriation for increased pay costs is included. Please go ahead with your opening statement. SUMMARY OF OPENING STATEMENTS General ADAMS. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate the opportunity to appear before you in support of the American Battle Monuments Commission fiscal year 1982 appropriation request. Because this is the first time we have appeared before you, I will tell you briefly about the Commission. During World War I, the dead were buried in the general area where they were killed. Thus, many temporary cemeteries were established. After the war, the remains were disinterred. Next of kin were given the choice of either having the remains returned to the United States or having them buried in a permanent cemetery overseas. Approximately 40 percent were buried overseas. After World War I, permanent American military cemeteries were constructed overseas by the War Department and the American Battle Monuments Commission was established. Its functions were, as you mentioned, to commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of American Armed Forces where they have served since April 1917; to design, construct, operate, and maintain permanent military burial grounds in foreign countries; and to control the design and construction of monuments and memorials in foreign countries by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private. In 1934, Executive Order No. 66-14 transferred all functions of the War Department relative to overseas permanent cemeteries to the American Battle Monuments Commission. During World War II, temporary cemeteries were also established. After the war, the remains were disinterred and were either returned to the United States or buried overseas, whichever was requested by the next of kin. About 60 percent were returned to the United States, a small number were buried in private cemeteries overseas, and the others were buried in one of the 14 World War II cemeteries that were established on foreign soil. The recovered war dead of the Korean and Vietnam wars were returned to the United States. The missing in action in these two wars are commemorated by the engraving of their names in stone at our memorial in Honolulu. In addition to the World War I and II cemetery memorials, we have been assigned responsibility for U.S. cemeteries in Mexico City and Panama. The Commission consists of 11 members appointed by the President who serve at his pleasure without pay. The Commission has had four chairmen-General Pershing from 1923 until his death in 1948, General Marshall from 1949 until his death in 1960, General Devers became Chairman in 1960 and served until 1969, when he was succeeded by the present Chairman, Gen. Mark W. Clark. Our budget request for fiscal year 1982 is austere and will provide for little more than minimum maintenance and repair of our facilities. We, as a country, made a commitment to care for these cemeteries properly. Not to do so is to renege on our promise to the next of kin who decided to leave their loved ones overseas. The needs to do the job properly in terms of people and dollars is really quite small compared to the price paid by those buried in the cemeteries and as compared to our national budget. Nevertheless, the need for austerity is understood in view of the size of the 1981 budget deficit, the rate of inflation, and the desire to balance the fiscal year 1982 budget. We will be glad to answer any questions you have concerning our submission. [The statement follows:] STATEMENT OF MAJ. GEN. ANDREW J. ADAMS Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: We appreciate and thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of the American Battle Monuments Commission's Appropriation request for fiscal 1982. Before discussing the request, however, we would like to give you a brief rundown on the status of the Commission's current commemorative projects. In 1956, Public Law 84-461 charged this Commission with submitting designs and estimates to the Congress for construction of a memorial to the American Expeditionary Forces of World War I and its Commander in Chief, General of the Armies John J. Pershing, and for recommending a site for the memorial. This was done. Ten years later, in 1966, Public Law 89-789 directed this Commission to erect the memorial on the recommended site. Because of the high cost of the Vietnam War and other economic considerations, design funds were not appropriated until 1973 and construction funds not appropriated until 1978. As the project has been an ongoing one for over 25 years, it gives us considerable pleasure to report that construction of the memorial was recently completed, except for installation of the statue of General Pershing, which is scheduled this year. The memorial is located on Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets. When you have an opportunity to view it, I am certain that you will agree that it is a most attractive and fitting tribute to the sacrifices and superb achievements of the AEF. The stone for the Saipan Monument has been shipped to Guam and is awaiting transshipment to Saipan. When the monument is completed this year, it will become part of an American Memorial Park at Muchot Point overlooking Tanapag Bay on Saipan under the auspices of the Department of the Interior. The monument will be a simple granite obelisk two feet square and twelve feet in height with an appropriate inscription. The precise site and height of the Utah Beach Monument is under final consideration and should be decided shortly. When the decision is made, an order for the stone will be placed and preparation of the site will commence. Present schedule is to complete the monument in fiscal 1982. You will recall that the Commission's fiscal 1980 Appropriation of $8,200,000 for the operation and care of its facilities was a minimum level request. This request of $10,507,000 for fiscal 1982 is also austere. Anticipating an average annual inflation rate for 1981 and 1982 of 14% in the countries where the Commission's installations are located, an average we believe conservative, this request and the Commission's 1981 Appropriation are also at minimum level, indicating continued deterioration of our facilities over the next two years. Already from October 1, 1980 to January 15, 1981, cost of living increases for our local national employees of $335,000 have been awarded. $561,000 are earmarked for this purpose in the supplemental for fiscal 1981. These increases are keyed to the rate of inflation in the countries where our installations are located and usually are directed by the foreign governments concerned. Because of the austerity of our fiscal 1982 request, many repairs needed to maintain our facilities at established standards will have to be postponed; however, we anticipate being able to perform all of the cosmetic functions such as cutting the grass, cleaning the headstones and applying fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides and the more critical contractual and in house repairs. Consequently, the general appearance of these shrines shall continue to be pleasing and worthy of the men they honor. $922,000 have been requested over and above the Commission's fiscal year 1981 Appropriation of $9,585,000. A breakdown of this increase is as follows: $405,000 to ensure minimum manning established by P.L. 96-385, defray full year costs of statutory and wage board pay raises, and defray ingrade increases of U.S. and local national employees; $134,000 to defray associated costs in personnel benefits; $38,000 for severance pay and reimbursement of the former ABMC personnel; $8,000 for travel and transportation of persons; $50,000 for rent, communications and utilities; $1,000 for printing and reproduction; $172,000 for the care, maintenance and repair of facilities; and $114,000 for construction of a set of quarters and a modest memorial feature at the Corozal American Cemetery in Panama. Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, this concludes our prepared statement. We will be very pleased to answer any questions that Thank you. you may care to ask. Senator GARN. Thank you very much, General. Senator Huddleston, do you have any comments before we proceed? Senator HUDDLESTON. Not at this time, Mr. Chairman. POSTPONEMENT OF REPAIRS Senator GARN. We note in your opening statement that due to the austerity of your budget request, that is, the January 15 request, "Many repairs needed to maintain our facilities at established standards will have to be postponed." Could you elaborate on this for the subcommittee? What specific repairs will not be made? General ADAMS. Yes, sir. For example, the roof in the memorial in Honolulu needs to be replaced. It is being patched now. The roads and paths in the Manila Cemetery need to be resealed and at the HenriChapelle Cemetery, the front of the memorial is displacing out into the road and should be replaced. Colonel BADGER. As the General said, there are many road repairs that we have had to defer maintenance on. The many chuck holes in the roads are accelerating deterioration. Prolonged delay of repairs will require us in the long run to rebuild the roads. Senator GARN. You are requesting a pay supplemental of $797,000 in fiscal 1981. Can you describe the rationale of this rather large increase? General ADAMS. Yes, sir. Of this supplemental, $561,000 is for Wage Board increases directed by the governments in the countries in which these people are working. Of this amount, $87,000 is for cost-of-living increases for U.S. civilian personnel and $38,000 for U.S. military personnel that are provided in Public Laws 96-342 and 96-343 and 96–656. The balance, $120,000, is for severance pay and for reimbursement to the State Department for payments it has made to the Commission annuitants. INITIAL BUDGET REQUEST Senator GARN. How does your fiscal year 1982 budget request compare to your initial request to OMB? General ADAMS. We requested $11,159,000 for current operations, plus $800,000 over a number of years to bring our overall maintenance back to a proper standard. The OMB mark of $10,507,000 is a reduction from current requirements of $652,000. Of this, $209,000 is for con |