Masonry Magazine July 2008 Page. 24
LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
On the final day of the conference, following a breakfast, our group was addressed by Federal agency speakers.
CDR Mark Geronime, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marine Operations Manager for Marine Corps Programs (NAVFAC-Southwest), discussed USMC Barracks program and other MILCON construction programs. He shared preferred exteriors, interiors and a few floor plans.
Paul Parsoneault, Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers Construction Management Branch (HQ,USACE), spoke to the group. Parsoneault said between FY06 and FY13, the Army military construction program will total an estimated $48.5 billion, which represents the largest program in the Army's history since WWII. Military construction will peak in FY08 and 09 at about $14 billion per year. He explained the Military Construction (MILCON) transformation as a continuous-build program of standard facilities through standardized building function and design. Parsoneault also said the standards and processes of MILCON did not support the Department of Defense's requirement of constructing quality facilities in the timeframe needed, and a program-wide funding shortfall would have most likely occurred in the status-quo scenario.
Alison Kinn Bennett, Co-Chair of the Environmental Protection Agency Green Buildings Working Group, was the final scheduled guest speaker. Bennett provided insight as to what our industry should be focusing on in the future. She also discussed Guiding principles for Federal leadership in high-performance and sustainable buildings. The principles were to 1) employ integrated design principles; 2) optimize energy performance; 3) protect and conserve water; 4) enhance indoor environmental quality, and 5) reduce environmental impact of materials.
The conference ended over lunch as Bill Holden, chairman of the NCMA, and Tom Daniels, president of the MCAA, talked with the group to close the session. Items discussed included time frames for how often to visit Washington as a group, and how the MCAA and NCMA can work jointly to meet common goals. One idea centered around a possible marketing campaign to present to military groups on the use of masonry in design and construction.
It was another meaningful trip to Washington for the MCAA, where our industry leaders are fighting for our common good.
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