Saved by the bill: Army Corps stay put
Call it his ace in the hole.
A legislative maneuver by Congressmember Michael Grimm hassucceeded in making sure the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) staysput at Fort Hamilton Army Base, six months after it announced thatit intended to leave the base – where its annual operating expensescome to around $130,000 — for Manhattan digs, where annual rentcould be as much as $1 million.
Grimm inserted language in the Energy and Water AppropriationsAct that passed the House of Representatives on July 15, 219 to196, prohibiting ACE from using any funding provided through theact to move out of any military base on which it is currentlylocated. Since virtually all of ACE’s funding comes from the act,that move alone – once it’s approved by the Senate and signed intolaw by the president – would force the corps to stay put.