INFORMATION PAPER
26 January 2012
Subject: Recent media reports state Arlington National Cemetery is missing $12million
Purpose: To provide congressional oversight committees the facts regarding recent media reports stating that Arlington Cemetery is missing $12 million.
Background:
- On 25 January 2012, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (SHSGAC)- Contracting Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing on Contract Management at Arlington National Cemetery.
- Witnesses were Lieutenant General Peter Vangjel, Inspector General, U.S. Army; Mr. Brian Lepore, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, U.S. Government Accountability Office; Ms. Belva Martin, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, U.S. Government Accountability Office; and Ms. Kathryn Condon, Executive Director, Army National Cemeteries Program, U.S. Army.
- On 26 January 2012, numerous media outlets incorrectly reported that Arlington Cemetery was missing $12 million.
Facts:
- Recent media reports erroneously stated that Arlington Cemetery is missing $12 million.
- This is not the case – ANC has fully accounted for these funds. Arlington National Cemetery recovered $26,763,199.69 from prior fiscal years that was obligated but not disbursed. As part of the process of instituting new financial management controls and oversight, Arlington National Cemetery’s resource managers meticulously reviewed years of financial records and recovered funds that were sent to Department of Defense agencies that support the cemetery.
- On October 1, 2010, Arlington transitioned to the Army’s General Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS). GFEBS enables ANC and the Army to have complete visibility of its financial transactions. The table below reflects the recoveries that Arlington recouped after the reconciliation of prior year financial transactions.
|
Fiscal Year |
Amount Recovered from Prior Fiscal Years |
Amount Re-Obligated (Spent) |
Remaining Amount Available for Obligation (Available to Spend) |
|
2004 |
$ 50,000.00 |
$ 25,071.41 |
$ 24,928.59 |
|
2005 |
$ 52,760.09 |
$ 25,484.76 |
$ 27,275.33 |
|
2006 |
$ 126,514.04 |
$ 125,932.00 |
$ 582.04 |
|
2007 |
$ 350,455.57 |
$ 328,753.46 |
$ 21,702.11 |
|
2008 |
$ 1,770,860.31 |
$ 1,642,223.41 |
$ 128,636.90 |
|
2009 |
$ 12,611,519.99 |
$ 12,348,758.22 |
$ 262,761.77 |
|
2010 |
$ 11,801,089.69 |
$ 9,993,373.26 |
$ 1,807,716.43 |
|
Total |
$ 26,763,199.69 |
$ 24,489,596.52 |
$ 2,273,603.17 |
- As stated at previous Congressional hearings Arlington has worked diligently to modernize cemetery operations, address years of facility maintenance and repair backlogs, and address Information Technology system upgrades. The table below provides a detailed breakdown to address the operational shortfalls identified above that would not have been possible without the recovery of these funds.
|
Project |
Amount |
|
Columbarium Court 9 |
$15,190,026.00 |
|
Visitor Center Roof Repair |
$89,274.00 |
|
Memorial Amphitheater Generator |
$2,600.00 |
|
Millennium Archaeological & NEPA Section 106 Study |
$85,000.00 |
|
Replace PCB Transformer in Admin Bldg |
$1,613,890.00 |
|
Design and replace HVAC in Admin Bldg and Visitor Center |
$315,300.00 |
|
Millennium Project Design Charrette |
$136,000.00 |
|
ANC Memorial Amphitheater Road Repair |
$67,000.00 |
|
Facilities Maintenance Complex Completion |
$764,700.00 |
|
Replace Flagstone sidewalk Memorial Amphitheater |
$1,012,000.00 |
|
Study to Repair/Replace Eternal Flame |
$50,000.00 |
|
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Study & Repair |
$25,000.00 |
|
Information Technology System Upgrades and Support |
$2,033,163.49 |
|
Burial Operations Equipment |
$1,690,476.52 |
|
Urn Liners |
$170,000.00 |
|
Service Support (GFEBS, Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan) |
$500,116.51 |
|
Grounds Maintenance Bridge Contract |
$745,050.00 |
|
Total |
$24,489,596.52 |
- Fiscal stewardship and transparency is paramount to all at Arlington. Since June 2010, the entire staff at the cemetery has worked diligently to restore the faith and confidence of the American Public and will continue to do so.