Bill to allow Uniformed Military to testify on BRAC

Sen. Collins' press office ^ | Sen. Susan Collins

[mike6181]

 

 

 

SENATORS SNOWE, COLLINS COSPONSOR BRAC BILL

 

Bill Would Allow Military Personnel to Advocate for Bases Before BRAC Commission

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Jen Burita or Elissa Davidson
Thursday, May 26, 2005	Phone: 202-224-2523

WASHINGTON, DC—Senators Snowe and Collins have joined a group of their colleagues in cosponsoring legislation that would allow uniformed servicemembers to testify before the BRAC Commission as to the military value of defense installations listed on the Department of Defense recommended BRAC list. Further, this bill ensures that servicemembers who choose to testify will be protected against retaliation of any kind. BRAC recommendations include closure of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, realignment of the Brunswick Naval Air Station and closure of DFAS at Limestone. “In Maine alone, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars are at stake in the BRAC process, as well as adequate provision of our nation’s defense. It is critical that we take every step necessary to ensure that the value of each base is accurately reflected as the Commission reviews the DoD’s decisions. This bill will allow the commissioners to hear about a base’s military value from actual operators and warfighters, rather than simply relying on the Pentagon’s recommendations,” Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement.

 

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[mike6181]

Too much is at stake to limit the inquiry of the Senate or House on this matter. The die is literally being cast for decades to come and we will have to live with the results. Perhaps more important than the facilities being closed, is the concept of forces pushing them.

This is going to, for instance, shut down the Air National Guard by denuding it of 80% of its aircraft. Now, about Homeland Defense...

[El Gato]

This is going to, for instance, shut down the Air National Guard by denuding it of 80% of its aircraft. Now, about Homeland Defense

Got a source for that little tidbit. Everything I've seen shows aircraft being moved from one ANG unit to another. The purpose being to make the units a more efficient (and deployable) size. States that lose their aircraft typically gained an intermediate level maintenance facility, which are also being consolidated for efficiency. (An example would be Hill AFB losing F-16s, but gaining an engine intermediate maintenance shop.