FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2005
CONTACT: Chris Paulitz
SENATOR HUTCHISON HOSTS TEXAS DELEGATION BRAC MEETING WITH PRINCIPI
Discusses support for state bases with BRAC Commissioner
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) invited the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission Chairman Anthony Principi to meet with fellow members of the Texas Delegation in her office. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce Chairman Principi to the members of the delegation and to highlight the significant military value of Texas’ bases.
“As BRAC approaches, the Texas Delegation continues to show a unified front. Texas bases provide unparalleled training capabilities, abundant airspace and fewer restrictions on operations,” said Sen. Hutchison. “Our military installations have the capacity to take on additional missions. Our military men and women deserve the best possible training areas and a great quality of life. I will work hard this year to make that a reality.”
As Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and a member of the Defense Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Hutchison has been a leading advocate for Texas’ military facilities and defender of Texas bases during the current BRAC process. She has consistently urged the Department of Defense to overhaul America’s global base realignment – bringing troops home from overseas before shutting down any American installations.
“For years I have worked to reform America’s overseas basing structure to better address our nation’s security needs. I have helped secure more than $1.5 billion in military construction funds for Texas bases. This has enhanced their capability to expand and accept new missions,” Sen. Hutchison added. “Now is the time for those efforts to pay off and help keep Texas’ bases open.”
Nearly two years ago, Sen. Hutchison successfully convinced Congress to establish an Overseas Basing Commission (OBC) to give the same scrutiny to overseas bases that those in Texas will face in the upcoming BRAC. At its first hearing, the OBC heard that if the Pentagon returns 29,000 soldiers from Germany – approximately two divisions – we would save up to $575 million annually and give our troops far better training capabilities and opportunities. The panel will provide a report later this year in advance of the domestic BRAC recommendations to provide the BRAC commissioners with a more comprehensive perspective.
On February 8, Sen. Hutchison and Sen. Cornyn attended a meeting at the Pentagon with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld who told them the adverse impact of the 2005 BRAC process on military bases will be significantly reduced due to foreign reassignments to domestic bases. The Pentagon focused on Europe and Korea and subsequently announced last year that at least 70,000 U.S. troops are scheduled for recall to U.S. bases – with some headed to Texas bases.
Delegation attendees included Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Representatives Henry Bonilla, John Carter, Michael Conaway, Henry Cuellar, Chet Edwards, Gene Green, Charlie Gonzalez, Ralph Hall, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Michael McCaul, Randy Neugebauer, Solomon Ortiz, Ted Poe, Silvestre Reyes and Lamar Smith.
Key Dates for BRAC Process
- Sept. 8: Deadline for the BRAC commission to make its own base closure recommendations.
- Sept. 23: Deadline for a presidential decision on whether to accept or reject the BRAC recommendations in their entirety - the White House's only options. If Bush accepts the plan, it becomes final within 45 legislative days, unless Congress passes a joint resolution to block the entire package.
- Oct. 20: If Bush rejects the BRAC recommendations, the commission has until this date to submit a revised list of proposed closures.
- Nov. 7: Deadline for the president to approve or disapprove the revised recommendations.
- April 15, 2006: The commission terminates.
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