Says protecting Inland Empire troops and their families should be Armed Forces’ top priority

Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072

Washington, DC – U.S. Representatives Joe Baca (D-Rialto) and California Democratic Delegation Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) today hailed the defeat of an amendment by Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-MN), which sought to make a Base Realignment and Closure round in 2005 part of the U.S. House of Representatives’2005 Defense Authorization bill, 9.  With defeat of the amendment by a vote of 162 to 25, the House legislation calls for a delay in the scheduled 2005 round of domestic military bases until 2007.

The Inland Empire saw the closing of several bases in past BRAC rounds.  The defeat of the Kennedy amendment means the region could be spared further base closures at least two additional years.  Previous base closures in the Inland Empire resulted in the loss of an estimated 37,000 jobs and $3.9 billion in economic activity for the region.

“Base closings will affect our troops and their families.  It will set the military on a course of instability. All in order to save a few bucks,” said Representative Baca.  “Our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan should not have to worry whether their families will be moved to another city or another state.  They have more important things to worry about.  This was a victory for our brave men and women in the Armed Forces.”

“Representative Baca is championing the interests of his constituents and all of the people in the Inland Empire with his support for a delay in the next BRAC round,” said Representative Lofgren.