National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 11, 2006)

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Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer this amendment to help States all across the Nation deal with the dynamic affects of BRAC can have on their local communities. In my district alone we will incur the single largest loss and gain in the most recent round of BRAC. We will have roughly 23,000 positions vacated out of DoD leased space in Arlington, Virginia and roughly the same number of jobs added to Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

While we give warm welcome to the additional jobs coming to Fort Belvoir we must ensure that we are able to continue to observe our smart growth principles. The transportation infrastructure in the vicinity of Fort Belvoir/Southern Alexandria sector is already overburdened and inadequate. It is important that DoD has a wide array of tools at its disposal in order to work with our local community to help absorb the affects of such a massive growth.

The Defense Access Road (DAR) program currently allows DoD to pay for road projects made necessary by DoD actions. My amendment would simply allow DoD to consider transit projects as part of the Defense Access Road program as well. It does not force DoD to enforce a blanket policy because I know each community has its own specific needs and a one size fits all is simply not appropriate. Some communities could use more roads and others could use buses.

Mr. Chairman, I know my district was not the only one effected by BRAC. My amendment is important to every State across the Nation that was affected by BRAC or any other DoD action that will significantly impact their local communities. I have already received a call from the North Carolina's Governor's office supporting this effort.

Mr. Chairman, in closing I would like to thank Chairman HUNTER, Senator WARNER, and JIM MORAN for working with me to make this amendment a reality. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

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Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer this amendment in an attempt to resolve deadlocked negotiations between the State of Virginia and the Army. For years now, the completion of the Fairfax County Parkway, a major parkway in my district, has been held hostage to complications with building through the Engineering Proving Ground. The Engineering Proving Ground was a former military airfield which has environmental concerns that are inherent of its history.

Empirical data has shown the Engineering Proving Ground is suitable for road construction. My amendment simply allows the State of Virginia and the Army the authority they need to negotiate a sensible and environmentally sound solution to complete the parkway. It allows the Army to enter into a special agreement with the State of Virginia. This agreement would authorize the State of Virginia to fund projects on the Engineering Proving Ground while allowing the Army to maintain control of the project.

I was Chairman of the Fairfax County Board back when we completed the largest section of the Fairfax County Parkway and was proud to see the road come to near completion. However, a number of years have gone by since and it is truly frustrating to all northern Virginians not to have the small portion of the parkway through the Engineering Proving Ground completed at this time.

In addition, due to the most recent round of BRAC, Northern Virginia will gain over 23,000 jobs in the Fort Belvoir area. This is equivalent to gaining four major bases--was the single largest BRAC addition in the country. Completing the Fairfax County Parkway is a critical step in setting the infrastructure we need to help assuage the welcome, but massive growth.

In closing I would like to thank Chairman HUNTER, Senator WARNER, and JIM MORAN for working with me to make this amendment a reality. I urge an aye vote.

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