Disapproving the Recommendations of the Defense Base Closue and Realignment Commission

DISAPPROVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE AND REALIGNMENT COMMISSION -- (House of Representatives - October 27, 2005)

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Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in reluctant support of the resolution to reject the recommendations of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

I support the BRAC process and believe that over the years it has led to the orderly reorganization of our Nation's defense infrastructure.

I believe the Pentagon and the BRAC Commission made a good-faith effort to carefully examine every base.

Nonetheless, I continue to believe the Commission made a terribly shortsighted decision when it voted to uphold some of the Pentagon's recommendations for Naval Base Ventura County.

I am particularly disappointed the Commission voted to move some of the RDT&E missions away from the base.

In my view, the Commission ignored a number of important factors.

First, the Commission's vote went against the recommendation of its professional staff.

The staff correctly recognized that Naval Base Ventura County has significant military value, and its missions contribute to the readiness of our war fighter.

Second, relocating the vital functions performed by the personnel at the base will have lasting consequences for our national security.

The activities conducted at this site for the Navy, Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, and others cannot be replicated anywhere else in the Nation.

Moreover, the base's sea range is linked with other inland ranges in California--providing an unmatched capability to the Defense Department.

The realignment will diminish these existing operational capabilities and efficiencies and negatively impact the ability of our fighting men and women to get their jobs done.

The effect of this would be immediately felt in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Finally, realigning the base's missions will waste, not save, taxpayer dollars.

We cannot afford to spend a lot of money to move missions and personnel when there's no long-term savings involved.

Especially now that we're looking at spending more than $200 billion to help rebuild the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Mr. Chairman, the BRAC process must be logical and fair. I do not believe this round of closures met those criteria.

I continue to strongly believe the missions at Naval Base Ventura County are a critical element of our national security system and an important asset to our local community.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the resolution of disapproval.

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