House Passes Saxton Amendment on Background Checks @ Military Bases
Press Release
House Passes Saxton Amendment on Background Checks @ Military Bases
Congressman Jim Saxton (NJ-3rd) today announced that his amendment to improve base security around the nation was passed by the House of Representatives last night.
Saxton, who authored the amendment, and Congressmen Rob Andrews (NJ-01), Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) who all supported it, unveiled plans for a stand-alone bill last week in the wake of the Fort Dix terrorist plot and arrests. Instead of introducing the planned bill, Saxton successfully attached the legislation as an amendment to the main 2008 Defense Authorization Act, which passed today 397-27.
"I thank Rep. Rob Andrews for his efforts in working with the Majority, as well as Congressmen LoBiondo and Smith who all cosponsored this measure," said Saxton, Ranking Member of the Air Land Forces Subcommittee that oversees the Army and Air Force, and founder of the first House Terrorism Subcommittee in 2002. "We make a good team for the security of South Jersey's bases, and the bases around the country."
The bill is a revised version of a bill Saxton wrote in 2003 in the wake of arrests of undocumented workers on Fort Dix and McGuire. Though portions of the bill were adopted into law, the main provisions were opposed by the Department of Defense, which promised to review procedures.
To address the "Fort Dix Six" problem, the four Members revived legislation they originally jointly proposed in 2003. The bill required federal background checks for civilians who want access to the base. These checks will determine whether a civilian has a criminal record at the federal level, in hopes of identifying any past actions that are indicative of whether the civilian poses a security threat to the installation.
"Like our men and women at Fort Dix, base security personnel around the country do everything they can to keep our bases safe," said Saxton. "This legislation will provide them with the additional resources that they require to continue protecting our installations against the threat of terrorism."
In addition to a federal background check, coordination with the Department of Homeland Security will need to occur to ensure a civilian seeking access to a military base is a U.S. citizen or in the U.S.
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