Legislation Conditions Any Moves to Aberdeen

Press Release

Legislation Conditions Any Moves to Aberdeen

Bipartisan legislation (HR 3097) introduced today by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04)—and co-sponsored by Reps. Jim Saxton (NJ-03), Rush Holt (NJ-12) and Frank Pallone (NJ-06)—would, if enacted, prohibit any funding for the transfer of personnel and missions from Ft. Monmouth until the Army, as directed by the BRAC Commission, reports they can accomplish the move "without disruption" to the Global War on Terror" and can "ensure maximum retention of critical workforce."

Smith said, "Any honest analysis will clearly show beyond any reasonable doubt that the move to Aberdeen is extra-ordinarily expensive, illogical, and above all fraught with danger for the warfighter."

"One of our major concerns from day one," Smith continued, "has been the enormous brain-drain that will result from this attempt to move the critical activities and high-tech personnel. The potential loss of so many smart, highly competent and extensively trained men and women will result in a serious degradation of mission. And that's absolutely unacceptable."

Smith said, "In 2005, the BRAC Commission suggested that they too had concerns about the Army's proposal to relocate and reconstruct the mission in Aberdeen. BRAC took a highly unusual step by stating: "The Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to the Congressional Committees of jurisdiction that the movement of organizations, functions, or activities from Ft. Monmouth to Aberdeen Proving Ground will be accomplished without disruption of their support to the Global War on Terror or other critical contingency operations and that safeguards exist to ensure that necessary redundant capabilities are put in place to mitigate potential degradation of such support and to ensure maximum retention of critical workforce."

Smith continued, "My legislation seeks not only to codify those conditions set out by BRAC, and requires a Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) audit of the Pentagon's mandated report before any person or mission can be moved,"

"The BRAC Commission provided a sliver of hope owing to the unique conditions they put into their 2005 law. I was skeptical that the Army could meet those conditions then, I find it next to impossible to believe that they can meet them now," Smith said.

Smith cited articles from both the Asbury Park Press and the Washington Business Journal as vindication for the arguments made by the New Jersey Delegation and the community advocates throughout the summer of 2005.

"The recent series of articles and incisive exposes by the Asbury Park Press have made an enormous difference. I for one am extremely grateful. Moreover, a July 16, 2007 article in the Washington Business Journal expose how unprepared Maryland is to replicate the mission. It's my hope that we can stop this trainwreck before it happens," Smith said.

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