Chambliss Presses Army Secretary on Brigade-Basing Decision

Statement

Chambliss Presses Army Secretary on Brigade-Basing Decision

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., continued to press Army Secretary John McHugh on the status of a review of the impact of the Army's decision not to grow by an additional three brigades. This decision will adversely affect local communities - including Hinesville, Ga., near Ft. Stewart - that have made large financial and infrastructure commitments to receive the brigades.

Chambliss also asked about the status of the possible decision to move brigades out of Europe.

"Mr. Secretary, we've previously discussed the issue of Ft. Stewart and the Army's decision to not grow by an additional three brigade combat teams, as previously stated. With that in mind, the Quadrennial Defense Review mentions two pending reviews of our four European-based brigade combat teams.

"As you well know, we eagerly await the outcome of those reviews, and hope that the Army will give a hard look at where those brigade combat teams should be based, and keep in mind both your commitments to NATO allies and the need to have troops based in the continental United States.

"In that regard, the fiscal year 2010 defense appropriations bill called for a review to be completed within 60 days of enactment of the department's efforts to mitigate the impact of the brigade-basing decisions I mentioned above on local communities. Can you give us the status of this report since we are at the 60-day mark?"

McHugh said he would provide information on how the brigade-basing decisions have affected local communities, as the defense appropriations bill requires. He also said the Army expects the NATO and U.S. posture reviews on brigades in Europe will be concluded by fall of this year.

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