Dept. of Defense Announces BRAC Recommendations Commission will have unitil Septemeber to review recommendations
Dept. of Defense Announces BRAC Recommendations Commission will have unitil Septemeber to review recommendations
Washington, May 13 -
In an effort to enhance and transform our military to meet changing global threats, the Defense Department today announced its recommendations to close or realign military facilities across the United States. This announcement was a part of the scheduled Base Realignment and Closure process, which is more commonly referred to by its acronym BRAC.
BRAC is the procedure by which our military reorganizes itself to be more efficient and effective in supporting our forces, increasing operational readiness and facilitating new ways of operating.
On the whole, California faired the 2005 BRAC process well. The 40th Congressional District is home to the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, which was recommended for realignment only, not closure. This means that the 63rd Regional Readiness Command will move to Moffett, California.
"While the realignment will certainly have an impact, when faced with a complete closure, this announcement is certainly welcome news. Hopefully, the realignment will open up new opportunities for increased operations to be housed at the base, including more homeland security functions," said Congressman Royce, who spoke with Base Commander Colonel Gregory Peck about the changes.
The Joint Forces Training Base provides military readiness and disaster support in the largest metropolitan area in California. The base sustains the operations of many federal, state and local agencies. It currently houses numerous federal, state, and other agencies, including the 9th Civil Support Team and 38 other military units. More than 5,000 military Reserves train at the Base. The airfield at the base is the sole remaining military airfield in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.
The base is designated as the State Disaster Support Area for Southern California, one of only two in the entire state. The base, with its airfield, military tenants, and federal and state operations, is critically important to the federal and state contingency operations and is a part of all of Southern California's disaster support plans. During last year's devastating brush and forest fires, it served as the regional command center for staging aerial firefighting operations. The base also played a similar role during the recent rainstorms by serving as a regional platform for monitoring and responding to floods and mudslides in fire-ravaged areas.
In 2004, Congressman Royce helped to secure $21 million for infrastructure upgrades at the base. Repairs, which are now underway, include replacing undependable, unsafe, and dilapidated electrical, gas, water and communication hardware.
"The Los Alamitos Base is an important asset to our country, to Southern California and to our local community. This utility delivery system upgrade will ensure that the Base can maintain all of its vital operations," Royce
A BRAC Commission has been established to review today's recommendations by the Defense Department and take comment from the local communities that will be affected by closure and realignment. Once the review is completed (September 2005), the Commission will present its findings to the President who must approve, sending it to Congress for their approval. Congress must approve and appropriate the actions. The entire process will mostly be finished by the end of 2005.
According to the Department of Defense, this recommendation, if fully implemented, will generate an estimated net savings of nearly $50 billion over the next two decades.
Visit the BRAC website for more information: www.defenselink.mil/brac
http://www.royce.house.gov/News/DocumentPrint.aspx?DocumentID=27237