TOPICS
TOPICS
Pentagon urged to consider R&D in base closings
Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., introduced a bill Wednesday that would require the Pentagon to consider the military value of research, development and testing facilities in the next round of base closings.
The factors would be included among the Pentagon's official criteria for choosing which installations to retain in the 2005 base realignment and closure process, or BRAC.
Wilson and other lawmakers have criticized the Pentagon for failing to consider hundreds of public comments and concerns before deciding on its final BRAC criteria, published in February in the Federal Register.
The criteria currently assess military value and the ability of an installation to contribute to the Defense Department's mission and operational readiness. Other factors include potential costs and savings, community support and environmental considerations.
Wilson said the Defense Department's stated goal of a modernized force did not square with its prevailing approach to base closure.
"Research, development and testing are too important to be overlooked," Wilson said in a statement. "The criteria talks about current operations and training but completely ignores the need to have research, development and testing facilities for the next generation of weapons systems."
Congress approved the 2005 BRAC round in the fiscal 2001 military authorization, but Wilson, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has opposed the closings on every vote.
"From the beginning, I have opposed BRAC," Wilson said. "But our commitment now must be to preserve facilities critical to our national security and important to New Mexico."
COMMENTS
- Rep. Wilson, I agree the Pentagon should review public comments. NAS Whidbey Island is a menace and should be closed to prevent further damage to the environment and marine life. Most residents do not want the pollution from the base or the horrendous noise from Navy aircraft at all hours of the day and night. What can the civilians do when the Navy keeps track of the complaints? What happens to these complaints? Residents are not notified of hearings concerning NASWI. NASWI is the most polluted base in the nation, much of this pollution running into Duguala Bay. There have been several incidents of whale deaths due to Navy sonar. The air is polluted when the pilots dump their jet fuel. How long will it be before a jet crashes into someone's home as they fly over the homes of hundreds of families? M. D. Anderson Posted May 11, 2004 8:20 AM
- "But our commitment now must be to preserve facilities critical to our national security and important to New Mexico." Heather get a brain! You are spending my money and my desire is not to support the economy of New Mexico. The DoD only should operate facilities that contribute significantly to its mission. Heather you have to stop buying votes in NM by spending the money you get from those of us that live elsewhere. Definitely you should close Los Alamos because it is a total waste of government funds but that is not a BRAC decision. You also should close the DoE Rocky Flats plant in Colorado that is responsible for pollution of unpresedented scale - look what Hanover did in Washington. Congress should have no say in base closure but they do and that is why it doesn't work. The military budget should reflect only military items and not cover things like the special olympic for many millions of tax payer dollars. If Kennedy wants to fund the special olympics he should be up-front and do it in a transparent manner and not hide the money in the defense budget. Congress is corrupt (look at Stevens from Alaska as an example-bet there are no closures in Alaska) and should have no say in this decision - they only should approve the overall budget and not get into specific operating decisions. Placement and operation of a military base, lab or range should be a DoD decision and not a political decision. tax payer Posted April 30, 2004 6:45 AM
