SENATE BILL REPORT

ESJM 8039

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2004

Brief Description: Requesting relief for military installations in Washington State from the latest round of closures under the Base Realignment and Closure process.

Sponsors: Senators Shin, Jacobsen, Kastama, Thibaudeau, Berkey, Fraser, Doumit, Prentice, Horn, Kohl-Welles, Kline, Fairley, Oke, Stevens, Hale, Zarelli, T. Sheldon, B. Sheldon, Schmidt, McAuliffe, Murray, Spanel, Rasmussen, Winsley, Benton, Regala, Sheahan, Eide, Deccio and McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 1/27/04, 1/30/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/13/04, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Berkey, Fairley, Kastama and McCaslin.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: In 2002, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, which called for an additional round of base realignment and closure (BRAC) to occur in 2005. The previous rounds occurred in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995. The act requires Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to compile a list of bases to be closed or realigned and submit the list to a BRAC commission by May 2005. The commission must assess the recommendations and submit to the President a report containing the commission's findings and conclusions including a list of proposed base closures and realignments. The President has 15 days to either accept or reject the commission's entire list. If approved, the list is transmitted to Congress, which has 45 days to approve or reject the entire list.

Summary of Bill: The Memorial acknowledges the strategic and economic importance of military installations in Washington State and prays that the President, Congress, and the Department of Defense recognize the strategic importance of the bases and not make them victims of the 2005 BRAC round.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Testimony For: The military plays a significant role in Washington both economically and socially and the state must do what it can to protect bases from closure. The Memorial should be amended so all Senators can add their name to the sponsor list.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Senator Shin; prime sponsor.