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, McCaslin and Roach.

Hearing Date: 2/26/04

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002. The Act 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. In selecting military installations for closure or realignment, the Department of Defense will give priority consideration to military value. 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 petitions the President, Congress, and the Department of Defense to recognize the strategic importance of these bases and to not make them victims of the 2005 BRAC round.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.