Congressman Cleaver Testifies At BRAC Hearing

Congressman Cleaver Testifies At BRAC Hearing
June 20, 2005

Defends Kansas City DFAS Center

(Washington, DC)-Today, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II appeared before the Base Realignment and Closing Commission to testify on the importance of the Defense and Financial Accounting Service Centers (DFAS) in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Joined by employee representatives from both facilities, Rep. Cleaver focused on the negative impact of the Kansas City or St. Louis DFAS closures on customer service to the Marines or Army Material Command, as well as the unique military value of the installations.

The hearing, one of a series being held across the country, heard arguments from six states, including Missouri, which stands to lose over 3,600 jobs under the planned BRAC closures.

Below is the text of Congressman Cleaver's remarks:

The Honorable Emanuel Cleaver, II

Testimony before the Base Realignment and Closure Commission Regarding the Proposed Closure of DFAS Kansas City and DFAS St. Louis.

June 20, 2005

"I would like to thank the Commission for convening this hearing and providing us with the opportunity to testify on the importance of Missouri's two Defense Finance and Accounting Installations in Kansas City and St. Louis. As time is short and there is a lot to cover, I will be brief.

"As you know, the Department of Defense has recommended the closure of twenty DFAS sites around the country. While a number of people question the logic of DoD closing these sites only a decade after they were opened, I am particularly concerned with the recommendations to close the Kansas City and St. Louis installations, both of which are the sole providers of specialized, unique services to the Department of Defense, and one of which, DFAS Kansas City, is one of the Department's five large finance centers. As such, these two installations provide unique military value that, in this time of war, cannot be overlooked.

" DFAS Kansas City, which employs 873 people, including military personnel and contractors, is the only entity which pays the Marines worldwide. Similarly, DFAS St. Louis provides specialized support to the Army Material Command. The loss of either installation would result in the loss of years of expertise in these respective specialties. In 1994, when the Department of Defense consolidated its 300 defense finance offices, the Kansas City site, along with four other major facilities, was specifically spared. At the time, DoD officials said this was "because they are the nerve center of the Department of Defense's financial operations." Furthermore, John Deutch, then Deputy Secretary of Defense, said "moving them would mean…regular customer service would suffer unacceptably."

" I would respectfully suggest to the Commission that the situation is no different today. Closing either the Kansas City or St. Louis DFAS would cause customer service to the Marines or the Army Material Command, respectively, to suffer. As we are presently at war with our troops depending on our support here at home to complete their missions, this would be incredibly irresponsible. Closing either the Kansas City or St. Louis DFAS would reduce our nation's military capacity, harm national security, and jeopardize timely payments to the Marines and the Army Material Command.

" The Department of Defense has justified these closures by claiming that it will save $120.5 million a year. But it is my understanding that the cost of closing both the Kansas City and St. Louis DFAS offices will exceed projected savings during the entire BRAC period - Fiscal Years 2006 through 2011. DFAS St. Louis will cost $9 million to close and savings will only be $6 million in these years, while DFAS Kansas City will cost $17.3 million to close and result in savings of only $7.3 million over the same period.

"When considering the high price we will pay in military readiness and security, these paltry savings are hardly sufficient to justify closing either the Kansas City or St. Louis DFAS.

"Ms. Dull and Mr. Weller will further elaborate on these points and on the value provided by the Kansas City and St. Louis DFAS installations.

"I thank the Commission for their attention and urge it to reconsider the proposed closures of the Kansas City and St. Louis DFAS offices. "

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mo05_cleaver/PR20JUN05.html