Schumer, Owens: Decision to Reverse $500 Million in Cuts for Army Base Operations Should Lead to End of Budget Cuts for Ft Drum; Schumer, Owens Call on Army to Reverse Ft Drum Cuts Using Newly Restored Pot of Funding

Statement

Schumer, Owens: Decision to Reverse $500 Million in Cuts for Army Base Operations Should Lead to End of Budget Cuts for Ft Drum; Schumer, Owens Call on Army to Reverse Ft Drum Cuts Using Newly Restored Pot of Funding

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Representative Bill Owens announced that they are pressing the Army to completely reverse cuts to Fort Drum's budget using the newly available $500 million for Base Operation Support (BOS). Last Friday, the Army announced that $500 million in cuts to this program -- the cuts that originally spurred the cuts to Fort Drum's budget -- are going to be reversed. Today, Schumer and Owens pressed the Army to use this funding to completely reverse the $26 million in cuts to Fort Drum.

Schumer met with Fort Drum leaders last month and pledged to get to the bottom of the proposed cuts and fight for the funding to be restored. Last week, Schumer announced that he took the first step in this battle by calling Army Secretary John Mchugh, who pledged to take a "hard look" at the cuts to Fort Drum. Following that conversation, the Army made the decision to reverse $500 million in cuts to the nationwide pot of funds that pays for the operations of bases like Fort Drum. Schumer described this as an important step in reversing the cuts to Fort Drum.

The budget cuts have already led to civilian layoffs at Fort Drum. Schumer said that if the cuts are reversed, the people that have been laid off could be rehired.

"Friday's announcement by the Army to reverse $500 million in cuts to our country's bases means that we have cleared a significant hurdle in reversing the cuts to Fort Drum," said Schumer. "Fort Drum is critical part of both our nation's defenses and life in the North Country, as well as an economic engine for the region, and we must ensure that it has the resources it deserves to function at maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Fort Drum employs hundreds of civilians in addition to the thousands of soldiers stationed and trained there. I have asked the army to commit to using this $500 million to completely reverse the cuts to Ft. Drum, and I'm hopeful that they will do so."

"Senator Schumer and I have been working hard to reverse funding cuts at Fort Drum and I am encouraged that we have made progress in this effort," Owens said. "I met recently with Lieutenant General Rick Lynch, the Army's Commanding General on this issue and conveyed to him my strong concerns for the effect that Base Operation cuts would have on our national security, our troops and their families and the local economy of communities that support installations like Fort Drum. I have received reassurances from General Lynch and others in the Army Command that they understand our concerns and will work with us to restore funding for Fort Drum and other posts across the country."

Earlier this month Schumer and Owens met Fort Drum officials to discuss the needs of the base and the region. At the top of the list was restoring $26 million in proposed cuts. At the time, Schumer and Owens pledged to work with the Army and the base to roll back the cuts and restore the base to its previous level of funding. The proposed cuts are to non-military spending and are parts of cuts that are being implemented nationwide, and have already lead to significant layoffs and a reduction of services region wide. These layoffs could be reversed if the funding cut is reversed.

Fort Drum has been used as a military training site since 1908; however the Army's presence in the North Country may be traced back to the early 1800's. In 1809 a company of infantry soldiers was stationed at Sacket's Harbor to enforce the Embargo Act and control smuggling between northern New York and Canada. Following the outbreak of the War of 1812, Sackets Harbor became the center of United States Naval and military activity for the Upper St. Lawrence River Valley and Lake Ontario. Today, Fort Drum consists of 107,265 acres. Its mission includes command of active component units assigned to the installation, provide administrative and logistical support to tenant units, support to tenant units, support to active and reserve units from all services in training at Fort Drum, and planning and support for the mobilization and training of almost 80,000 troops annually.

Today, Schumer and Owens called on the Army to pledge to use the $500 million in newly available money for military bases to completely reverse the cuts to Fort Drum.

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