Schumer to Introduce New Legislation to Help New York Communities Redevelop Land Left Vacant Due to Base Closures; New Bill Mirrors Proposal by Rep Mike Arcur

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he will introduce legislation that will remove the redevelopment costs that communities face when the federal government decides to close a military base in a state, like the area around the Seneca Army Depot in Seneca County. The legislation mirrors H.R. 4294, introduced by U.S. Representative Mike Arcuri of Utica.

"The federal government can't just close a military base and stick the local community with the redevelopment tab," said Schumer. "This bill will serve as a hand up to many local communities hard-hit by base closures so they could begin the process of revitalizing their communities."

Once a military base is closed, the U.S. Department of Commerce offers the local community assistance through its Economic Development Administration (EDA). Current law allows the federal government to impose a cost-sharing agreement on local communities for the costs of redeveloping the area left vacant by the base closure. The law only allows for the cost-sharing requirements to be removed when the Secretary of Commerce determines that a local government has "exhausted the effective taxing and borrowing capacity." The current standard often results in increased taxes and debt for communities already ravaged by the closure of a military base, which often serves as an economic hub for its host region.

The Schumer proposal, modeled on Arcuri's, would eliminate cost-sharing requirements from being imposed on local governments and require the federal government to pick up the resulting tab from its decision to close a military base. Communities throughout New York, particularly Seneca County, would benefit from the proposed changes. Under the bill, Seneca County and other base closure communities would be free to redevelop the vacant land without worrying about having to raise taxes on local residents or take on additional debt.

Schumer added, "The current system asks an unfair share from local communities when they are at their most vulnerable. New York's local communities host these federal government facilities when they need land, and so the federal government must be there for the local community when they decide to close up shop and leave."

Later this year, Congress will take up a bill to reauthorize the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration. Schumer will push to see that the bill is added to the must-pass reauthorization bill so that local communities can begin the redevelopment process right away.

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