Durbin, Obama to New BRAC Comissioners: Illinois Military Bases Essential to State's Economy
DURBIN, OBAMA TO NEW BRAC COMISSIONERS: ILLINOIS MILITARY BASES ESSENTIAL TO STATE'S ECONOMY
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent letters to the nominees to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission stressing the importance of Illinois' major military installations to both the state's economy and the nation's military readiness. Durbin and Obama also requested to meet with the nominated commissioners prior to their confirmation by the Senate.
"In our home state of Illinois, there are five military installations that could be examined during the current BRAC process," Durbin and Obama wrote. "Together these facilities contribute more than $2.5 billion to Illinois' economy and support 70,000 jobs. Obviously, mission and job retention at these Illinois installations is a high priority for the Illinois Congressional Delegation and Illinois Governor Blagojevich."
In their letters to the BRAC nominees, the Senators included information on the five major military bases in Illinois: Rock Island Arsenal, Springfield Air National Guard Base, Peoria Air National Guard Base, Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, and Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago. Durbin and Obama highlighted the essential and irreplaceable national security functions at each Illinois military base.
"The Illinois Congressional Delegation is working to highlight both the strategic military importance and economic development potential of these installations to the Department of Defense," wrote Durbin and Obama. "We hope you will take the time to meet with us prior to your Senate confirmation so we can further discuss the BRAC process and these Illinois installations."
Last night, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) sent the name of James Bilbray, former Democratic Congressman from Nevada, to the White House for nomination to the 2005 BRAC Commission. Bilbray joins Former Transportation Secretary Sam Skinner and former Congressman James Hansen (R-UT), nominated by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert; former Congressman Vic Fazio (D-CA) and former Pentagon official Wade Sanders, nominated by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; retired General John Coburn and retired Admiral Harold Gehman, nominated by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. President Bush will make three appointments to the BRAC Commission, but has not yet announced his choices.
A new round of base realignment and closures was authorized by Congress in 2001. A list of military installations recommended for closure and consolidation will be developed by the BRAC Commission sometime later this year.
http://durbin.senate.gov/releases.cfm