Olympia Snowe: “in August the Base Realignment and Closure Commission issued its fifth round of base closures since 1988. Soon the…”

“in August the Base Realignment and Closure Commission issued its fifth round of base closures since 1988. Soon the Department of Defense will begin implementing the BRAC report, undoubtedly having a direct and lasting impact on States across this country, including my own State of Maine. I rise today as a congressional veteran of all five previous base-closing rounds to introduce this amendment along with my colleague from Maine, Senator Collins. It is as well being cosponsored by Senators Corzine, Wyden, and Landrieu, and endorsed by the Association of Defense Communities, to place the communities that are directly affected by base closures in this recent round in the driver's seat with respect to the critical economic development decisions our base-closing communities are going to be confronting, and not placing the Department of Defense in control of their economic development and their economic futures. Our amendment would require that, when making determinations concerning the transfer of property and installations, the Secretary of Defense must offer that property first to the local redevelopment authority, or the LRA, that represents the community and is required to be established under the law. If the LRA accepts the offer, the Secretary is required to transfer the property to the LRA free of cost.…”