J.C. Watts: “President Harry Truman once said, ``Every segment of our population and every individual has the right to expect from…”

“President Harry Truman once said, ``Every segment of our population and every individual has the right to expect from our Government a fair deal.'' Mr. Speaker, the BRAC process was a fair deal for every individual in this country. Before the BRAC process, bases did not close, downsizing was simply a theory, and the American taxpayer was charged with unnecessary bills for the maintenance of excess capacity in our Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. The BRAC process closes unneeded military installations. Military facilities across the land compete on a level playing field. Some win, some lose, but the fight is fair and without the political influence of the Congress or the President. The victors should be honored and now is the time to stand up and do what is right for this country and her people. This BRAC has left some in the executive branch with a message they could not politically swallow. They are now attempting to corrupt a fair process that estimates a savings of more than $19 billion. Well, this Congressman and many who sit on both sides of the aisle simply will not tolerate that and will fight to make certain the BRAC process remains as apolitical as was originally intended. BRAC is a proven process and to dismantle that process by disapproving the list would, in the words of Chairman Alan Dixon, ``destroy the BRAC process forever and fail to save an estimated 19 billion dollars.'' That is simply not an acceptable course of action.”