Anthony Principi Holds a Hearing On Proposed Base Closures in Indiana, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia

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Anthony Principi Holds a Hearing On Proposed Base Closures in Indiana, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia

DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE AND REALIGNMENT COMMISSION HOLDS HEARING ON BASE CLOSURES OR REALIGNMENTS IN INDIANA, OHIO, MAINE, NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

AUGUST 10, 2005

COMMISSIONERS: ANTHONY PRINCIPI, CHAIRMAN GENERAL LLOYD W. NEWTON (USAF, RET.) GENERAL JAMES T. HILL (USA, RET.) SAMUEL SKINNER PHILLIP COYLE ADMIRAL HAROLD W. GEHMAN JR. (USN, RET.) JAMES V. HANSEN JAMES H. BILBRAY GENERAL SUE ELLEN TURNER (USAF, RET.)

WITNESSES: U.S. SENATOR JOHN WARNER (R-VA)

U.S. SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR (R-IN)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES MORAN (D-VA)

U.S. DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON (D-DC)

GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS (R), INDIANA

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DAN BURTON (R-IN)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JULIA CARSON (D-IN)

MAYOR BART PETERSON (D), INDIANA

GREG BITZ, FORMER DIRECTOR OF DFAS INDIANAPOLIS

U.S. SENATOR MIKE DEWINE (R-OH)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DAVID HOBSON (R-OH)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL TURNER (R-OH)

DAN CURRAN, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON

LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN NOWAK (RET.) U.S. AIR FORCE

U.S. SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE (R-ME)

GOVERNOR JOHN BALDACCI (D), MAINE

U.S. SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS ALLEN (D-ME)

MIKE COLEMAN, MAYOR, COLUMBUS, OHIO

TY MARSH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, GREATER COLUMBUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

REAR ADMIRAL HARRY RICH (RET.) U.S. NAVY

CAPTAIN RALPH DEAN (RET.) U.S. NAVY

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE MCINTYRE (D-NC)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BOB ETHERIDGE (D-NC)

GENERAL PAUL DORDAL (RET.) FORMER COMMANDER OF POPE AIR FORCE BASE

COLONEL TERRY PECK (RET.) U.S. ARMY FORMER DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, FT. BRAGG

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS DAVIS (R-VA)

GERRY CONNOLLY, CHAIRMAN, FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

[*] PRINCIPI: Good morning.

I'm Anthony Principi. I'm pleased to be joined by my fellow commissioners, Commissioners Newton, Skinner, Turner, Hansen, Coyle and Bilbray.

We are indeed honored that Senator Lugar, Governor Daniels, Congressman Burton, Congresswoman Carson, Mayor Peterson, other local officials from Indiana, Indianapolis, are here to represent the state of Indiana in today's hearing.

On July 19th, this commission voted to consider closure or realignment of eight installations not included in the Defense Department's recommendations.

We took this action not because of any desire to close more bases or realign more bases than the secretary of defense recommended, but to meet our obligation to the American people and to the uniformed men and women who defend our freedoms.

That obligation compels us to examine the BRAC proposals of the Department of Defense from every angle and perspective.

We are committed to a thorough and partial, transparent and nonpolitical process that will shape our military installations for decades to come, but also one that we know will have a rather profound impact on our communities and on the people who bring our communities and our military installations to life.

The commission's July 19 action was not a vote to close these facilities. Our action merely allows the commission to compare directly those facilities included in the DOD package of recommendations with facilities that are not.

No decision has been reached and no decision will be reached until the commission has time to hear and consider evidence and input from all interested parties. This hearing is an important part of that process.

Our site visits and public hearings combined with citizen input provide us with information and views on the substance of the proposals, as well as the methodology and the assumptions behind them.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the thousands of involved citizens who have already contacted the commission and shared with us their thoughts, concerns and suggestions.

Today we will hear testimony from the states of Indiana, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Each states' and the district's elected delegation has been allotted a block of time determined by the overall impact of the proposed recommendations added by the commission.

I am certain their testimony will provide information and insight that will be a very valuable part of our review.

We would greatly appreciate it if you adhere to your time limits -- every voice is important.

I now request our witnesses to stand for the administration of the oath that is required by the base closure and realignment statute. The oath will be administered by the commission's designated federal officer.

STAFF: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator, Governor, other distinguished members of the panel, would you please raise your right hand for me?

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are ab...

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