BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 19|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SJR 19
Author: Strickland (R), et al.
Amended: 4/19/12
Vote: 21
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE : 5-0, 4/24/12
AYES: Correa, Cannella, Berryhill, Calderon, Rubio
NO VOTE RECORDED: Negrete McLeod, Runner, Lieu
SUBJECT : Military base closures in California
SOURCE : California Military Department
DIGEST : This resolution urges the California
Congressional delegation to protect California military
bases from closure in the upcoming Base Realignment and
Closure Commission process.
ANALYSIS : The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is a
process of the United States federal government directed at
the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used
by the Department of Defense and Congress to close excess
military installations and realign the total asset
inventory to reduce expenditure on operations and maritime
in an effort to achieve increase efficiency. More than 350
installations have been closed in five BRAC rounds: 1989,
1991, 1993, 1995, and 2005. The United States has
traditionally reduced the strength and number of its Armed
Forces after major conflicts. California has lost over two
dozen military installations due to the BRAC closures
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including Atwater's Castle Air Force Base, Sacramento's
Mather Air Force Base, McClellan Air Force Base, Long Beach
Naval Shipyard, Naval Air Station Alameda, the Marine Corps
Air Station at Tustin, Mare Island Naval Shipyard in
Vallejo, and Fort Ord in Monterey County, George Air Force
Base, Norton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Base, Treasure
Island Naval Station, and Fort Hunter Liggett.
The 2013 fiscal year defense budget proposal includes a
request for two new base closure periods, one in 2013 and
on in 2015. The Defense Department lists 30 major military
installations in the State of California. As of September
30, 2009, the Department of Defense listed 117,806 military
personnel and 61,365 civilian personnel employed in
military personnel employed in military bases located in
the state.
On February 14, 2012 Senator Strickland sent a letter to
the Governor encouraging the Governor to authorize the
creation of an unpaid, volunteer task force aimed at
ensuring California's military bases remain intact.
Similar tasks forces were authorized in 1993 and 2004. The
current Department of Defense's Secretary Leon Panetta
co-chaired the California Council on Base Support and
Retention created by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2004.
Governor Wilson created the California Military Base Reuse
Task Force in 1993.
The 2005 base closure was done by the BRAC Commission
established by the U.S. Congress. In the end Congress had
to vote up or down on the list in its entirety without any
amendments.
Related/Prior legislation
SB 245 (Rubio, 2012) establishes the Office of Military
Support in the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
and sets forth its duties and authority with respect to
state and local defense retention and conversion. (Pending
in the Assembly)
AJR 12 (Gordon, Resolution Chapter 96, Statutes of 2005)
requests that Congress of the United States and the Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Commission to recognize that
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California's military installations possess critical
military value in a manner consistent with the
congressionally approved 2005 BRAC Closure and Realignment
Selection Criteria and to also examine additional specified
criteria for military base retention which recognizes the
unique military value of California's military
installation.
AJR 40 (Alby, Resolution Chapter 46, Statutes of 1995)
requests the President and Congress of the United States to
reject the entire base-closure list to be submitted on or
before July 1, 2995, by the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Commission and in consultation with the
Congress, to develop a more balanced policy with regards to
the security needs of the United States.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/25/12)
American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS-Department of California
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Regional Council of Rural Counties
Vietnam Veterans of America - California State Council
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The author states, "California's
military bases economically benefit the state by providing
much-needed jobs, as well as continued safety through their
strong national security presence. Additionally, many of
California's military bases perform tasks and trainings
that are exclusive to their base and thus extremely
important to our continued nations security. SJR 19 seeks
to transmit this information to the California
Congressional delegation so they are made aware of how
vitally important California's military bases are."
The Regional Council of Rural Counties states, "Military
bases located in small and rural areas provide and economic
anchor to these communities. The closure of a military
base can have a devastating impact on rural areas from the
loss of military and civilian jobs, to the significant
decline in student enrollment, and decrease of local tax
revenues."
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RM/DLW:do 4/27/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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