BILL ANALYSIS �
SJR 19
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 14, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
SJR 19 (Strickland) - As Amended: April 19, 2012
SENATE VOTE : 35-0
SUBJECT : Military base closures
SUMMARY : This measure urges the California delegates of
Congress to protect California military bases from closure
during upcoming base realignment and closure processes.
Specifically, this bill resolves:
1. That the Legislature urges the California delegates of
Congress to protect California military bases during
upcoming base realignment and closure processes;
2. That California military bases are a vital part of our
national security, particularly with California's proximity
to the unrest in Asia; and
3. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit
copies of this resolution to the President and Vice
President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate,
to the minority leader of each house, and to each Senator
and Representative from California in the Congress of the
United States.
EXISTING LAW
10 U.S. code section 2687 discusses the Base Realignment and
Closure (BRAC) process. No base (as defined) may be closed or
realigned unless and until:
The Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the military
department concerned notifies the Committee on Armed
Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services
of the House of Representatives, as part of an annual
request for authorization of appropriations to such
Committees, of the proposed closing or realignment and
submits with the notification
SJR 19
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(A) an evaluation of the fiscal, local economic,
budgetary, environmental, strategic, and operational
consequences of such closure or realignment; and
(B) the criteria used to consider and recommend
military installations for such closure or
realignment.
FISCAL EFFECT : This measure is not keyed fiscal.
COMMENTS : Defense Secretary Leon Panetta included in the
Department of Defense annual request for authorization a request
for BRAC in 2013 and 2015. However, the House and Senate Armed
Services committees rejected a new base-closing round in their
versions of the annual defense authorization bill for next year.
In addition, "It's now clear obviously there will not be a
round of BRAC authorized" in 2013, Panetta said in a speech to
the Association of Defense Communities in Monterey, California.
Therefore it seems unlikely that BRAC will occur in 2013.
However, past rounds of BRAC had huge impacts on California.
Total net DoD personnel cuts from the four BRAC Rounds in 1988,
1991, 1993, and 1995 for all U.S. states except California were
80,373; California lost 93,546. In those four rounds,
California absorbed 54 percent of the nation's overall personnel
cuts and lost nearly 30 major bases. In the 2005 round, over
forty bases/installations and facilities were affected in the
State.
Though BRAC seems unlikely to happen in 2013, it was requested
by the DoD, and the NDAA versions thus far do not affect the
possibility of BRAC after 2013. DoD's presence in California
offers unique strategic military benefits to the Nation,
particularly in light of the military's new focus on the Pacific
region. Furthermore, DoD in 2009 spent approximately 56 billion
dollars in California. Its contribution to the California
economy continues to be extremely important. For all of the
foregoing reasons, sending a strong message and taking a
position of vigilance and concern about BRAC now is wise.
Suggestions for amendment: The bases selected demonstrate the
strategic importance of California, however, the author might
consider highlighting those bases most in danger of closure for
maximum impact instead of choosing a sampling based on armed
service representation.
SJR 19
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RELATED LEGISLATION:
AB 342 (Atkins, 2011)- Office of Planning and Research (OPR)-
States that the OPR shall serve as the state's liaison to the
DoD, particularly with regard to any proposed BRAC actions. In
particular the OPR shall "?develop any necessary regional or
stateside strategies necessary for the establishment and
retention of the state's military facilities and installations
that are potentially impacted by any proposed federal Base
Realignment and Closure actions."
SJR 24 (Harman, 2012)- Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. This
bill urges California Congressional delegates to protect Naval
Weapons Station Seal Beach from closure.
SJR 25 (Harman, 2012)- Los Alamitos Joint Training Base. This
bill urges California Congressional delegates to protect Los
Alamitos Joint Training Base from closure.
SJR 26 (Vargas, 2012)- Naval Air Facility El Centro. This bill
urges California Congressional delegates to protect Naval Air
Facility El Centro from closure.
SJR 28 (Emmerson, 2012)- Department of Defense Budget Cuts-
Opposes the budget proposed by the United States Air Force.
AJR 42 (Nestande, 2012)- Department of Defense Budget Cuts.
Opposes the budget proposed by the United States Air Force.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550