BILL ANALYSIS �
SJR 19
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SJR 19 (Strickland)
As Amended April 19, 2012
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :35-0
VETERANS AFFAIRS 8-0
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|Ayes:|Cook, Pan, Atkins, Block, | | |
| |Gorell, | | |
| |V. Manuel P�rez, | | |
| |Williams, Yamada | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : This measure urges the California delegates of
Congress to protect California military bases from closure
during upcoming base realignment and closure (BRAC) 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.
3)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 BRAC process. No base
(as defined) may be closed or realigned unless and until:
1)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
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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:
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 : Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : Defense Secretary Leon Panetta included in the
Department of Defense (DoD) 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% of the nation's overall personnel cuts
and lost nearly 30 major bases. In the 2005 round, over 40
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 National Defense Authorization Act 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 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
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wise. The bases selected demonstrate the strategic importance
of California, however, they leave out many other vitally
important bases. The author might consider either a general
statement opposing closures highlighting those bases most in
danger of closure for maximum impact instead of choosing a
sampling based on armed service representation.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0004885