BILL ANALYSIS �
AJR 52
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 27, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Sharon Quirk-Silva, Chair
AJR 52 (Linder) - As Introduced: August 7, 2014
SUBJECT : Military base realignment and closure: County of
Riverside.
SUMMARY : Declares that the Legislature joins the County of
Riverside in opposing base realignment and closure (BRAC)
affecting the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, and
March Air Reserve Base.
Specifically, this measure : Declares that the Assembly and the
Senate of the State of California join the County of Riverside
in opposing another round of BRAC affecting the Naval Surface
Warfare Center, Corona Division, and March Air Reserve Base.
EXISTING LAW The Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of
1990 (P.L. 101-510) provides the basic framework for the
transfer and disposal of military installations closed during
the BRAC process.
FISCAL EFFECT : This measure is not keyed fiscal.
COMMENTS : According to the author:
AJR 52 will join efforts from around the Inland Empire and
the County of Riverside's Office of Military and Defense
Services in their opposition to a proposed round of base
realignment and closure. The Naval Surface Warfare Center
and March Air Reserve Base are both assets to the Armed
Forces and both support the national security of the United
States. Combined, both bases currently generate over $1
billion dollars for local workers in the civilian and
military work forces. It is important to continue to
maintain these bases in Riverside County.
In March of 2013, in an effort to protect and expand the
military's vital role in national security and California's
economy, Governor Brown established the Governor's Military
Council (Council) and appointed former Congresswoman and Under
Secretary of State Ellen Tauscher as chair. According to Chair
Tauscher of the Council,
AJR 52
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According to the Council:
California is home to 29 federal military installations and
the Department of Defense (DOD) directly employs more than
236,000 people in California. California receives close to
$60 billion of the DOD's direct expenditures. The
Governor's Military Council will work to protect
California's military installations and operations amid
ongoing Department of Defense budget cuts, and leverage
changes in federal military strategy to position the state
to continue innovation and leadership in its military
mission.
"California's military infrastructure is critically
important to national security," Tauscher said. "The
Council will send a unified message to Washington, D.C.,
that highlights the value of our military bases. ? The
development and articulation of a unified narrative on the
military and California is critical to shaping these
[defense] budget decisions."
The White House called for two new BRAC rounds to occur in 2013.
However both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees
produced 2013 spending bills that did not include the
administration's request to establish a BRAC in 2013. The
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014
specifically prohibits authorization of future BRAC rounds:
No future Base Realignment and Closure round for military
installations within the United Sates, its commonwealths,
territories, and possessions for realignment or closure
shall be authorized until, at the very earliest, the
Department of Defense has completed and submitted to
Congress a formal review of the overseas military facility
structure, which incorporates overseas basing
consolidations, an assessment of the need for bases to
support overseas contingency operations, and the Department
of Defense's Strategic Choices and Management Review.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced earlier this year that
there would be no BRAC in 2015 or 2016, but that another was
being planned for 2017.
Policy Questions for Members:
AJR 52
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Unified Narrative : In an effort to send a unified California
narrative to Congress and the White House and in alignment with
the goals of the Council, should this measure not take a broader
position, stating the crucial importance of the Department of
Defense installations throughout California, not just the Naval
Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division and March Air Reserve
Base?
Timing : As evidenced by the formation and work of the Council,
it is not too early to oppose and prepare for BRAC. However, as
no BRAC appears likely until 2017 or after, is this the best
time for the State to take a position and have it achieve
maximum impact?
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Office of Military and Defense Services, County of Riverside
City of Banning
City of Corona
City of Cathedral City
City of Murrieta
City of Indio
City of Eastvale
City of Jurupa
City of Palm Desert
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : John J. Spangler / V. A. / (916)
319-3550