Sponsor Statement for HB 356

Joint Committee On Military Bases In Alaska

The Pentagon and the Secretary of Defense have recently stated that another round of Base Realignments and Closures are necessary for the United States Military to maintain its strength and rediness. In preperation of that I have introduced House Bill 356.

House Bill 356 would establish a Joint House and Senate Committee on Military Bases in Alaska. This committee would monitor the activities of a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, work to strengthen the military presence in Alaska and, in the case of a reauthorized BRAC process, work with the Military, the administration and the affected community to protect our bases from closure.

This joint committee will have an existence longer than that called for in the Uniform Rules, Rules 21 (b) & (c), because of the reactivation of the federal BRAC Commission. Creating this joint committee for longer than the duration of the current 20th legislature requires a change in statute, and cannot be done by means of a concurrent resolution, hence this bill. The joint committee would expire on the date the 22nd Legislature convenes. This time frame corresponds with the activity period of BRAC, which will again be reviewing all military facilities in North America for justification of their continued existence.

The attention by BRAC given to Alaska bases in the past presents a considerable challenge, and necessitates vigilance, and a strong unified response from the legislature. The military establishment in Alaska accounts for approximately $1.7 Billion throughout the Alaskan economy. In addition, the base closures experienced to date (Adak Naval Air Facility, Erickson AFB, Galena AFB, King Salmon AFB, and Fort Greely) have shown that the process requires considerable attention on the part of state government to monitor the economic impact and the reuse potential of such base closures. This joint committee would provide that critical focus.