Photos: BRAC Report | Marine Delivers Report
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray today commended a recommendation by the Pentagon that all of Washington state’s military bases should remain operational. Murray, who is a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations Subcommittee, has been a strong and consistent advocate for Washington state bases throughout her service in the Senate. Senator Murray helped secure over $1.3 billion in funding for Washington’s military bases in fiscal years 1998-2005.
“Overall, today’s recommendation by the Department of Defense to protect bases across Washington state is a tribute to the strength of our installations and the commitment of our communities. I am proud that our state – from local businesses to our state government and Congressional delegation stood united and spoke with one voice in support of our military bases.
The BRAC recommendation list reflects what those of us in Washington state have known all along – all of our bases are strategically important to our nation’s security and our ability to project force worldwide. Our bases work together like a family – supporting each other and helping each other carry out their missions. They are all interconnected.
Our soldiers at Fort Lewis rely on the airplanes at McChord to get overseas. Our planes at McChord rely on the tankers at Fairchild for refueling. Our air assets at Whidbey support the missions at Everett and Bangor and all of our bases depend on the force projection that comes from our carriers in the Puget Sound.
Today’s list also includes reorganization recommendations that will impact our state. We will work together to minimize the effect on our military, local communities and businesses.
We will also work to ensure that the future use of these military assets will benefit the communities that have supported them for so long.
Today’s recommendations paint a positive picture of the military partnership with our state, one which will bring new assets and additional missions well into the future. But this process isn’t over. We can’t declare victory today.
Over the next several months we must continue to work together to ensure that the BRAC Commission agrees with the Pentagon’s assessment of our bases.
We have all worked together, year after year, to keep our facilities modern and to ensure that our soldiers have all the resources and support they need. Now we must redouble our efforts to support and advocate for our bases which mean so much to our national defense and the strength and growth of our communities.
I applaud the initiative of our state legislature, led by Governor Gregoire, to make critical investments in our bases and bolster them well into the future. I will continue to work on the federal level to provide our bases and soldiers with the support they need to prepare for their critical missions.
On land, in the air and at sea, Washington state’s military operations are contributing to the strength and defense of our nation. Today’s recommendations prove that our state has the assets and geography to provide the best possible home and training environment for our Armed Forces well into the future.”
Timeline of Senator Murray’s work to support and modernize our bases follows:
Working to Support & Modernize Washington’s Military Bases
– Timeline –
Note: Senator Murray helped secure $1,382,468,000 in funding for Washington’s military bases from FY 1998-2005.
9/17/1997: Senator Murray secures more than $145 million to modernize and improve Washington state military facilities in the FY 1998 budget.
9/1/1998: As Ranking Member of the Senate MilitaryConstruction Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secures more than $178 million to modernize and improve Washington state military facilities in the FY 1999 budget.
8/3/1999: As Ranking Member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secures more than $125 million in military construction funding for Washington state’s military bases for Fiscal Year.
6/30/2000: As Ranking Member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secures more than $128 million in military construction funding for Washington state’s military bases for Fiscal Year 2001.
9/25/2001: As a member of the Senate Appropriation Committee, Senator Murray secures $239 million for Washington state’s military bases in the FY 2002 military construction bill.
2/20/2002: Senator Murray visits Fairchild AFB to view tankers and meet with families of deployed service members. (Spokane, WA)
3/6/2002: Senator Murray meets with City of Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen, Commissioner Mac McDowell, and retired Rear Admiral Jim Seely to discuss Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey and BRAC. (Washington, D.C.)
12/17/2002: Senator Murray visits the Everett Naval Station to meet with CO, Capt. Daniel Squires, and tour new projects. (Naval Station Everett)
3/25/2003: Senator Murray meets with representatives of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce to discuss Fairchild AFB and other issues. (Washington, D.C.)
6/18/2003: Senator Murray meets with Col. Randall Fullhart, Commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB, to discuss the base. (Washington, D.C.)
6/27/2003: As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray announces more than $269 million in military construction funding for Washington state’s military facilities for Fiscal Year 2003.
8/2003: Senator Murray’s legislative aide for defense visits McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis to discuss military construction needs with base commanders. He also discusses base-related issues (including BRAC) with the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce.
9/10/2003: Senator Murray meets with representatives of McChord AFB to get an update on the base. (Washington, D.C.)
11/5/2003: News reports indicate that the Pentagon is planning a new round of base closures. Senator Murray issues a statement on the value of Washington state’s military facilities.
11/12/2003: As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray announces more than $130 million in military construction funding for Washington state’s military bases for Fiscal Year 2004.
12/19/2003: Senator Murray meets with NAS Whidbey CO Captain Black to get an update on the base. Separately, Murray meets with Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen to discuss BRAC and other issues. (Oak Harbor, WA)
2/5/2004: Senator Murray meets with Snohomish Co. Executive Aaron Reardon to discuss BRAC and other issues. (Washington, D.C.)
3/04/2004: Senator Murray meets with Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen and Island County Commissioner Mac McDowell to discuss BRAC issues. (Washington, D.C.)
4/21/2004: Senator Murray meets with members of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce to discuss appropriations requests and Fairchild AFB. (Washington, D.C.)
6/3/2004 Senator Murray greets members of Fairchild AFB to discuss MILCON, Force structure, and community relations. (Washington, D.C.)
6/22/2004: Senator Murray meets with City of Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson to discuss BRAC and other issues. (Washington, D.C.)
7/14/2004: Senator Murray meets with McChord AFB to discuss MILCON, Force structure, and community relations. (Washington, D.C.)
7/22/2004: Senator Murray meets the new CO of Naval Station Everett, Capt. Eddie Gardiner. (Washington, D.C.)
8/2004: Senator Murray’s legislative aide for defense visits Naval Base Kitsap, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, and Naval Station Everett to talk with base commanders about their infrastructure needs. He also meets with local business and community leaders to discuss BRAC and other issues. These community meetings include the Puget Sound Naval Base Association, and mayors and leaders in Everett and Oak Harbor.
9/21/2004: Senator Murray announces $165 million in military construction funding for Washington state’s military bases for Fiscal Year 2005.
2/3/2005: Senator Murray meets with NAS Whidbey BRAC committee, Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen and Island County Commissioner Mac McDowell to discuss issues dealing with BRAC. (Washington, D.C.)
2/8/2005: Senator Murray meets with representatives from the City of Everett to discuss BRAC. Attendees include Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall, Everett City Council President Marian Krell, Port of Everett Commission President Jim Shaffer, Everett Chamber of Commerce Chair Steve Gilmore, Pat McClain of Everett, and retired Rear Admiral Jim Seely. (Washington, D.C.)
2/21/2005: Senator Murray speaks at a roundtable with Spokane leaders and discusses BRAC. (Spokane City Hall)
2/23/2005: Senator Murray and the Washington state Congressional delegation send Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld a report on the military value of the military installations in Washington state.
3/3/2005: Senator Murray is named to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.
3/8/2005: Senator Murray greets Col. Tony Mauer and Lt. Col. Michel Zumwalt of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing of Fairchild AFB. They discuss MILCON, Force Structure, and community relations. (Washington, D.C.)
4/1/2005: President Bush appoints the nine BRAC commissioners.
4/1/2005: Senator Murray speaks to the Everett Chamber of Commerce and discusses BRAC. (Everett)
4/1/2005: Senator Murray holds an economic development roundtable in Island County where she mentions BRAC. (Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce)
4/28/2005: Senator Murray, Governor Gregoire and the Washington state Congressional delegation send a letter to the BRAC Commissioners with a report on the military value of Washington state’s military facilities.
5/13/2005: Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld forwards the Pentagon’s base closure recommendations to the BRAC Commission.
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