[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E1266]]

  CALIFORNIA HAS BORNE ITS SHARE OF BASE CLOSURES--EFA WEST SAN BRUNO 
                          SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 15, 1995
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
Commission will soon make its recommendations to the President on which 
military bases to close. The Commission has received testimony from 
hundreds of witnesses, has made countless site visits and will consider 
thousands of pages of data on the effect of base closings on our 
Nation's military readiness. In making its decisions it will be 
imperative that the Commission also take into consideration the 
economic impact of its decisions.
  In the case of a military facility in my congressional district, the 
Engineering Field Activity West in San Bruno, or EFA West, the Navy 
recommended not closing this facility because it was concerned about 
the economic impact of closure on the community. I believe that the 
Navy was correct in not slating EFA West for closure and I also believe 
that closing EFA West will have a disastrous effect on the Pentagon's 
ability to close bases already slated for closure.
  Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 13, 1995, I presented testimony before 
the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission on the issue of 
closing of additional military bases in California. In my testimony, I 
reminded the Commission that no State has borne the bulk of military 
base closures as California has and that previous rounds of base 
closures have turned out to be of tremendous adverse economic impact in 
California. I also explained to the Commission that EFA West's 
strategic location best serves military operations and that it is 
essential to the Pentagon that this installation and its personnel 
remain in San Bruno. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place my testimony in 
the Record.
    Statement of Congressman Tom Lantos, 12th District of California

       Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Commission for 
     the opportunity to say a few words on the critical issue of 
     base closures in California and particularly on the future of 
     the Engineering Field Activity West in San Bruno, California, 
     which is located in my Congressional district.
       Mr. Chairman, I share your deep commitment to a strong and 
     effective national defense. With the end of the Cold War and 
     the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is appropriate and 
     necessary that we reconsider and evaluate our defense 
     posture. At the same time, we must take into consideration 
     local impacts of these base closure decisions. There will be 
     pain from the realignment of our military facilities, but 
     that pain should be proportionately shared and spread among 
     all regions of our nation and among all of our states.
       Mr. Chairman, I have very serious concerns about the effect 
     of base closures upon California's economy--particularly 
     since our state has sustained a disproportionate number of 
     job losses stemming from military base closures. As a result 
     of base closures in 1988, 1991, and 1993, California has 
     suffered 69% of the nation's base closure job losses. 
     California will suffer even more job losses as a result of 
     possible base closures projected for this year. Future base 
     closings must take into consideration the effect on the local 
     economy, as well as the effect on our nation's military 
     readiness.
       I have serious concerns about the substantial impact base 
     closures will have on the families of thousands of California 
     workers who will lose their jobs. I am concerned about the 
     impact that closing more bases will have on California 
     communities. Clearly, the citizens of our state should not be 
     asked to suffer additional hardship and dislocation from 
     additional base closures. I urge you to take into account the 
     devastating effects that previous base closures have already 
     had on California's economy as you consider further base 
     closures for our state.
       Mr. Chairman and Members of the Commission, I am 
     particularly concerned about the possible closure and 
     realignment of the Navy's Engineering Field Activity, which 
     is located in San Bruno, California. Moving personnel from 
     San Bruno to San Diego or another location will have a 
     disastrous effect on the Pentagon's ability to close bases 
     already slated for closure and will slow the process of 
     closing new bases.
       As you know, the Engineering Field Activity West (EFA West) 
     is responsible for assisting in the closing of the following 
     facilities that have been previously scheduled to close: Mare 
     Island, Alameda Naval Air Station, Treasure Island, Hunter's 
     Point, Skaggs Island, Moffet Field and Oakland Naval 
     Hospital. It is my understanding that EFA West's base closure 
     activities require continuous contact with local public 
     officials, the public and regulatory agencies in San 
     Francisco. When you consider the monumental task the Pentagon 
     must undertake in closing bases and in working with the 
     affected communities and contractors, it is absolutely clear 
     that the functions of EFA West--which includes important 
     environmental cleanup and property disposition expertise--
     require a local presence. This is a key function that cannot 
     be handled effectively or efficiently from hundreds of miles 
     away.
       Since 1988, the federal government has ordered 70 bases 
     closed--21 of them or almost one-third of the bases are in 
     California. In the effort to close these bases, military 
     officials have run into problems with environmental cleanup 
     and the disposition of property. Problems were inevitable, 
     but they have contributed to substantial time delays and 
     higher cost in closing these bases.
       When you begin your deliberations on presenting a list of 
     bases for closure to the President, I believe that you must 
     take into account whether it is in the best interest of the 
     military and the taxpayer to close EFA West, when EFA West's 
     central mission is to provide the technical support and 
     expertise in environmental cleanup and the disposition of 
     property necessary for the closing of other bases. Clearly, 
     if Northern California is to be affected by even more base 
     closures in this current round of downsizing, EFA West's 
     strategic Northern California location and its expertise will 
     be even more essential to the military and affected 
     communities in ensuring that base closures will be achieved 
     in the most cost effective and efficient manner.
       Mr. Chairman and Members of the Commission. EFA West has a 
     dedicated and committed staff of experienced personnel and 
     unique and thorough knowledge in their respective fields. 
     Closing that facility could well deny to the federal 
     government the critical expertise which these dedicated and 
     hardworking employees bring. If EFA West is closed, most of 
     these employees will not be willing to relocate out of the 
     Bay Area--they have strong ties to their communities and to 
     their families, neighbors and friends. If these dedicated 
     workers are lost, the Navy will have to expend considerable 
     time and expense in finding replacement workers and training 
     them in order to continue EFA West's critical mission, which 
     must be maintained to complete base closures elsewhere.
       Lastly, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Commission, the 
     Secretary of the Navy, John Dalton, testified before you in 
     March of this year, that the Navy had decided not to place 
     EFA West on its list of recommendations for closure because 
     it was concerned about the impact on the local economy. The 
     Navy was absolutely correct in considering economic impact 
     when it decided it was necessary to keep EFA West open.
       More importantly, however, EFA West's San Bruno location 
     strengthens the military's ability to serve the needs of our 
     region. EFA West's strategic location in San Bruno best 
     serves military operations. It is essential for this 
     installation to remain open to fulfill the responsibilities 
     of base closure and base realignment. When you submit your 
     recommendations for base closure or realignment to the 
     President, I urge you NOT to place EFA West on your base 
     closure list.
       Thank you very much.
       

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