[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11921-S11922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN:
  S. 1924. A bill to strengthen civil-military relationships by 
permitting State and local governments to enter into lease purchase 
agreements with the United States Armed Forces; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I have often said here on the floor of the 
Senate that by working together, we in America can build a better 
future for all of us. Rather than limit our potential with an every-
man-for-himself philosophy, we should find ways to work together. 
Anyone who has ever played sports can recall their coach's 
encouragement to use teamwork. That was good advice for athletics and 
it's a good idea in public policy too. America could use a little bit 
more of a teamwork society.
  Today I rise to introduce the Base and Community Lease-Purchase 
Expansion Act. The purpose of this bill is to provide more opportunity 
for military bases to enter into cooperative agreements with the 
governments of the communities in which they are located.
  One of the options available to the military for obtaining the 
facilities and office space it needs is the lease-purchase agreement. 
In this sort of arrangement, the military service contracts with an 
entity that agrees to construct a building on military land. The 
military then makes lease payments over a term of several years. At the 
end of that term the building becomes the property of the government. 
Current law says that the military services may enter into an agreement 
such as this only with a ``private contractor.''
  The bill I offer today expands the range of entities with which the 
military can enter into these agreements so that the door can be opened 
to cooperative lease-purchase arrangements between the military and 
governments at the local and State level.
  We know from the recent round of base closures and realignments that 
communities across the Nation are closely connected to the military 
installations situated nearby. The health and prosperity of one has a 
direct effect on the health and prosperity of the other. It is only 
prudent to allow the two to work together when it will benefit both the 
base and the community to do so. And what more stable partner could a 
military base have than the local government that welcomes its presence 
and role in the local community?
  In my own State of Illinois, for example, we are very proud to be 
host to

[[Page S11922]]

Scott Air Force Base, home to the United States Transportation Command, 
the Air Force's Air Mobility Command, and some tireless flying units 
that move troops and materials all over the world in defense of our 
Nation. St. Clair County, where Scott Air Force Base is located, has 
for some time been willing to discuss with the Air Force the idea of 
working together on a lease-purchase agreement. That idea cannot get 
off the ground; much less take flight, however, so long as the current 
law strictly limits such agreements to private contractors.
  This is just one example from my own State of Illinois. I expect 
there may be other military installations and their neighboring 
jurisdictions that also might like to work together in a similar 
fashion. The Base and Community Lease-Purchase Expansion Act which I 
introduce today will help open the door to that sort of teamwork.
  America is strongest when the military and civilian parts of our 
society work together in partnership on projects of mutual benefit. To 
that end we must work to reduce barriers and seize opportunities to 
foster cooperation between military installations and the states and 
local jurisdictions in which they are located. In so doing, we lay the 
foundation for mutual understanding, a strong military and enduring 
communities.

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