Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 40
CHAPTER 46
Relative to military base closures.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
June 30, 1995.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 40, Alby.
Military base closures.
The measure would memorialize the President and Congress of the United States to reject the entire base-closure list to be submitted on or before July 1, 1995, by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The measure would further memorialize the President, in consultation with the Congress, to develop a more balanced policy with regard to the security needs of the United States.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The most recent base closure and realignment recommendations forwarded to the President by the federally-appointed Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission now include an additional 20 California defense facilities; and
WHEREAS, Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan led the charge in rebuilding American’s defenses in the 20th Century and in practicing a policy of “peace through strength”; and
WHEREAS, The fruits of this policy were realized with the collapse of the Soviet empire, America’s victory in the Cold War, and the military’s stunning victory in the Persian Gulf War; and
WHEREAS, Americans have a profound respect for the men and women of the United States military who faithfully serve the country; and
WHEREAS, We believe that, if the men and women of the military are sent into harm’s way, they must be equipped with whatever is necessary to ensure their safety and to get the job done; and
WHEREAS, The world remains a dangerous place, with military involvements recently in Iraq, Haiti, and now Bosnia, and the maintenance of our defenses should be a top priority; and
WHEREAS, Downsizing and streamlining military operations are important goals—but only as long as the security of the United States is not compromised; and
WHEREAS, The bases in California, especially McClellan Air Force Base and the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, are vital national assets on the Pacific Rim; and
WHEREAS, It was recently learned that technology from McClellan Air Force Base was used in the rescue of downed Air Force pilot Scott O’Grady in Bosnia; and
WHEREAS, The radio beacon and transmitter, as well as the E3A AWACS aircraft equipment and radio communication system used by O’Grady and his rescuers, were repaired and serviced at McClellan Air Force Base; and
WHEREAS, California has been forced to endure up to 50 percent of all national economic impact from base closures; and
WHEREAS, The closure of these California facilities would represent direct and indirect job losses of up to 46,000 jobs, and since the California economy is highly reliant upon the high technology associated with national defense expenditures, these closures will only exacerbate that devastation; and
WHEREAS, The California economy, already suffering from the strain of previous base closures, would be further injured by these additional closures, which would represent the loss of an estimated additional $10,200,000,000 in annual income; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California memorializes the President of the United States and the United States Congress to reject the entire base-closure list to be submitted on or before July 1, 1995, by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission; and be it further
Resolved, That the President, in consultation with the Congress, is urged to develop a more balanced policy with regard to the security needs of the United States; and be it further
Resolved, That a more balanced national security policy should take into consideration the strong military strategic concerns of the United States Defense Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.