July 18, 2005

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger testified today before the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission concerning the military significance of California's bases and the Department of Defense's BRAC recommendations. Governor Schwarzenegger was followed by testimony from California Council on Base Support and Retention co-chairs Leon Panetta and Donna Tuttle. The text of the Governor's remarks follows below.

Time:   1 p.m.
Date:   Thursday, July 14, 2005
Event:  BRAC Commission Los Angeles Regional Hearing, Westchester High School, Los Angeles, CA

As Prepared:

Thank you very much. 

I am very happy to participate in this hearing today, and I want to thank the members of the BRAC Commission for coming to our state and giving us the opportunity to talk with you about the military significance of our bases here in California.

I would also like to thank everyone here today, including those speaking on behalf of their base communities, and of course everyone who has worked so hard for California throughout the BRAC process, including Leon Panetta, Donna Tuttle and the members of my California Council on Base Support and Retention; the members of our California congressional delegation; and all the other state and local officials who have come together as a bipartisan, unified team to make it clear what California's military bases mean for the nation.

This is what we set out to do from the start - to bring all the parties together in this effort. 

And our California Council did a tremendous job under the leadership of Leon and Donna.

One important product the Council developed was a comprehensive report on all California bases and their military value to the nation, and I would like to ask the Commission to accept this report as part of my testimony today.

The BRAC list from the Department of Defense is good news for California and the country, and it shows that Washington understands what we have known all along - that our bases have unique advantages that make them essential to our national defense and homeland security.

I can tell you, this is something I have learned over the years, visiting our bases here and around the world.

I have met with our troops at places like Camp Pendleton and Fort Irwin, and learned about how they train for combat in realistic conditions here in California that cannot be duplicated anywhere else.

And I have met with our troops in far away places like Iraq and Kuwait, and learned how they have used that training that they got right here in California, to defend America.

I have visited installations like Los Angeles Air Force Base, where brilliant minds developed the famous Global Positioning System, or GPS - and where today they continue to develop leading-edge technology, including the satellite technology that is critical to our national security.

And throughout our state, I have seen a military infrastructure uniquely positioned to accommodate joint operations; to surge forces rapidly and effectively; and to further the transformation of our nation's military, so we can master new capabilities and meet new threats.

So we are very proud of the strategic advantages in California that keep us at the tip of the spear of our nation's military capability.

Now, I know that one topic that always comes up as part of the BRAC process is the economic impact. 

As Governor, it is my job to always consider the effect of any action on our economy.

And certainly our state's economy has taken big hits after previous BRAC rounds, when California absorbed 30 percent of all base closures and realignments nationwide.

But today, even though we don't want to lose a single job - no state does - we are pleased that the impact of the current plan on our economy is far less than it has been in the past.

We also know that in any event, there is a larger purpose served by the BRAC process, especially in the post 9/11 world - and that is the security, and future military capability of our nation.

And in fact, we have believed from the start that the criteria established for this BRAC round emphasizes more than ever why we need the bases, the training, and the technology that California provides.  And also - the ability to take full advantage of California's location in the Asia-Pacific Theater, where so many of our future threats and strategic challenges are located.

What we know today, and what the Defense Department has recognized, is this: For the good of our nation's security - the bases that are here, should stay here.

I also want to say that we appreciate the difficult job your Commission has over the next several weeks. 

You have a lot to consider and many tough decisions to make. 

And I am sure you are hearing strong testimony everywhere across the country. 

We are no different.  We feel strongly about our bases, and I know that today you will also hear from some base communities that do not agree with the Defense Department's military assessment.

I urge you to listen to them, and give their arguments serious consideration.

Thank you again for giving us this opportunity, and I look forward to continuing the dialogue with you and our leaders in Washington through the remainder of the BRAC process. 

Thank you.

Back to BRAC

Back to the top