"Be Ready To Line The Streets To Express Support When BRAC Visits Our Base"
Senator Cathy Cook, R-Groton, today participated in a round table discussion with top state officials, representatives of Governor M. Jodi Rell's office, legislators from all corners of the state, and military personnel, along with business, labor and community leaders determined to do whatever it takes to get the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton removed from the list of recommended closures announced Friday.
"We know that proof of our military value, not our state's economic concerns, is what will convince the federal government to preserve our submarine base. We have to show them the facts they missed when they drew up their list of recommendations. We have to be ready to fight, to do whatever it takes to convince BRAC, the President and Congress that it would be a mistake for them to close the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton. Having said that, it is still crucially important that the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) knows that our state is committed to keeping our base. They have to see people wearing t-shirts and waving posters when they drive into town. All of us, Electric Boat workers, community businesses that rely on the base of customers, families, state officials, lawmakers, every single one of us has to work together. The country has to see us working together because this is a fight we cannot lose," said Senator Cook.
Senator Cook said that she, Connecticut's Congressional delegation, Governor Rell, state legislators, business, labor and community leaders are prepared to present a united front. Early in the meeting, Senator Cook distributed packets of information, including an economic impact analysis, a military value handbook, the BRAC timeline for making decisions, a list of subcontractors to Electric Boat and a list of links to useful websites.
"Our experts are combing through all the information from the Pentagon. We believe there are missing pieces and inaccurate information in the report. We will be highlighting those errors. We are also considering some other things we might be able to do convince BRAC of our military value to the nation, such as possibly dredging the Thames River so we can homeport Trident submarines. Right now, making our case and preparing ourselves to fight are the most important things we can do," said Senator Cook.
Members of the BRAC Commission will visit each base recommended for closure between now and the end of July and conduct regional hearings across the nation. The commission will begin deliberations in August. The deadline for BRAC to make is recommendations to the President is September 8 th . The President has until September 23 rd to accept or reject the entire list, or ask BRAC to reconsider its recommendations. If the President rejects the list, BRAC has until October 20 th to present him with a new one. The deadline for the President to submit an approved list of recommendations to Congress is November 7 th . The recommendations will then become law in 45 legislative days unless Congress passes a joint resolution rejecting the entire list. |
