MINUTES
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
3:00 p.m. or upon adjournment
Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Veteran Affairs & Military
Installations Committee was held on Wednesday, April 4, 2001, in
the Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin,
Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos Truan Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
*****
Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. The
Committee Clerk called the roll, and there being a quorum
present, the following business was transacted:
Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the minutes from the
previous hearings held on March 28, 2001, and April 2, 2001;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Truan welcomed guest speakers to the Committee's
briefing on Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC) process.
Invited guest speaker, Mr. J.J. Gertler, a former senior analyst
for the 1995 Base Realignment and Closures Commission, testified
on the BRAC process. Mr. Gertler stated each branch of service
makes a list of military bases, according to criteria
established by the Department of Defense, that the service
believes are excess to its needs and submits those
recommendations to the Secretary of Defense. It is important
for each military base to never be on that list to avoid
possible closure or realignment. The BRAC Commission reviews
the lists to ensure each service formed the recommendations for
closure or realignment according to the Department of Defense's
criteria. The BRAC Commission may then approve, reject, or
modify the list; Mr. Gertler noted that 85% of the time, the
BRAC Commission accepts the list as submitted. When the
Department of Defense outlines the scoring criteria, that
document may be used preliminarily to judge the possible future
of a base.
Mr. Gertler then testified on previous BRAC scoring criteria.
He stated the importance of each base having something unique,
such as great flying weather, which cannot be replicated at
other bases. Construction may be replicated if savings outweigh
the long term costs. Mr. Gertler noted state investments are
only important when it reduces federal costs. The economic
impact factor is weighed by the percentage of jobs lost in a
community, not other economic activity. Mr. Gertler then noted
that the 8 member BRAC Commission has 2 appointments by the
President, 2 by the Speaker of the House, 2 by the Majority
Leader in the Senate, and 1 by the Minority Leader in both the
House and the Senate; the makeup of the BRAC Commission
according to Mr. Gertler, therefore, is diverse and is less
likely to be influenced by politics.
Mr. Gertler stated BRAC rounds are more likely to occur now for
4 reasons: (1) Since 1995, the Department of Defense has counted
on BRAC savings in determining budget requests. Money has been
taken from other programs to cover costs since BRAC rounds have
not occurred. (2) There have been 3 elections since 1995 and
many new members have not experienced BRAC results before and
are open to the idea. (3) The 1995 adjustments, which take 6
years to complete, are finished. (4) It was determined that
additional BRAC rounds would not occur while President Clinton
was in office.
Invited guest speaker, Mr. Richard Hall, Executive Director of
the Red River Redevelopment Authority, testified on the BRAC
process. He stated the services take the criteria outlined by
the Department of Defense and assign each one a value, then the
service uses a "COBRA" mathematical model and runs the values
until the desired result is achieved. The "COBRA," which stands
for Cost of Base Realignment Actions, model is not pure. Mr.
Hall agreed with Mr. Gertler that it is best not to get on the
list. The BRAC Commission may add bases to the recommendations
for closures from each service, so it is best to submit an
accurate list.
Mr. Gertler and Mr. Hall testified that each state may make
specific investments, such as infrastructure to effect the
scoring criteria of operational readiness, to reduce the chance
of closure. Mr. Gertler and Mr. Hall also made mention that
local municipalities may effect the chance of closure with
decisions such as zoning.
Chairman Truan invited Dr. Charles Hines, Chairman, and Mr.
Robert Tokerud, Commissioner, from the Texas Strategic Military
Planning Commission, James Christoferson, Director of the Office
of Defense Affairs, and William Ehrie, President, Dick
Messbarger, Member, and Gary Bushell, Member, from the Texas
Defense, Aviation, and Aerospace Alliance to testify on BRAC and
military installations in Texas.
Mr. Robert Tokerud stated Texas can be friendly to the military
by making "quality of life" issues a top priority and Texas can
make improvements such as infrastructure. Mr. Tokerud noted the
improvements are needed now, not in 2003 or 2005 when BRAC
rounds will have already started. Mr. Tokerud also stressed the
importance of hiring additional staff to work in Washington DC
to keep up-to-date information on current decisions.
Mr. William Ehrie stated although information may be gathered
from looking at previous scoring criteria, military
installations need to look to the future and plan for new
technologies being developed which will effect that criteria.
Texas needs to protect the land, sea, and air used by the
military for training from encroachment and look at requirements
for new technology. Mr. Ehrie noted that the BRAC Commission
can make independent actions outside of the recommendations for
closure or realignment by each service. Mr. Ehrie agreed with
Mr. Tokerud that Texas needs additional staff in Washington DC.
Mr. Dick Messbarger stated most of the work to protect a
military base is done before the list of recommendations on
closures and realignment is created. Mr. Messbarger also noted
the unique characteristic of the best flying weather and largest
unencumbered airspace in Kingsville, Texas.
Mr. Gary Bushell stated Texas has made many commitments to the
military such as the creation of the Texas Strategic Military
Planning Commission, the Office of Defense Affairs, and the
Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee. Mr.
Bushell noted the good legislation coming out of the Committee
and how the legislation was addressing the concerns of what
Texas can do to prepare. He then noted Texas can work with
Louisiana on highway development to quickly deploy troops
through Texas strategic ports.
Dr. Charles Hines agreed that it is best not to get on the list
of recommendations for closure or realignment and noted
additional staff in Washington DC would help on obtaining
current information. Dr. Hines noted Texas must stay on its
toes and keep collecting data regarding military installations
and the BRAC process. Mr. Christoferson noted the importance of
the Committee in collecting that data.
Chairman Truan moved that the committee stand recessed; without
objection, it was so ordered. At 5:29 p.m. the committee
reconvened.
Chairman Truan invited Mr. Tullos Wells, former Chairman of the
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Bob Rasmussen,
Deputy Director of the Greater Kelly Development Authority, and
Manuel Longoria, Assistant Director of Economic Development for
the City of San Antonio, and Brendan Godfrey, Deputy Director of
Brooks Air Force Base to testify on the effects of BRAC after
closure.
Senator Truan moved that the committee stand recessed; without
objection, it was so ordered. At 5:50 p.m. the committee
reconvened.
Mr. Tullos Wells stated before the 1995 BRAC rounds, Kelly Air
Force Base provided $11 billion to the San Antonio economy and
23% of jobs were related to defense. Today, only $1.2 billion
of San Antonio's economy and 8% of jobs are related to defense.
Although growth has occurred in other areas, San Antonio has a
net loss of over 10,000 jobs. Mr. Wells noted politics occur at
two levels during the BRAC process, at the Department of Defense
level and during the selection of the BRAC Commissioners. The
selection of BRAC Commissioners is most important to ensure
Texas has a strong voice during the review of recommendations on
base closures and realignments from each service. Mr. Wells
stated there are 3 necessities to being prepared for BRAC, time
to prepare, opportunity and support of service, and
infrastructure. The Office of Defense Affairs is very critical
to Texas during the BRAC process, especially in identifying
missions to attract to Texas military installations. Mr. Wells
thanked Chairman Truan and the Committee for its work on
highlighting these issues.
Mr. Bob Rasmussen stated San Antonio has had success in the use
of space and replacement of most jobs lost due to Kelly's
closure. Grants from the Texas Department of Economic
Development and support from the Texas Legislature and the City
of San Antonio have helped in the redevelopment of Kelly, but
many buildings at Kelly U.S.A. are in atrophy and in need of
major repairs. Chairman Truan noted additional funding was
sought during the 76th Legislative Session, but funding was not
available. Boeing has also helped with funding to make upgrades
to Kelly facilities necessary to operate commercial companies.
Mr. Rasmussen stated Texas needs to remain competitive and on
its toes during the upcoming BRAC process. Chairman Truan noted
that Kelly is the first base of its size to experience a closure
and had no model with which to compare. Senator Van de Putte
pointed out that the community of San Antonio really came
together to support Kelly. Chairman Truan asked about
developments in the cleanup process at Kelly. Mr. Rasmussen
noted the Air Force should have a new report out detailing
procedures and a time line for cleanup.
Mr. Manuel Longoria outlined a "city-base" concept being
considered for Brooks Air Force Base, the first in the nation.
The strategy of this concept is to reduce federal cost and avoid
future closure. Chairman Truan stated SB 1214 by Senator Madla
recently passed out of the Committee and gave the statutory
authority to implement the "city-base" concept. Zoning
encroachment issues have risen around Fort Sam Houston and Camp
Bullis. Mr. Longoria noted that the Director of Planning for
the City of San Antonio and the base commanders are working
together to address these concerns. Mr. Longoria also pointed
out the heavy activity at Camp Bullis, a medical training
facility and hospital, in San Antonio.
Mr. Brendan Godfrey noted Camp Bullis has a wide range of
activity including exercises by Brooks Air Force Base with live
ammunition. Mr. Godfrey also noted the "city-base" concept is
important and thanked Chairman Truan and the Committee for
passage of SB 1214. One of the primary missions of Brooks Air
Force Base and Fort Sam Houston is the development of new
medical technology, so the military works closely with Texas
colleges and universities. Officials with the Air Force and the
City of San Antonio are considering converting Brooks into a
research and technology park with the Air Force remaining as an
active tenant.
Chairman Truan thanked the invited guests for their testimony
and making the briefing a success.
There being no further business, at 6:31 p.m. Senator Truan
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair
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Rhonda Pointer, Clerk