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BISHOP RESPONDS TO DOD BRAC ANNOUNCEMENT

August 20, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, as well as Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, released the following statement today concerning the U.S. Department of Defense’s decision not to close any domestic military bases in fiscal year 2013.

“I am pleased with Defense Secretary [Leon] Panetta’s announcement regarding the proposed round of BRAC for the next fiscal year,” said Congressman Bishop. “It is great news not only for Fort Benning, the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Robins Air Force Base, and other bases in Georgia, but for service members and their families throughout the entire state. I look forward to continuing my work with my colleagues in the Georgia Congressional Delegation, Governor Deal, and the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee [GMACC] in strengthening our bases in Georgia.”

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) serves to strategically downsize the physical infrastructure of the United States military both stateside and abroad. While previous rounds of BRAC have cut DOD expenditures, the process shifts military families and threatens thousands of jobs within supporting communities surrounding the closing bases. In June, Congressman Sanford Bishop attended a bi-partisan roundtable with GMACC, military leadership, and representatives from Governor Deal’s office to discuss and prepare for the potential impact of BRAC on Georgia. The Department of Defense has announced that another round of base realignment and closure will be revisited in 2015 after the economy has fully recovered if it is approved by Congress.