BRAC Decisions Bring Jubilation And Disappointment To Maine
When the Pentagon's BRAC recommendations were first made back in May, it was immediately apparent that Maine and all of New England faced a daunting task. Since that time, we – all of us, throughout the state and the region, from large cities and small towns, from political and business leaders to individual citizens – joined hands to build strong arguments for our bases. We built our arguments on facts and in the best interest not just of our state or our region, but of our nation.
To a remarkable extent, we succeeded. The BRAC Commission's vote to preserve Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a testament to the skills and talents of the shipyard workers who have made this submarine yard the most efficient in the nation. And the Commission''s vote also is a testament to the Kittery community, to the thousands who turned out in their yellow t-shirts and their banners to show their support for the base. Several of the Commissioners commented to us that the community''s support for the shipyard was among the strongest demonstrations of support for a local base that they saw throughout the nation. BRAC Commission Chairman Anthony Principi said it best when he called Portsmouth the "gold standard." That standard was set not only by the dedicated men and women of PSNY, but also by their supporters across the region.
We knew all along we had a strong argument for the Defense Finance and Accounting System center at Limestone. The Commission's decision to keep DFAS Limestone open and to expand it from 360 employees to at least 600 is proof. As at Portsmouth, a dedicated, extremely efficient workforce and a relentless community effort were key. I commend Carl Flora, the President of the Loring Development Authority, and all the other members of the Grow DFAS community group for their tireless effort. As a result, the Limestone Center can continue its vital role of growing and strengthening the Northern Maine economy while providing exceptional service to the Department of Defense. Limestone truly is a Center of Excellence, and the Commission's decision recognizes that fact.
Along with the Governor and the rest of the Delegation, I was in Limestone when the Commission made its decision. It was a joyous but emotional moment as we heard Chairman Principi declare that the employees at the Limestone Center had proven their mettle and stated that the Department of Defense should keep faith with the people of Northern Maine. The eyes of many DFAS employees filled with tears of relief and happiness as they realized that their jobs were secure and the Center had a bright future.
But these two victories only partly compensate for the blow we received at Brunswick. Closing the last active military air base north of New Jersey could have profound and damaging national and homeland security implications.
Brunswick's military and strategic values have been stated repeatedly by the Department of Defense and were underscored by the military experts who served on the BNAS Task Force and testified at the final BRAC hearing on Brunswick. The Department of Defense rejected the closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station because of the base's clear military value, specifically its strategic location, surge capability, and capacity to handle all military aircraft.
The Commission should have rejected closure for the same reasons. In the end, it seems the Commission set aside the military arguments and instead made an economic decision. We must respond with a commitment to economic renewal.
Working together, we can bring about this economic renewal. The law says the Secretary of Defense may provide economic adjustment assistance to any community located near a military installation being closed or realigned. I pledge to see that Brunswick and the neighboring communities receive the necessary assistance and to work closely with state and local leaders to move forward in a positive and productive way.
These past few months have been difficult for us all. We faced a great challenge together, and we should all be proud of all we have accomplished. Now, we are faced with a new challenge. I am confident that, by continuing to work together, we can meet it as well.
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