ME DELEGATION REACTS TO PRESIDENT BUSH’S APPOINTMENTS TO THE BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE COMMISSION

(Washington, D.C.) Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud reacted this afternoon to the eight appointments announced by President Bush today for the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). President Bush had previously announced his selection of former Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi to chair the BRAC. On February 18th, the Members of the Maine delegation joined the Members of the New Hampshire delegation in a letter to President George Bush urging him to consider geographic diversity when making his appointments to the forthcoming Base Realignment and Closure Commission and recommending two candidates for his consideration. Their recommended candidates were Lieutenant General (USMC ret.) Robert Winglass and former Maine Congressman David F. Emery.

"We are very disappointed that there are no representatives from New England or the Northeast among the Base Realignment and Closure Commissioners nominated by the President," the delegation said in a joint statement. "This Commission – if approved by the Senate – will come to recognize the vital role Brunswick Naval Air Station plays in our nation's defense efforts both at home and abroad. With BNAS functioning as the only fully capable active duty operational military airfield in the Northeast, it is clear that Brunswick is an indispensable asset to our nation's military. Despite the regional imbalance in the BRAC Commission, we remain committed to working with the entire BNAS community to make sure senior Pentagon and Navy officials understand the invaluable contributions that BNAS is making to the security and defense of Maine, New England and our country."

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