Senate Approves Hutchison/Feinstein Measure to Create Overseas Basing Commission
May 22, 2003

Washington, DC - The FY '04 Defense Authorization Bill, which the U.S. Senate approved today by a vote of 98 to 1, includes a provision sponsored by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), establishing a Congressional panel to conduct a detailed study of United States military facilities overseas.

"This is a timely and needed Commission, and I am pleased that the Senate approved this measure," Senator Feinstein said. "The intent of the Overseas Basing Commission is to review U.S. military basing requirements overseas in the same way that the Defense Department is reviewing domestic installation requirements as part of the 2005 BRAC round.

"The focus of the BRAC process is domestic. Senator Hutchison and I believe that overseas installations merit equal scrutiny, particularly in light of today's rapidly changing security requirements in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and the growing reliance of the U.S. military on smaller, more mobile expeditionary forces."

Composed of eight commissioners with expertise in national security and foreign policy, the Overseas Basing Commission would provide Congress with an independent assessment of overseas basing requirements and allow Congress to better fulfill its oversight role in this important area.

The Commission would assess the adequacy of the U.S. military footprint overseas, consider the feasibility and advisability of closing any current U.S. installations overseas, and provide to Congress recommendations for a comprehensive overseas basing strategy that meets the current and projected strategic needs of the United States.

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