Senators Hutchison and Feinstein Introduce Legislation
Creating an Overseas Military Base Commission

April 29, 2003

Washington, DC - Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, today introduced legislation establishing a congressional panel to conduct a detailed study of United States military facilities overseas. The following is the prepared text of Senator Feinstein's statement.

"This is a timely and needed Commission. 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. We 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.

The Commission will be asked to 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.

The timing of this Commission is critical. The Pentagon has just completed an internal review of U.S. basing requirements in Europe and Korea. This review has already resulted in a major overhaul of the Defense Department's FY 2003 and FY 2004 military construction requirements. And it is likely to lead to a drawdown of some U.S. forces permanently stationed overseas. In addition, Secretary Rumsfeld has confirmed that the U.S. will be re-looking its military footprint in the Middle East following the war in Iraq.

These actions could well have an impact on the 2005 domestic BRAC process if some units currently stationed overseas are returned to the United States. The Overseas Basing Commission can help to ensure that there is not a disconnect between realignment overseas and the closing of bases in the United States. The Overseas Basing Commission, which will be composed of eight commissioners with expertise in national security and foreign policy, will provide Congress with an independent assessment of overseas basing requirements and allow Congress to better fulfill its oversight role in this important area.

We believe the Overseas Basing Commission will serve as a useful and necessary adjunct to both the current Pentagon review of U.S. basing requirements in Europe and Korea and to the 2005 BRAC process."

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