Base closures a top concern for incoming GOP lawmakers.

As they begin to establish their presence on the House Armed Services Committee, incoming Republicans are gearing up to fight for their local military bases. In anticipation of a round of base closures planned for 2005, several lawmakers said in interviews that protecting their military installations will be a top priority during the next two years.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., was elected to the seat vacated by fellow Republican J.C. Watts, who also served on the House Armed Services Committee. Cole indicated that his district has been represented on the committee for the last 50 years, largely because it's home to Tinker Air Force Base.

In addition to Tinker, Cole's district includes the Army's Fort Sill and Altus Air Force Base, plus a huge concentration of retirees, he said.

Cole said he has concerns about the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.

"Oklahoma is one of only seven states that has not lost a military facility in a BRAC process, so each time we go through it, it's another roll of the dice. These facilities are extraordinarily important locally, certainly in my district, without question. Being on top of that process, being supportive of our institutions, and making sure we get through it is important," he said.

"Tinker and Fort Sill are the two largest employers in my district. Tinker is actually the largest employer in the state of Oklahoma, with over 28,000 military and civilian personnel."

Cole explained that he is the only Oklahoman on the House Armed Services Committee, so he also needs to "look after Lance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., and also a munitions facility in McAllister, Okla."

He plans to get involved in a project to convert a maintenance repair and overhaul facility "that has a possibility of having a public-private partnership between Tinker Air Force Base and the private sector. It could generate a lot of jobs and strengthen Tinker's ability to survive future BRACs," Cole said.

"You want to do it in a way that does not cannibalize existing industry. We have a Tinker industrial park, a big employer in my district. It has over 28 companies, roughly 4,000 employees. That's in addition to what goes on at Tinker itself. So you want a new facility that complements and reinforces Tinker's abilities," he said.

Cole said that during his time on HASC, he hopes to examine the issue of force structure. Do we have the forces on hand to handle the challenges that face us in various parts of the world? We're now routinely deploying guard units for extended periods of time, I think far beyond what any of us thought was going to be the case when the current force structure was set up," he said.

"I certainly have no complaints about the guard. They've done a great job. On the other hand, we're asking somebody to leave their family for a year, 18 months in some cases. That's probably not what they signed up to do. If they were going to do that, they probably would have joined the regular military. I think this is a question that needs to be looked at very carefully," Cole said.

Rep. John Kline, a Republican from Minnesota, said that base closures are a difficult reality. "As our armed forces adjust to meet the changing needs of our nation, we will need to restructure our military bases. I have first-hand experience serving on commissions faced with the challenging task of evaluating the closures of military labs," he said. Kline hopes to see a process where "decisions are not unduly influenced by parochial interests."

Kline served for 25 years in the Marine Corps. "My active duty career includes service on both coasts, Hawaii, Vietnam and Somalia. In addition to my operational experience, I gained experience in programming and budgeting as the United States Marine Corps program development officer, and in acquisition, working for the Director of Defense for research and engineering," he said.

"I also had the opportunity to work directly under Presidents Carter and Reagan, carrying the nuclear football--the codes which allow the President to launch a nuclear counterstrike. This experience gave me a great deal of knowledge of our strategic forces and weapons strategy," he said.

A top issue today is the war on terrorism, he said. "It is essential that we ensure our armed services are properly trained and equipped to win. Minnesotans--along with many Americans--are concerned with the increasing reliance on deploying National Guard and reserve troops. I will make certain their concerns are heard and addressed," Kline said.

Rep. Candice Miller, a freshman Republican from Michigan's 10th district, said that the survival of Selfridge Air National Guard Base is important to her district. "Nor only does it represent every military branch, but it is also the last base of consequence in the entire state. The units based there play an important role in the war on terror and every recent military operation, including the Gulf war, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan," she said. Miller's husband is a former commander of the base.

"I strongly believe that before any base is shut down, we need to take a long, hard look at the impact on the military and make sure they can accomplish their directives. We also need to look at the impact on the communities, many of whom are dependent on these bases," she said.

Additionally, Miller is a proponent of a strong missile defense plan, "to ensure our safety against the threat of terror and weapons of mass destruction."

Homeland security also is a concern. Miller's district is located on the U.S.-Canada border. "It is imperative our nations homeland security is in tip-top condition with every resource available," she said. "Clearly, in light of the 9/11 attacks and the deficiencies in our homeland security that have since surfaced, the government needs to put a greater focus on this issue."

Program Funding

Rep. Phil Gingrey, a freshman from the 11th congressional district of Georgia, is a physician and former state senator. He said that assuring full funding for the F-22 program "ranks near the top of my priorities for the 108th Congress. I want to see full production of the 300 planes that have been ordered from Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Ga., plant," he said.

Protecting the military bases in his district is a long-term goal. "I want to use my position on HASC to testify to the importance of these facilities--not just to the local economy, but also to national defense. In my district are Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Naval Air Station Atlanta and Fort Benning. The bases are doing the job well. Why reinvent the wheel somewhere else?" he asked.

"My position on base closings is simple: Not in my back yard. I'm all for efficiency in government spending, but I look to convince the commission on base closings that it would not prove cost-effective to close bases in west Georgia," he said.

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., succeeded former committee chairman Bob Stump. Franks said he plans to support the F-16 program at Luke Air Force Base, in his district. As the founding director of the organization Americans for Military Readiness, Franks said, "we must recognize that Rep. Trent Franks our modern enemy is different, and there's no question the United States must modernize to further commensurate with the new challenges of this enemy.

Republican Rep. Jeb Bradley is a freshman from New Hampshire. His top BRAG concern is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The shipyard specializes in servicing the nuclear submarine fleet and is "vitally important to our nation's security," he said.

Bradley explained that more than 3,000 people are employed at the shipyard with a payroll of over $88 million. He said he also hopes to ensure that "defense contractors in New Hampshire continue to provide an important service to our nation's military. Companies such as BAR Systems and Insight Technologies are not only vital for our nation's security, but also for New Hampshire's economy, as they provide thousands of jobs," Bradley said.

Bradley said he supports the creation of a Select Committee on Homeland Security, which was approved by the House on January 7. "This Committee will provide recommendations and oversight on matters that relate to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Since the tragedies of 9-l1, it is imperative that we have better communication among government agencies, and this committee will help in reaching that goal," he said.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, replaced James Hansen on the House Armed Services Committee. Bishop said he wanted a slot on HASC, because "the military is the largest employer in my district."

"While I have not served in the military, I am a father of five. I intend to look at each of the difficult choices before the Armed Services Committee and ask, 'What would I do if that was my son, or my daughter, on the line.' Also, having served as speaker of the Utah House and as GOP state chairman, I hope I'm prepared to build coalitions and move a workable agenda," he said.

Bishop said he is highly skeptical of the BRAC process. "I want our military to be efficient, and where that means shedding truly excess infrastructure, we should. But if you visit the bases I have, you would find very busy people doing critically important work, in some cases without enough support. BRAC should nor be a budget drill to deliver paper savings. That concerns me, and I'll be watching it closely," he said.

Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., was elected to Congress in 1995, but this year, he accepted a new assignment as a member of HASC. "My first priority is to provide the president and our nation's military the resources they need to secure a victory in the war against terrorism. I will also work to renew our commitment to modernizing our military, and to support our military personnel by ensuring that they are properly compensated and well-equipped with the most advanced technology available to them on the field of battle," he said.

LoBiondo said he has a long-term goal "to underscore the value of the state of New Jersey as a site for important defense facilities."

New Jersey is pivotal "through innovative research into battlefield information systems at Fort Monmouth [and] next-generation weapons at the Picatinny Arsenal. [Through] the operations of critical power projection facilities like Fort Dix, a major troop mobilization center, and McGuire Air Force Base, a deep water loading dock at Naval Weapons Station Earle, or at a Air National Guard base providing combat air patrol missions over New York City and Washington, D.C. The state of New Jersey has always been there to provide important resources for our national security," he said.

LoBiondo said that during the months before and after September 11, he served as chairman of the Transportation Committee's Coast Guard and maritime transportation subcommittee. He said the experience provided him with "great insight into the needs of our evolving national security debate. No longer can we separate national security efforts overseas from the corresponding efforts here at home. I hope that my experiences will help better link these two critical efforts and as a result make America safer here and at home," he said.

"During the 108th Congress, I will continue to work to strengthen the security of our nations maritime transportation system and specifically the security of our nation's ports by ensuring that the Coast Guard has the money, manpower and modern assets to meet today's challenges," he said.

Since New Jersey houses many military installations, LoBiondo expressed concern about BRAC. "Closing military bases during a time of war is a very difficult thing to do because it is impossible for us to know what requirements our military will have, both in the short and long term," he said.

"Arguments for and against closures of specific bases will have to be carefully weighed and being new to the process, I would like to hear a full summary of the issues at stake before we move forward," he said.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., represents Anniston's Army Depot, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base and Fort Benning. "Long term, I will work with other members of the Alabama delegation, as well as Chairman Hunter, to ensure each of our Rep. Mike Rogers state's military installations thrive and our armed forces have the resources they need."