Media Center

Today, Congressman David Scott joined BRAC Commissioner Retired General James Hill during his visit and tour of Ft. McPherson to carefully review firsthand whether the military installation should be closed as recommended by the Defense Department on May 13, 2005 with the release of their 2005 BRAC list. “Today’s visit to Ft. McPherson by BRAC Commissioner Hill presented a great opportunity to give a solid case to defend and keep this base open,” said Congressman Scott. “Commissioner Hill was able to personally observe the critical military value that Ft. McPherson provides to the U.S. Army’s current and future capabilities. Having previously been stationed at Ft. McPherson, Commissioner Hill conveyed sensitivity to the fact that thousands of lives and jobs as well as the economic well-being of metro Atlanta will be adversely affected if this base is closed in addition to the loss of unique military assets the region provides that cannot be duplicated anywhere else.” Fort McPherson currently serves as headquarters for the Third US Army, the US Army Reserve Command (USARC), and US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). If the fort closes, the Third US Army will relocate to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina while FORSCOM and USARC will transfer headquarters to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Fort McPherson, Atlanta’s seventh largest employer, will shed 4,141 military and civilian positions while Fort Gillem is projected to lose 1,081 jobs. “The blueprint for the 2005 round of base closures was laid out well before 9/11 happened and before Syria, Iran and North Korea presented growing security concerns for our nation,” Scott added. “Now is simply not the time to close Ft. McPherson or Fort Gillem when our Army is overextended, not meeting its recruiting goals, and fighting concurrent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I made a strong case today in defense of Ft. McPherson’s extraordinary military value. I hope that Commissioner Hill leaves here today in agreement with me that closing Ft. McPherson neither would be in the best interest of our national security nor be a good stewardship of millions of tax dollars recently spent on a number of new projects on this base.” Congressman Scott will continue working to protect area bases by next joining BRAC Commissioner James Bilbray on his visit to Ft. Gillem in Clayton County on Friday, June 10, and also participating in the BRAC Commission’s regional hearing in Atlanta on June 30. During the regional hearing, the BRAC Commission will consider community interests concerning proposed area base closures prior to making their final recommendations to President Bush. Simultaneous hearings in multiple cities will be held until the commissioners can assemble a final list of base closures to submit to the President by September. Congress has 45 legislative days after President Bush approves and forwards the recommendations to Capitol Hill to issue a joint resolution of disapproval or the recommendations become binding. ###

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Links to news station video coverage of Congressman David Scott with BRAC commissioner General James Hill (Ret.) at Fort McPherson on June 8, 2005: WGCL - CBS46: BRAC Tours Ft. McPherson WXIA - 11alive: Base Battle Centers in Atlanta