Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2005-06-28, Gov. Easley Testifies At BRAC Commission Regional Hearing In Charlotte: Pledges North Carolina Will Continue To Be The Most Military-Friendly State In The Nation (Correction)

Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sherri Johnson Date: June 28, 2005 Phone: 919/733-5612 ^CORRECTION** Note: Please note the correction in hold in the third paragraph. GOV. EASLEY TESTIFIES AT BRAC COMMISSION REGIONAL HEARING IN CHARLOTTE Pledges North Carolina Will Continue to he the Most Military-Friendly State in the Nation RALEIGH — Gov. Mike Easley today testified before four members of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission during a regional hearing at the Harris Conference Center on the campus of the Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. Easley joined Sen. Elizabeth Dole, U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge and David Price, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and military officials to comment the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) recommended base closures and realignments released last month. “In our state, we have worked together on key initiatives to help our military, including compatible land use, quality-of- life programs for our military family, and vital investments in infrastructure,” Easley said. “North Carolina is ready to play its part in making sure the United States maintains the finest military in world.” On May 13, the DOD made its BRAC recommendations. If adopted, 33 major bases across the country will be closed and 29 others will be realigned. North Carolina will lose 568 military jobs and gain 307 civilian jobs in the recommended expansion or realignment of five of its six major military installations, the Army Research Office in Durham and the closure of the Navy Reserve Center in Asheville and the Niven Army Reserve Center in Albemarle. “We depend on our soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and reservists to protect and defend our nation, just as our economy depends on the strong military presence in this state,” Easley said. “North Carolina welcomes an expanded role in our nation’s defense, and we wall continue to support the BRAC Commission and our base communities as this process continues.” The BRAC Commission has scheduled 16 regional hearings across the country to gather comment from affected communities and states. Government and military officials from South Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee also testified today at the hearing in Charlotte. The BRAC Commission must present its findings and conclusions to President George W. Bush by Sept. 8, and he has until Sept. 23 to either accept or reject the list in its entirety. If the president approves the list. Congress has 45 days to accept or reject it. If the president rejects the list, the BRAC Commission has 30 days to resubmit to him. Congress has until Dec. 22 to act on the final list. ***more*** Governor's Press Office State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (9 19) 733-5 166