On May 13 the Pentagon’s Base Realignment and Closure list finally arrived, and the news was good for Washington state. This list confirmed what we all know. Military bases in the Pacific Northwest are strategically vital to our national and homeland defense.
Here in Snohomish County we have always known that Naval Station Everett was the “Sailor’s Choice.” Now we know that NS Everett is also the “Pentagon’s Choice.”
The 2005 BRAC list paints a positive picture of the future at NS Everett, one that will soon bring new assets and additional missions. But this process is not over yet. We have come far in the BRAC marathon, but we cannot declare victory. We must sprint the final leg to September when the BRAC Commission will finish its review and analysis of the Pentagon’s recommendations and will announce its own list of bases to close and realign.
Gov. Christine Gregoire, the state congressional delegation and local communities worked with one voice to make the case for a strong military presence in Washington. And the Pentagon agreed with us. Now we have to make sure that the BRAC commissioners recognize our military value.
In short, our communities and their leaders must continue to work together to ensure that NS Everett and other Washington bases stay safe until we cross the BRAC finish line.
In Everett, we will continue to make the case to BRAC commissioners that NS Everett is a primary piece of a Northwest network of military assets that are flexible, prepared to fight at a moment’s notice, and located in a strategic region with easy access to the Pacific theater. And we will be sure to remind commissioners of the exceptional quality of life that we offer to the service members and their families stationed here.
Looking to the future, as the newest homeport in the Navy, NS Everett is perfectly suited to support our homeland security and some of our Navy’s newest assets such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the DD(X) destroyer and new aircraft carriers.
Our state is set to become the staging ground of our future military’s support of security and humanitarian efforts in the Pacific and around the world. NS Everett will play a lead role in that future. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will return to Washington, D.C., and fight for those new assets and the future of NS Everett.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) represents the 2nd Congressional District.
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