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DEFENSE DAILY
The Latest Word on Trends and Developments
in Defense and Aerospace
Vieques Stakes Raised: Senate Bill Closes Roosevelt
Roads Naval Base if Bombing Range Is Not Reopened
No Train, No Gain
September 27, 1999
Copyright © 1999 PHILLIPS BUSINESS INFORMATION, INC. All
Rights Reserved.
In an attempt to raise the stakes in the political controversy
surrounding the naval live-fire training range on the island of
Vieques, Puerto Rico, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) last week introduced
a bill (S. 1602) that would require the United States to close
the Navy base at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, if the Vieques
training range is not reopened. Puerto Rican politicians and activists
alike are advocating the permanent cessation of training on Vieques
and the transfer of Navy property there to the people of Vieques.
"Maintaining Naval Station Roosevelt Roads without access
to training ranges, including those on the island of Vieques,
would not be the most efficient use of scarce readiness resources,"
the bill says.
Below is the text of S.
1602:
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 1602
To require the closure of Naval Station Roosevelt
Roads, Puerto Rico upon termination of Armed Forces use of training
ranges on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, involving live munitions
impact.
-----------------------------
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
SEPTEMBER 21, 1999
Mr. Inhofe introduced the following bill, which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
---------------------------------------------
A BILL
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CLOSURE OF NAVAL STATION ROOSEVELT ROADS, PUERTO
RICO.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress makes the following findings:
- The principal mission of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto
Rico, is to support the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility.
- The key component of the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training
Facility is the set of training ranges on the island of Vieques,
including the live impact area on the eastern tip of the island.
- The other missions of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, such
as the performance of counter-drug operations by P-3 aircraft
and the missions of the Special Operations Command, South, can
be performed at other military facilities outside of Puerto Rico.
- Military training operations, including the expenditure of
live munitions, take place at a number of facilities in the continental
United States and in Allied nations.
- If access to training ranges such as those on the island
of Vieques are terminated, the value of the Puerto Rican Operating
Area and the requirements for maintaining Naval Station Roosevelt
Roads are greatly diminished.
- The Department of Defense must leverage its resources in
the most cost-effective manner to ensure that it maximizes its
ability to train its military forces.
- Maintaining Naval Station Roosevelt Roads without access
to training ranges, including those on the island of Vieques,
would not be the most efficient use of scarce readiness resources.
(b) CONTINGENT REQUIREMENT FOR CLOSURE- Upon any termination
of use of the training ranges on the island of Vieques for live
munitions impact involved in the training of the Armed Forces,
the Secretary of Defense shall transfer the missions, personnel,
and assets of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to
the continental United States and close Naval Station Roosevelt
Roads. The Secretary may, however, transfer any counter-drug
mission, together with associated personnel and assets, to a
forward operation location outside the continental United States
that is also outside the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
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