On May 13, 2005, United States Secretary of Defense (DOD) Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld forwarded DOD's list of recommended base closings to the BRAC Commission. The list included the closure of bases nationwide, including the Connecticut submarine base.
The BRAC Commission is now considering the recommendations and will forward its own report and recommendations to the President of the United States on or by September 8, 2005.
If the President accepts the recommendations, the United States Congress will have 45 legislative days to reject the recommendations in their entirety or they become binding.
Updates
Volunteer Headquarters Established in GrotonCityMunicipalBuilding
A volunteer headquarters has been established to help coordinate the Save the Base effort in Connecticut. The office is located in the GrotonCityMunicipalBuilding, 295 Meridian Street, Groton.
Please call the headquarters at (860) 446-4120 for daily updates and activities. For volunteer opportunities, please call the headquarters at (860) 446-4156.
On May 31, 2005, the BRAC Commission conducted their required site visit to the Submarine Base in Groton. The purpose of the site visits was to learn the details of military activities at the base, the potential impact of the Department of Defense’s recommendations, and if base closure criteria were applied correctly by the Pentagon.
On July 6, 2005, the BRAC Commission held a Regional Public Hearing on their recommendations in Boston, Massachusetts. The event in Boston was one of fifteen regional public hearings the BRAC Commission held throughout the nation in June and July.
On July 6, 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission met in Boston to hear our case for retaining the Submarine base in Groton. A strong show of support was made at the hearing for retaining the Base in Groton.
Documents to Read
State of Connecticut Economic Impact Analysis
On May 4, 2005, the Department of Economic and Community Development released the results of a study that examined the contributions the U.S. Navy Submarine Base at New London and the Connecticut operations of Electric Boat Co. make to the southeastern Connecticut and statewide economies.
Together they combine for 31,500 jobs producing $2 billion in personal income and over $3.3 billion in gross state product (GSP) annually.
