August 24, 2005

Governor Rell Statement on BRAC Decision To
Keep Groton/New London Sub Base Open

We did it! We did it!

We knew our odds were long, but we also knew our cause was just. The BRAC Commission saw what the Department of Defense did not want to see. They saw more than dollars and cents. They saw the unparalleled military value of our sub base.

They saw the need for a robust submarine force, strategically placed around the United States. They saw – in their visits, in our data and in our arguments – a modern submarine base and the best, most well-trained submariners in the world. They saw a unique synergy with Electric Boat and the hundreds of companies, large and small, and thousands of families that make up the real heart and soul of our sub base.

And yes, they saw through the faulty assumptions and false arguments put forth by the Department of Defense. Yes, Connecticut we did it!

And I mean “we” because this was a total Connecticut effort – a Team Connecticut effort.

We had incredible help from Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman who worked so hard and so effectively, and Representative Rob Simmons, who lived and breathed this fight for his district, and who did not relent, who could not relent.

My deep gratitude to Congressmen John Larson, Chris Shays, Rosa DeLauro and Nancy Johnson who each played a major role in this – and who attended meeting after meeting, made call after call, wrote letter after letter. And to our state legislators and our Attorney General, who were dogged in this battle and who never wavered.

I cannot thank enough the people like John Markowicz, the SRC, chamber leaders, community leaders and local officials who lost sleep, ignored their families and devoted their time solely to this cause. And, of course my staff, my commissioners and the members of my strike force who helped strike down the faulty assumptions.

Finally, special thanks to the members of the greater Groton/New London area and all across the state who joined us in saving our sub base. You have been remarkable!

We did it – together.

As Team Connecticut, our fight is not over though.  More work needs to be done.  But we should take great pride in this historic moment, this historic victory.

And I pledge this – our work begins now so that when the next round of base closings takes place, no one will even think of putting sub base New London on the list.

Thank you – and Go Navy!

M. Jodi Rell
Governor