Legislators want inquiry into BRAC decision BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer "The BRAC process resulted in a bad decision, badly made." - Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) A nonpartisan congressional delegation of New Jersey public officials introduced legislation July 19 that would require the comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission's decision to close Fort Monmouth. They join a chorus of political figures who have voiced their concern over faulty accounting that led to the choice of Fort Monmouth as one of the military installations that is expendable. In a joint press release, Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) said, "The BRAC process resulted in a bad decision, badly made. "We know that the Army's estimates on the cost and job loss resulting from Fort Monmouth's closure were not worth the paper they were written on. Anything that we can do to gain that documentation will be helpful in keeping existing talent at Fort Monmouth and maintaining capacity to serve the war fighter." Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6) added his voice to the chorus. "We know that the Army's estimates on the cost and job loss resulting from Fort Monmouth's closure were not worth the paper they were written on." - Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6) "We've known all along that the numbers the Pentagon used to justify closing Fort Monmouth were never based in reality, but now it's important to discover who came up with these faulty numbers and why they were used," Pallone said. "We want GAO to conduct an extensive investigation so that someone will finally be held accountable for this blatantly false information, and we don't want anyone moving to Aberdeen until this investigation is completed." Rep. Jim Saxton (R-4) said Pallone and Holt's legislation "is another tool for us to use in seeking to help Fort Monmouth. "We will continue to work together to defend the post," Saxton said. The bill, introduced on July 19 by Holt with the support of the delegation, would require GAO to investigate the information that the Department of Defense used to justify the closure of Fort Monmouth. Another bill, introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-4) with the support of the delegation, would require GAO to audit a report that the Defense Department is required to produce certifying that the closure of Fort Monmouth will not result in decreased capacity to serve war fighters overseas. Identical versions of each bill were introduced in the Senate by Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez. "We are taking a significant step in the effort to re-examine the decision to close Fort Monmouth. Our bills would ensure the GAO uncovers the truth about the decision to close the fort. They would also certify that no move to Aberdeen would be made that might undermine our troops in the field," said Lautenberg (D-N.J.). Menendez (D-N.J.) concurred. He said, "We need a full investigation to tell us who intentionally deceived BRAC with misinformation and miscalculations about the closing of Fort Monmouth and why they did it. This is a decision with consequences for our armed forces, the people of New Jersey, the American taxpayer and getting answers is vital." The legislation is the next step in a move by legislators from both parties who want the case for closing the fort reopened. Three Republicans, state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-13,) Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-12) and Assemblyman Sean Kean (R-11), last week sent a letter to the BRAC commission requesting that new BRAC hearings be held regarding the planned closure of the Fort Monmouth Army base since the Department of Defense withheld key information from the BRAC commission.