Washington D.C. Office
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2854
(202) 228-4260 fax
(202 228-1404 TDD
Email our office

Chicago Office
John C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn St.
Suite 3900 (39th floor)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 886-3506
(312) 886-3514 fax
Toll free: (866) 445-2520
(for IL residents only)

Springfield Office
607 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
(217) 492-5089
(217) 492-5099 fax

Marion Office
701 North Court Street
Marion, Illinois 62959
(618) 997-2402
(618) 997-2850 fax

Moline Office
1911 52nd Avenue
Moline, Illinois 61265
(309)736-1217
(309)736-1233 fax

Statement of Senators Durbin and Obama Regarding BRAC Commission action affecting Rock Island Arsenal

Thursday, August 25, 2005

For Immediate Release
Contact: Angela Benander (Durbin)
202-224-7115
Julian Green (Obama)
202-957-3367
August 25, 2005

Statement of Senators Durbin and Obama Regarding BRAC Commission action affecting Rock Island Arsenal

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today made the following statement regarding the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission's vote on the U.S. Department of Defense's recommendations regarding Rock Island Arsenal:

"We knew going into this round of base closings and realignments that we were in for a serious fight for the future of the Rock Island Arsenal. While the Department of Defense spared the Arsenal from closure, it didn't protect all of the jobs."

"Over the last two days, the BRAC Commission has voted to shift some jobs to the Rock Island Arsenal and to keep the Civilian Personnel Office and Civilian Human Resource Agency in Rock Island. Unfortunately, the Commission also voted to uphold the Pentagon's transfer of the Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), Defense and Finance Accounting Services (DFAS), and other Arsenal jobs and missions to out-of-state facilities."

While we are thankful for the new jobs coming to the Quad Cities, we are very disappointed that the BRAC Commission ignored clear evidence that these realignments recommended by the Pentagon were inconsistent with the stated purpose of BRAC, deviated from the announced criteria, and harmful to the community."

"The community, the state, and the Illinois Congressional delegation put forth solid evidence in favor of retaining jobs and critical national security functions at Rock Island Arsenal. We are disappointed that these common sense arguments did not prevail."

"Illinoisans recognize the vital role the Arsenal plays during both war and peacetime. We're sorry that so far this Commission has not shared this view."