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2008 SESSION

088280654
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 63
Offered January 9, 2008
Prefiled January 3, 2008
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the impact of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission's recommendations for Fort Belvoir. Report.
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Patron-- Nichols
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) report made several recommendations concerning base closures and realignments in the United States that were approved by the President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the 2005 BRAC Commission recommendations included realigning approximately 59 agencies and activities, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Washington Headquarters Services, and the Missile Defense Headquarters Command Center to Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the realignment must be completed by 2011, and involves the creation of additional infrastructure in Fort Belvoir; and

WHEREAS, the realignment will bring approximately 19,000 new workers to Fort Belvoir; and

WHEREAS, the long-term economic benefits to the region are unclear; and

WHEREAS, the impact on the Northern Virginia transportation infrastructure, public schools, the environment, and affordable housing are not yet known; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the impact of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission's recommendations for Fort Belvoir.  The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of nine members that shall consist of six legislative members, one nonlegislative citizen members, and two ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows:  four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one nonlegislative citizen member who is a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Virginia or his designee, and the Secretary of Transportation of the Commonwealth or his designee, shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall review the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report, focusing on the recommendations as they relate to Fort Belvoir.  The joint subcommittee shall study and make any necessary recommendations concerning the impact of the proposed base realignment on the Commonwealth, paying particular attention to the impact on transportation, public education, the environment, and housing needs.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 6,400 without approval as set out in this resolution.  Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk.  If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and the report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee.  The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2008 interim.