Washington -- Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) released the following statement today, following the release of the Base Realignment and Closure list, which included a recommendation by Secretary Rumsfeld to close the Defense Finance and Accounting Services in San Bernardino.

“For the second time in a decade, San Bernardino will be affected by the base realignment and closure process, or BRAC. If Secretary Rumsfeld’s recommendations are approved by the BRAC commission and the Defense Finance and Accounting Services in San Bernardino are closed, San Bernardino will lose 120 civilian jobs. In addition March Air Force Base and the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow will be realigned, with a loss of 111 and 419 jobs, respectively.

“I must respectfully disagree with the Department of Defense’s recommendation. The closure and realignment of these bases will affect more than the military, it will affect our entire community. The surrounding businesses will all be affected by the loss of jobs and revenue in the area.

“Few industries of any type impact California’s economy more than the military. We lost Norton Air Force Base several years ago during the BRAC process, and our community has yet to fully recover from the economic impacts of the closure. That is why I introduced AB3 in the California State Assembly to create a local agency military recovery base area (LAMBRA) in San Bernardino.

“I have fought hard to protect the bases in our community, and will continue to do so. Along with other California Democrats, I sent two letters to the Pentagon, and have been proactively in contact with the BRAC commission.

“I will do everything in my power to fight to try to reverse these proposed closures and realignments. I will work with the rest of the California Delegation to develop an action plan to oppose the list of closures in California.

“We must be realistic however, and know that Secretary Rumsfeld’s recommendations are likely to be accepted by the President. Therefore we must have the vision and the foresight to prepare for the loss of jobs that the BRAC process may bring to our region. Our local, state and federal elected officials must develop a plan that will lessen the economic impact of any base closings.”