Lowell Sun
Friday, February 6, 2004

Gov., pols encouraged Hanscom will survive

By Ian Bishop, Sun Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- A high-ranking Pentagon official told Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney and several members of the state's congressional delegation yesterday
that Hanscom Air Force Base may be better positioned to survive the upcoming
round of base closures than in previous years.

Ray DuBois, Defense Department undersecretary in charge of installations,
told state officials and members of their lobbying team that Pentagon
evaluators will have expertise in the installations they are judging.

"I'm very much more encouraged," Romney, a Republican, said following the
closed-door meeting.

"We are absolutely convinced if that's the criteria, this facility will
continue to serve the national security needs of our country," added Sen.
Edward M. Kennedy.

Bay State lawmakers are mustering all of their political might to shape the
criteria guiding the base closure process to favor Hanscom's strength. Base
activity pumps $3 billion annually into the state economy and supports more
than 10,000 jobs.

A preliminary draft proposal did not take into account the merits of
research and development bases, such as Hanscom, state lawmakers say.

And though Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will not begin work on the
final criteria list until next week, he and Dubois are assuring
Massachusetts lawmakers that guidelines specifically judging research
facilities will be included.

Rep. John Tierney, a Salem Democrat whose district includes the base, said
it wouldn't make sense to move Hanscom because its proximity to the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard and high-tech companies in
the area.

"Our military should work smarter not harder," added Rep. Edward Markey, a
Malden Democrat.

Rumsfeld has said that he wants to cut 25 percent of base capacity.

In the four previous rounds, 97 major bases were closed or realigned,
leaving about 425 major bases to face scrutiny this year. Pentagon officials
have stressed that although there is no list of targeted bases, every one
will be considered.

Under questioning from Rep. Marty Meehan, a Lowell Democrat, during an Armed
Services committee meeting Wednesday, Rumsfeld said "there are no questions
that there are going to be different requirements" for Hanscom.

Meehan said technology pioneered at Hanscom benefits all four branches of
the military, and not just the Air Force.

The base closures allow the Pentagon to save money by shutting and moving
expensive installations and resources. The previous rounds save about $6
billion a year.

Members of New Hampshire's Congressional delegation are also voicing support
for Hanscom and planning to tour the base, saying it is a key economic
driver for the entire region.

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