Pols: Hanscom air base vital to economy, defense

By Ken Maguire, Associated Press, 10/15/2001 16:18

BOSTON (AP) In a pre-emptive strike before the next round of base closings,
lawmakers on Monday hailed Hanscom Air Force Base as a vital component of
the state's economy and the nation's defense.

Hanscom is one of the Pentagon's top research facilities, making it an
unlikely target for closure. Nonetheless, U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and
acting Gov. Jane Swift emphasized base's importance and announced a
committee to look for ways to capitalize on it.

''What they do up there is key to our national security,'' Kennedy, D-Mass.,
said in a Statehouse news conference. ''That story is not as well known,
even in the Department of Defense, as it should be. We are prepared to make
the strongest possible case.''

Hanscom's Electronic Systems Center buys most of the Air Force's defense
systems. The 830-acre campus in Bedford, 25 west miles of Boston, also
houses the MIT Lincoln Laboratories and MITRE Corp., both federally funded
research centers for missile and air defense, air traffic control, and other
programs.

Hanscom attracts $4 billion annually in contracts and provides 9,000 jobs.
It's the ninth largest business organization in Massachusetts, based on
revenues, according to the state.

''It has a significant role to play ... in driving a lot of the contracts
and innovation,'' Swift said, noting the high-tech business community along
Route 128 and Interstate 495.

Swift directed MassDevelopment, the state's economic development agency, to
head a ''Build Hanscom'' committee to look at ways of increasing revenue by
attracting new tenants, creating new affordable housing, and saving money by
privatizing some services.

Supporters hope improvements will make the base even harder to close or
downsize. They also plan to form a business and regional political team to
lobby for Hanscom.

U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., said he's fighting as a member of the
House Armed Services Committee to protect Hanscom.

''The reality is Hanscom has been working on a number of chemical and
biological weapons detectors,'' said Meehan, who toured the base Monday.
''These technologies are critical in the war on terrorism.''

President Bush earlier this year called for a new round of base closures.
The Pentagon said Monday no decisions are imminent, however.

Ninety-seven major bases and 304 smaller installations were closed in the
first four rounds of closures. The latest round was in 1995. They resulted
in a 35 percent reduction in personnel.

The Defense Department estimates it still has 25 percent excess
infrastructure. The Pentagon would save $3.5 billion per year after 2010
with a new round of closures, said spokesman Glenn Flood.

The president needs authorization form Congress to close bases.

Congress is expected to make a decision within a few weeks on whether to
authorize a round of cuts for 2002.

Lexington selectman Peter Enrich said he wants to see details of the ''Build
Hanscom'' plans before commenting, but did agree that the base is vital.

''It's a major anchor for a great deal of the economic activity in the
area,'' he said. ''It's been a valuable part of the community in many
ways.''

Enrich said neighboring towns see Hanscom base and Hanscom Field quite
differently. Hanscom Field, which is run by the Massachusetts Port
Authority, has faced fierce opposition to commercial flights.

The regional airport was part of the military base during World War II, then
given to the state with the understanding that the Air Force could still use
the runway when needed. Massport has been pushing for more commercial
flights in recent years, to ease pressure from Boston's Logan Airport.

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