Resolution
 

SUPPORT THE PERMANENCE OF FORT BUCHANAN IN PUERTO RICO, THE ONLY BASE WITH ACTIVE PERSONNEL IN THE CARIBBEAN
 

Whereas, according to the plan of the Government of United States, the Secretary of Defense shall refer to the Base Realignment and Closure Committee a preliminary list of installations to be closed no later than May 10, 2005.  It has been estimated that there are 500 military bases; and 

Whereas, Fort Buchanan was established 82 years ago, and it is the only base with active personnel in the Caribbean; and  

Whereas, before the Southern Command was established in Puerto Rico in 1999, Fort Buchanan had more or less the same labor population: 100 soldiers and 600 civilians; and 

Whereas, Fort Buchanan serves as liaison to 15,000 reservists and members of the National Guard, many of whom have been activated and are currently serving in different fronts fighting against terrorism; and 

WHEREAS, Fort Buchanan renders services to retired soldiers, veterans of the Department of Defense and their families, which added to its employees, reservists, contractors and retired persons, the Fort serves more than 104,000 persons; and 

WHEREAS, the military installation has an economic impact of approximately $197.8 million in Puerto Rico.  (This includes payment of military and civilian personnel, contracts and domestic markets); and 

WHEREAS, Fort Buchanan is needed to maintain the long and glorious military tradition on our Island, since other military bases such as Camp Garcia in Vieques, Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba and Ramey in Aguadilla have closed, Buchanan being the only military installation remaining in Puerto Rico; and 

WHEREAS, all Puerto Ricans who treasure their U.S. citizenship must defend the permanence of Fort Buchanan for the services it provides to our soldiers who are, at present, fighting in the war against terrorism, for its meaning to thousands of veterans, and for what it represents to the military history and tradition of the Island; and 

WHEREAS, the Puerto Rico LULAC Chapter wants to express its solidarity with the National Foundation for Women Legislators and its Resolution of Veterans Affairs Policy Committee, thus joining this request; and 

NOW Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Puerto Rico LULAC Chapter and the National Foundation for Women Legislators’ Veterans Affairs Committee, through its members from the various states, call to support the permanence of Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico.   

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that LULAC take any and all appropriate action, including advocacy at the local, state and national levels; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that should these efforts fail to provide a remedy for this national crisis, LULAC will pursue every legal avenue available to address the problem.

 

Submitted by Senator Lucy Arce, LULAC Council 14004

Adopted this 2nd day of July 2005.

Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President


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