[CPEO-MEF]

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

[It appears that the Bush Administration takes issue with some of the 
Vieques legislative language that appears in the House Defense 
Authorization bill.  The following is the Statement of Administration 
Position (SAP) that has been issued.  Thanks to John Lindsay-Poland for the 
information. --Aimee]


"While the Administration supports the Committee's cancellation of a 
currently scheduled November referendum over the future of the Vieques 
training range, the Administration is concerned that the bill's 
certification requirements are unnecessarily rigid.  The administration 
believes that the Navy's training needs may be met through a combination of 
geographic locations and alternative training methods as opposed to a 
single training site.  In addition, the Administration objects to the 
provision that would require the Navy to retain administrative jurisdiction 
over the Eastern end of Vieques in the event that operations 
terminate.  This requirement would drain scarce resources from the 
Department of the Navy that would otherwise be directed toward national 
defense."



Please note new phone number and address below.
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Aimee R. Houghton
Associate Director, CPEO
1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC  20036
tel: 202-452-8039; fax: 202-452-8095
Email: aimeeh@cpeo.org
www.cpeo.org
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