[CPEO-MEF] Vieques: House Language May Prevail

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

According to the December 10th issue of the Congressional Quarterly Daily 
Monitor it appears that the House language on Vieques may prevail.  Once a 
compromise was reached on new rounds of base closure the last outstanding 
issue of dispute on the Defense Authorization bill remains Vieques.

"A Senate aide said the conference likely will accede to the House's 
proposal, which will allow the Navy to continue operations on the Puerto 
Rican island until a suitable alternative is found."

Staffers have indicated that the language does away with the referendum 
(which had already been postponed), will allow for "multiple" training 
sites as an alternative for Vieques, installs the Secretary of the Navy as 
the decision person on when/if the Navy will leave, gives no certain date 
of departure and mandates that the land will go to Department of Interior 
when/if the Navy ever does leave.

 From what I understand the conference report is to be filed on 
Wednesday.  The bill will then go to the House floor on Thursday and the 
Senate floor on Friday.

Aimee





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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