WASHINGTON, DC– Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) today offered the following reaction to the news that the Department of Defense released additional documents related to its base realignment and closure (BRAC) recommendations on Saturday.
“Fortunately, and perhaps spurred on by the threat of an impending subpoena, DoD seems finally to have begun to understand that it has to comply with the law’s requirements to release information, and we understand from staff discussions with Pentagon officials that more materials will be released early this week,” said Senators Collins and Lieberman. “But we are beyond frustrated at how little, and how little of use, has been released so far. While we hope this release indicates that the Pentagon has finally concluded that it must comply with the law and that a subpoena will not prove necessary, a subpoena has been drafted, and we will proceed to issue it if the Department does not make significant and rapid progress in releasing the remaining information,” the Senators stated. “The law is clear about the Department’s obligations, and further foot-dragging cannot be tolerated. It is unfair to the affected communities who need this information to prepare their case.” The two Senators, who serve as the chairman and ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, earlier wrote to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld demanding release of all documents and other materials related to the base closure process. The Senators warned the Secretary that they were prepared to issue a subpoena if the overdue materials were not forthcoming. The law requires the Department to make available all information supporting its recommendations.