Atlanta, Ga. - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer joined a delegation from the State of Alabama that testified in support of Redstone Arsenal before the Base Realignment and Closure Commission today.

On May 13th, the DoD recommended relocating the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), and a significant part of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to Redstone.  In total this could create nearly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in North Alabama.

"The Department of Defense has recommended significant relocations to Redstone, which I fully support," said Cramer. "These moves will take advantage of many capabilities and existing resources that are unique to Redstone Arsenal."

Redstone is currently the home of the Army Aviation & Missile Command (AMCOM), the DIA's Missile & Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the FBI's Explosive Ordinance Disposal School, as well as MDA's Ground-based Missile Defense (GMD) Program Office, and numerous program managers and program executive offices.

Cramer said, "North Alabama has a proud tradition of supporting the military and our defense industry. Part of this is due to the fact that so many of us have military backgrounds. In fact, our area includes over 206,000 military retirees and family. Moreover, our universities educate and help attract quality people to support our military missions."

Cramer joined Governor Bob Riley (R-Ala.), Senators Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Representatives Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Terry Everett (R-Ala.), and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.).  Irma Tudor, President and CEO of Analytics Services, Inc., spoke on behalf of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee.

The state delegation made arguments in support of the Department of Defense's recommendations for Redstone before BRAC Commissioners Philip Coyle, Samuel K. Skinner, James H. Bilbray, and retired Navy Admiral Harold W. Gheman, Jr.

The BRAC Commission will make its suggestions to the President by September 8, 2005.  Congress has 45 days from the day it receives the report from the President to enact a joint resolution to reject the report in full, or the report becomes law.