State Sen. Harman's Pro-base Resolutions Pass Senate

State Sen. Tom Harman’s resolutions urging Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Congress to preserve two military bases located in Orange County unanimously passed Wednesday in the Senate.

Senate Joint Resolution 24 and Senate Joint Resolution 25 would help to protect the Naval Weapons Station, located in Seal Beach, and the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base from being considered by the Base Realignment and Closure commission for closure during the proposed rounds of defense spending cuts and base closure periods.

"These bases are essential to our nation’s security," Harman said. "The Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach is the primary military operation that services and supplies the entire Pacific Fleet based in San Diego and the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base is the sole remaining military airfield in greater Los Angeles and Orange County area. These bases also play a big role in our local, regional and state economies."

Harman, whose district includes Fountain Valley, introduced the resolutions in April in response to propsed defense cut that included the possible closure of certain bases. He reiterated Wednesday the importance of the two Orange County bases in question, and praised the Senate for moving the resolutions through.

"Losing either of these two bases would severely cripple our ability to respond to threats and actions taken by people that wish to harm Californians and all Americans," Harman said. "I’m pleased to see my colleagues unified in their support of California military bases and the overwhelming benefits they bring to our great state."

SJR 24 and SJR 25 will now move to the Assembly.