Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

On Monday, March 7th, The Senate Finance Committee voted eight to two against funding the Defense Economic Assistance Adjustment Grant (DEAAG).

The DEAAG is a grant program made available to local municipalities, counties, or regional planning commissions representing defense-dependent communities, making funding available to meet matching requirements for federal funding or for purchase of department of defense property, new construction, rehabilitation of facilities, infrastructure, purchase of capital equipment, or insurance in the wake of a base realignment and closure (BRAC) round. Without these available matching funds, communities will be significantly hindered in their efforts to react to the changes brought about by BRAC 2005; and with as many as four of Texas' 18 major military installations facing possible closure, the impact of Monday's decision could be felt across the state.

Through the Senate Finance process, Senator Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) requested a $30 million appropriation to the Office of the Governor's Trusteed Programs to be distributed through the DEAAG program. The appropriation is both necessary and important for Texas' military community. After the 1995 round of BRAC, the Legislature appropriated over $20 million for the DEAAG program, and with this BRAC round promising broader cuts and closures, Senator Shapleigh increased the amount requested to meet the potential additional needs. And, if recent efforts of the State and local communities pay off and Texas fares BRAC 2005 well, the unused appropriation would have returned to the General Revenue Fund. Regrettably, however, Finance Committee members failed to fund the Program.

The task is now ours to convince State leaders of the importance of the DEAAG program. While the Senate did not heed Senator Shapleigh's warning and request, there is still opportunity to influence the process. Please contact our Governor, Lt. Governor, Senators and Representatives and encourage support of the DEAAG program. The House Appropriations Committee has yet to take up a discussion of the DEAAG grant; there is still time to make our needs and concerns understood. Please contact them and ask them to re-think funding priorities and support Texas' defense communities. The time to act is now.

If you have any questions or need assistance reaching your elected officials, please contact Katherine Saunders at (800) 544-1990 or via email at katherine.saunders@senate.state.tx.us.