WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) today released the following statement in anticipation of the release of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s list of military installations recommended for realignment and/or closure, known as the BRAC list, scheduled for Friday morning, May 13, 2005.

Rep. Markey said:

“I have the privilege of representing the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center and the communities of Lexington and Lincoln which are part of Hanscom Air Force Base. I have been working with Senator Kennedy, Governor Romney, and the entire Massachusetts delegation for more than two years to make the strongest possible case at the Pentagon and with Army and Air Force officials for the preservation and enhancement of Natick and Hanscom. We are cautiously optimistic that our arguments about the extraordinary military value of these research-based installations have taken hold and that the very generous offer to finance mission expansion by the Governor and the State Legislature has been a factor in the decision that will be rendered tomorrow.

“While tomorrow’s announcement by Secretary Rumsfeld will be a significant step in this process, it is important to remember that it is not the final step. If, as we hope, Natick and Hanscom are not on the Secretary’s list of recommended realignments or closures, our team is prepared to carefully analyze the data and ensure that the decision stands. If instead, one or both of the installations are recommended to close, our team will look at the data to see what got missed and make a strong case to remove our installations from the final list that will be issued in September.

“Natick and Hanscom are high-technology engines of world class research and development critical to our national defense and are remarkable engines of economic activity in our state. We are fully prepared to defend the case to keep them open or fight the case to close them in the weeks and months ahead depending on the outcome of Secretary Rumsfeld’s list.

“And we are enormously gratified by the overwhelming support of and participation in these efforts from local officials, the state legislature, and the Massachusetts business community.”