Washington, May 17, 2005 -  

U.S. Representatives John R. Carter (TX-31) and Chet Edwards (TX-17) today met with Geoff Prosch, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations and Environment, and other Department of Defense officials to discuss the Base Realignment and Closing recommendations in relation to Ft. Hood.

"We will continue to show a united front as we work with and question DoD. It is our duty to fight for the interests of Ft. Hood and its surrounding communities," said Carter.

The DoD officials confirmed the BRAC recommendations were derived from 2003 numbers and Ft. Hood, by 2011, will be at 40,863 military personnel. It will reach its peak in 2006 and will start being drawn down from there until 2011. They reassured the Congressmen that Ft. Hood will remain a premier military installation and no other will have five brigade combat teams, a three star UEx, a two star UEx, and along with additional support units.

Carter and Edwards are still seeking answers regarding quality of life concerns and will be having a follow up meeting relating to the issue. They will continue to seek answers and fight for what’s best for Ft. Hood.

"I will work closely with Congressman Carter in challenging this recommendation," said Edwards. "There are still many unanswered questions as to why we should move thousands of soldiers out of Fort Hood at a cost of half a billion dollars to taxpayers."

For more information, or to interview either Congressmen please contact Gretchen Hamel, of Congressman Carter’s office, at (202)225-3864 or Josh Taylor, of Congressman Edward’s office, at (202)225-6105.