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11/07/05 Dear Friends of the Department of Veterinary Pathology, AFIP, President Bush concurred with and sent the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission's report to Congress on September 15. If Congress does not disapprove the report before the earlier of 45 days after transmittal (periods when either house is adjourned for more than three days at a time do not count) or its adjournment for the session, the Department of Defense (DOD) must follow the Commission's recommendations. A decision should be imminent. As you know, the Commission voted in August to close Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC). At that time, the Commission amended the original Medical Joint Cross Service Recommendation 4, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, by inserting the following statement: "...AFIP capabilities not specified in this recommendation will be absorbed into other DOD, Federal, or civilian facilities, as necessary;..." This amendment opened possibilities for the institute as it affirmed the plan for a discretionary move of the DOD Veterinary Pathology Program to the Daniel K. Inouye Building on the Forest Glen Annex of WRAMC in Silver Spring, MD. While a move to the Forest Glen Annex as early as FY08 is still the plan for the DOD Veterinary Pathology program, you may be interested to know that there is now a bill reported in Senate which could possibly alter this. The bill, S.1873, Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005, Sec. 14. National Pathology Center (NPC), would establish a NPC (i.e., re-establish AFIP as the NPC). You can monitor the progress of S.1873 on the following website: http://thomas.loc.gov/. It remains to be seen how (if) this bill will affect us. I will keep you informed of new developments. You have my continued thanks for your sustained support of our program and your concern for our future. |
| COL Dale G. Dunn Chairman |
Other BRAC Statements
30 Jun 05 | 26 Aug 05 | 10 Nov 05 | 01 Mar 06
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