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11/10/05 Dear Friends of the Department of Veterinary Pathology, AFIP, The Base Realignment and Closure Commission's recommendations officially took effect November 9 as Congress allowed them to pass into law. The Department of Defense (DOD) must now begin the process of realignment and closure before September 15, 2007 and end it by September 15, 2011. 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. President Bush concurred with and sent the amended Commission's report to Congress on September 15. A move to the Forest Glen Annex as early as FY08 is the plan for the DOD Veterinary Pathology program. You may be interested to know that there is a bill reported in Senate which could alter the disposition of the AFIP. 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 read the details and monitor the progress of S.1873 on the following website: http://thomas.loc.gov/. I do not expect this bill to have any effect on the DOD's plan for this department. 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 | 07 Nov 05 | 01 Mar 06
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