Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Comments On Navy Decision Regarding Willow Grove

April 25, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today issued the following statement expressing disappointment with the Navy’s denial of the Air Force’s request for a military transfer of excess Navy property at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove.

“The Navy decision to reject the request of a sister service for military use of this property is extremely shortsighted. The plan supported by the Air Force would have maintained Willow Grove as a joint interagency base for national defense, homeland security and emergency preparedness. This plan earned tremendous support from Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation and key members of the General Assembly.

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“I believe the Navy is obliged by the wording of the BRAC Commission report to ensure that Willow Grove continues to support military operations, including flight operations of Pennsylvania National Guard units. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory. It is unfortunate that the Navy rejected Pennsylvania’s offer to partner with the Department of Defense to meet these requirements and maintain the core capabilities of Willow Grove.

“Willow Grove and its airfield and flight facilities are too vital a military and homeland security resource to be abandoned. We will continue to pursue our efforts to maintain this installation for military use as a joint interagency base. We need to look no further than Hurricane Katrina, the 9/11 attacks, and last June’s floods in Pennsylvania to understand the importance of this resource to the emergency preparedness of the region and the entire state. And we will take appropriate action to ensure compliance with the requirement that Willow Grove continue to support flying operations.

“We still believe that the military transfer of this property and its lease to the commonwealth represented an appropriate mechanism to accomplish our goal of protecting the public by keeping Willow Grove as a defense and homeland security hub without its use as a commercial airport. But we will vigorously pursue other options to achieve this goal as we work with our Congressional delegation and local officials to prevent abandonment of this vital installation.”

Source: Pennsylvania Governor