A bill to amend the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize additional rounds of base closures and realignments under the Act in 2003 and 2005, to modify certain authorities relating to closures and realignments under that Act.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1627-1628)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 27, 2001

Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to: (1) provide for continued appointments to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, authorize the Secretary of Defense to transfer funds for future Commission expenses, and extend Commission authority through December 31, 2005; (2) require the Secretary to include within budget justification documents a force structure plan for the armed forces through FY 2006 (currently, FY 1996); and (3) extend similarly the dates for submission of final selection criteria used for the closure or realignment of military installations, Department of Defense recommendations for such closures or realignments, Commission review and recommendations, and presidential review. Terminates on December 31, 2005 (currently, 1995), the authority to close or realign such installations.Requires base closure or realignment cost saving or return on investment selection criteria to be based on the total cost and savings to the Federal Government.Requires the Secretary, in making closure or realignment recommendations, to consider any notice received from a local government approving such closure or realignment.Allows privatization in place of a military installation recommended for closure or realignment only if privatization is a method specified in the Commission's recommendation and it is determined to be the most cost-effective method of implementation of the recommendation.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R–AZ

Committees

Armed Services Committee

11 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 27, 2001
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1627-1628)
Feb 27, 2001
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1626-1627)
Feb 27, 2001
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 27, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Feb 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.397 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.397, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize additional rounds of base closures and realignments under the Act in 2003 and 2005, to modify certain authorities relating to closures and realignments under that Act.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/397

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s397/BILLS-107s397is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-02-10T13:37:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.397 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.397 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.397, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize additional rounds of base closures and realignments under the Act in 2003 and 2005, to modify certain authorities relating to closures and realignments under that Act.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/397

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s397/BILLS-107s397is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-02-10T13:37:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.397 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.397 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.397, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize additional rounds of base closures and realignments under the Act in 2003 and 2005, to modify certain authorities relating to closures and realignments under that Act.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/397

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s397/BILLS-107s397is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-02-10T13:37:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.397 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.397 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.397, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize additional rounds of base closures and realignments under the Act in 2003 and 2005, to modify certain authorities relating to closures and realignments under that Act.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/397

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s397/BILLS-107s397is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-02-10T13:37:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.397 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.