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Subcommittee renames Military Base Task Force, expands advisory council and membership
Summary
The subcommittee approved H.3564 to rename the Military Base Task Force as the Military Affairs Advisory Council, expand its advisory role, add specified members including Department of Homeland Security representation and Aiken local officials, and require at least annual meetings.
The House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs subcommittee voted to favorably recommend H.3564 to the full committee, a bill that renames the South Carolina Military Base Task Force to the South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council and broadens its purpose and membership.
The bill updates the councils purpose to support mission readiness and improve quality of life for service members and their families, expands the councils advisory role to include the secretary in advising the governor and General Assembly on base closures, realignments and mission changes, and explicitly adds the United States Department of Homeland Security to the list of federal liaisons. It also adds representation from Aiken County: the Aiken County Council chief executive officer, the chairperson of Aiken County Council and the mayor of Aiken.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the change moves the body from a narrowly defensive posture focused on past Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) processes to a proactive, strategic advisory role that can address changing national-security and installation readiness issues. Secretary McCaffrey told the panel the states strategic environment has shifted and the council should operate with a wider aperture than simply reacting to BRAC.
"The military base task force was really stood up to be a defensive piece for base realignment and closure, the BRAC process," Secretary McCaffrey said. He said the proposed council would retain installation-specific focus while adding a broader strategic perspective and would require the full council to meet at least annually.
The secretary also described the rationale for added Aiken representation, noting legislative changes last year recognizing Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon, in Georgia) as an installation with significant South Carolina resident workforce. That recognition makes some South Carolina municipalities and counties eligible for military enhancement fund grants if they are identified as supporting an active-component installation.
The bill passed the subcommittee on a unanimous roll call. Members recorded "aye" were Chairman Bobby Cox, Rep. Brandon Cox, Chairwoman Celeste Davis, Rep. Harriet Holman and Rep. Joe White. The secretary said the governors prior appointee, retired Maj. Gen. Will Grimsley, will remain as chair if the bill becomes law.
What remains: The bill moves to the full committee. Sponsors said they plan to incorporate broader stakeholder input (including an informal spousal advisory voice) though they do not plan to codify a spousal advisory seat in statute.
