Senate committee gives favorable report to bill renaming military task force, adds local representatives

Senate Family and Veterans' Services Committee Chairman Mike Gamble said the panel gave a favorable report to S. 89, a bill that would rename the South Carolina Military Based Task Force the South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council and adjust its membership.

Quentin Gaddy, research assistant, summarized the bill: "This is senate bill 89. It would rename the South Carolina military based task force to the South Carolina military affairs advisory council. It would also add the chief executive officer of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, the chairperson of the Aiken County Council, and the mayor of North Augusta to the council. And additionally, this bill would increase the number of at large members appointed by the governor from 5 to 6 members."

The bill was presented to the committee by Todd McCaffrey, Secretary of Veterans' Affairs for South Carolina. McCaffrey said the existing Military Based Task Force, established in 2001 largely to respond to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions, has been effective protecting state installations but needs a broader, strategic role. "We propose to take the military based task force, re retitle it as the Military Affairs Advisory Council," McCaffrey said, explaining the change would allow the state to consider cross-installation issues such as cyber threats, resilient power and grid security, and drone incidents that affect installations and surrounding communities.

McCaffrey described recent changes that motivated the update: Fort Eisenhower in Georgia was designated a South Carolina military installation by a prior legislative action, and about "14,000 South Carolinians that work on Fort Eisenhower, Georgia" live largely in Aiken and Edgefield counties. He also noted the state's military footprint: "50% of the marine corps trains at Parris Island," and "over 50% of the US army trains its basic trade here at Fort Jackson," and called Port of Charleston a critical national-security port.

Committee members voiced support for the bill's annual-meeting requirement and its broader, strategic focus. Senator Fernandez said the annual meeting requirement ‘‘is important’’ to ensure the council stays focused. Senator Kimbrell of Spartanburg, who spoke in favor and moved a favorable report, said the structure made logical sense and could help advise federal partners in any future base realignment discussions.

McCaffrey said the Military Affairs Advisory Council would also support the administration of the Military Enhancement Fund, which the General Assembly funds each year by proviso; he told the committee the task force and executive committee have helped allocate grant money for projects such as encroachment support, quality-of-life projects for military families, and a firefighting study for Charleston Harbor. He said the program has awarded "over $30,000,000 in grants" in recent years.

A motion for a favorable report was made and seconded; the chair called for a voice/hand vote. The committee approved the favorable report on S. 89. The chair then adjourned the meeting.

Ending: With the committee's favorable report, S. 89 advances from the Family and Veterans' Services Committee. Further action on the bill (committee of reference, full Senate votes, or enactment) was not recorded in the provided transcript.