John Conger, who was performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment, testified that by reducing excess infrastructure capacity by only 5 percent, the Department of Defense expected it could realize $2 billion a year in annual recurring savings. (8) A 5-percent reduction in excess infrastructure can be managed in a strategic and cost-effective manner while ensuring appropriate infrastructure capacity remains for potential growth in military force structure or future contingency needs of the Department of Defense. (9) While concerns have been raised about the costs and schedule associated with the 2005 BRAC round, the majority of the recommendations of that round were focused on transformation and realignment rather than efficiency and closure. (10) As such, congressional authorization for the next BRAC round must include additional oversight and controls on costs and provide sufficient guidance and authority to ensure that the Department of Defense focuses on recommendations that result in efficiencies and financial savings for the Department. (11) Furthermore, congressional authorization must ensure that the process for developing recommendations to consolidate, close, or realign military installations is independent, impartial, and transparent. (12) In a time when the Department of Defense needs to reduce excess infrastructure capacity and realize efficiencies in its real property inventory, this Act provides the most transparent means to do so while also affording an independent commission, Congress, and community groups a significant voice and role in the process. (b) Purpose The purpose of this Act is to provide a fair and transparent process that will allow the Department of Defense— (1) to consolidate, close, or realign military installations within the United States