WASHINGTON – The Defense Credit Union Council expects the Secretary of Defense to publish this month the draft selection criteria the Department of Defense will use in determining, identifying, and recommending a list of military bases for closure or realignment. As required by law, the Secretary of Defense has until Dec. 31, 2003 to "publish in the Federal Register and transmit to the congressional defense committees the criteria proposed to be used by the Secretary in making recommendations for the closure or realignment of military installation in the U.S." DCUC President/'CEO Roland "Arty" Arteaga said "this major milestone, in my opinion, truly represents the start of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process." Once the list of criteria is published, there is a 30-day public comment period. The DCUC is encouraging all defense credit unions to use this time to comment on the DOD's early selection criteria. The final list of criteria will be published by the Secretary of Defense in the Federal Register by Feb. 16, 2004. The Secretary also has to certify that a need exists for the realignment or closure of military bases and that a saving will be produced no later than the 2011 fiscal year. Once this action is completed, Congress has until March 15, 2004 to disapprove the Final Selection Criteria.