Chairman Wilson Opening Statement: Military Resale Program Overview

The Subcommittee on Military Personnel met today to examine the military resale programs within the Department of Defense, specifically the commissaries and exchanges operated by the Department. Chairman Joe Wilson gave the following opening statement:

"These programs are widely acknowledged as highly valuable and appreciated benefits that support active duty retention, the wellbeing of the military community, and the combat readiness of the force. These services are vital for service members, military families, and veterans worldwide. In the current economy, commissaries and exchanges provide extraordinary job opportunities for military spouses and families. However, the recent pressures on the Defense budget have yielded a number of initiatives to reduce funding for these programs and decrease their value to service members and their families.

"Although the threats to these programs were significant in 2011, the coordinated efforts of all the Members of this Subcommittee, and in particular the Ranking Member, Mrs. Davis, we were successful in fending off significant budget reductions.

"Unfortunately, we cannot declare victory in this battle as the continuing pressure to shift budgets within the Department of Defense will energize the people that do not appreciate the value of these programs. This pressure can only be expected to increase in the coming months as the Congress debates the devastating reductions to Defense accounts that are associated with the sequestration process scheduled to begin early next year.

"Let me be clear, I remain a strong supporter of military commissaries and exchanges and will continue to work to ensure that these programs endure through this era of budget challenges and remain the effective benefits that have served the our men and women in uniform and the Nation for so long."