2008 Key Issue and Legislative Focus

2008 Key Issue and Legislative Focus

The following list contains a current “snap shot” of issues we will be working for the remainder of this Congress and the calendar year.  This list is necessarily fluid and will change depending on deliberations on the Hill and the changing focus items of candidates.  We will post this on the Web page and provide updates on progress as they become available.

-                           Serve as the “single source for the truth” to educate members of congress and constituents on the relevance of the Military Resale System to quality of life and the readiness of the force.

-                           Urge Congress to hold hearings and provide oversight for Military Resale and MWR programs.  Provide testimony as requested.

-                           Champion adequate levels of funding to ensure high quality, accessible quality of life programs, services and facilities.

-                           Champion funding and planning to ensure adequate quality of life programs are in place in communities experiencing growth due to Base Realignment and Closure, global restationing, and Service transformation.  Support the use of BRAC and MILCON funding to cover the cost of Military Resale construction necessitated by troop rebasing.

-                           Support the Defense Data Manpower Center (DDMC) in its preparation of the report to congress on Base Access for members of the ALA.  Seek a best practice solution to facilitate member’s business needs.

-                           Champion the elimination of restrictions on the sale of items/services by Military Exchanges.

-                           Champion appropriated funding support for MWR programs to meet the needs of family support/quality of life programs.

-                           Promote increased outreach by the Exchange and Commissary to increase patronage and enhance access to the resale benefits especially by members of the Guard and Reserve.

-                           Monitor the closure of resale facilities to ensure closure criteria is appropriately applied and the impact on all customers is evaluated.

-                           Guard against initiatives with the potential to reduce the value of the commissary benefit or to diminish exchange-generated revenue for Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs.

-                           Promote efforts by the Exchanges and Commissary to improve customer satisfaction and meet the needs of all beneficiary categories.

-                           Oppose privatization of the military resale system.

-                           Closely monitor and evaluate initiatives to combine Commissaries and Exchanges.

-                           Support process improvements within the Military Resale System that drive win-win solutions for members and trading partners while guarding against changes that impact the value of the benefit to the patrons.

-                           Support supply chain initiatives and relationships that drive the lowest cost of goods for the military resale system.

Archived President’s Messages