[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E879-E880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL BARRY BATES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARTIN FROST

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2000

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding 
Army leader in my District, Major General Barry Bates, as he 
relinquishes command of the Army & Air Force Exchanges Service, 
headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
  Under his strong visionary leadership, AAFES has served the military 
community better than at any time in its history. General Bates 
exercised astute management which led to annual sales of $7.3 billion 
and earnings of over $351 million. This produced the highest per capita 
dividend ($284 per service member) for Morale, Welfare & Recreation 
programs of

[[Page E880]]

our Armed Services. He improved the overseas school feeding program, 
the military family program, and encouraged youth by establishing a 
coupon program and Savings Bond drawing to recognize those achieving 
good grades.
  General Bates has expanded business partnerships, improved 
cooperation among DOD resale activities, and partnered with other 
services to develop exchange-wide credit card services. He has also 
advanced AAFES significantly in the application of technology. Internet 
sales have grown by leaps and bounds to $24.2 million in 1999. AAFES' 
Information Systems Directorate has won 13 major national awards and 
opened a state of the art Enterprise Technology Center.
  General Bates has made customer service a priority, positioning AAFES 
as a ``customer driven company.'' At the same time, he has focused on 
developing, training and caring for AAFES employees. The results tell 
the story: customer service has improved 25%, and associate 
satisfaction has increased by 14%.
  I've been impressed with the work of General Bates on two vastly 
different fronts. On a recent trip to Bosnia I shopped at a great PX at 
Eagle Base in Tuzla. This kind of operation is what AAFES has become 
known for--they go wherever our soldiers go. General Bates has inspired 
his team to provide great service on all the U.S. contingency missions. 
His commitment to be there for the troops was most evident when AAFES 
established a presence in Albania just five days after our forces 
arrived there.
  At the request of AAFES retirees, I worked personally with General 
Bates to guarantee the security of the AAFES retirement plan. He was 
courageous and unyielding in his fight to ensure that the retirement 
plan was protected for all AAFES retirees and associates.
  General Bates has positioned AAFES solidly for the future. His 
extraordinary leadership and business acumen have set a standard in 
Texas for quality operations that will ensure quality morale, welfare, 
and recreation programs for our Army and Air Force for years to come.
  A soldier's soldier, General Bates is now returning to Korea to 
command Army troops in that volatile part of the world. On the occasion 
of his departure, I want to thank him for helping Congress take care of 
the troops and their families, for caring for many of my constituents--
the wonderful employees of AAFES, and for serving his Army so 
effectively as the Commander of AAFES. I ask all Members to join me in 
wishing General Bates success in his new position.

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