[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8095-8096]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF A BILL THAT PROHIBITS THE CLOSURE OF THE COMMISSARY AND 
            EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AT NAVAL AIR STATION BRUNSWICK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHELLIE PINGREE

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to be 
introducing a bill that prohibits the closure of the commissary and 
exchange programs at Naval Air Station Brunswick in my home State of 
Maine.
  Unfortunately, before I was a Member of Congress, Naval Air Station 
Brunswick was selected for closure during the 2005 Base Realignment and 
Closure process. We are saddened to see the base close and so many 
active duty members, who have made Maine their home transfer to 
Jacksonville, Florida. However, a significant active duty population 
will remain whose mission still requires them to be stationed in the 
midcoast area. These units include Supervisor of Shipbuilding, 
Conversion and Repair, which is a field activity of Naval Sea Systems 
Command located in Bath, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines located in 
Topsham, and units of the Maine Army National Guard that will soon 
construct a joint reserve center at Naval Air Station Brunswick. 
Additionally, there are thousands of military retirees who depend on 
this fundamental part of their pay and benefits package.
  Military families count on the commissary and exchange programs to 
deliver costs savings. Access to these programs is not a fringe 
benefit, but a critical part of the pay package we have promised the 
men and women who serve.
  The fact that Brunswick has been selected for closure is no excuse 
for these men and women to go without the same programs their 
counterparts across the globe depend on.

[[Page 8096]]

Many of the retirees in the midcoast Maine area relocated there after 
their service specifically for the commissary and exchange programs. We 
must honor the promises that we made to these individuals, and not 
abandon them now during these difficult economic times.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in the coming weeks to 
pass this important legislation in the House.

                          ____________________