On January 10, 2014 Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute to praise the military commissary system.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the military exchange and commissary program.”
“The Defense Commissary Agency in the Department of Defense operates an efficient, worldwide chain of commissaries providing affordable groceries to military personnel and their families, and retirees. This benefit is critical for the men and women of the military and their families. It helps military personnel adequately provide for their families’ nutrition and well-being, both here at home and across the globe”, he said.
“While our Federal budget is under pressure, the benefits to our military personnel must not be targeted as a means to reduce our national debt. The exchange and commissary program is essential for retention, well-being, and our Nation’s military readiness. This is a vital service, and I will continue to fight for these services to be preserved here, and especially across the globe. This program is critical to our Nation’s military readiness and must be maintained”, said Rep. Wittman. (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
Wittman completely missed the fact that that system has to be subsidized in many ways under the food stamp program for the poor because the military pays its lower enlisted ranks so badly that it is he only way they can afford to live ( source: http://www.armytimes.com/article/20131029/BENEFITS07/310290012/Food-stamp-usage-levels-off-commissaries).
See article: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/07/13/dod-5000-military-families-losing-food-stamps.html