Duncan Hunter: “First, I want to thank the chairman from New Jersey and just thank him for the wonderful job he has done protecting our…”

“First, I want to thank the chairman from New Jersey and just thank him for the wonderful job he has done protecting our troops and our people around world and making sure that the world remains a safer place than it would be otherwise without the United States there. {time} 2345 Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment that would prohibit the Department of Defense from increasing the prices paid by our troops and their families, our veterans and their families at military commissaries, especially overseas. The commissary benefit is one of a number of benefits that our servicemembers receive upon joining the military, and it is one that our servicemembers and their families rely upon to maintain their access to wholesome, affordable, and healthy food. The Defense Commissary Agency, or DeCA, has embarked upon a poorly researched plan to raise prices on commissary consumers as part of a move towards what they call a ``commercial'' business model. This amendment requires the Department of Defense to continue using the existing model of produce sourcing for commissaries in Asia and the Pacific unless and until the Secretary of Defense can certify that a new sourcing model will not raise prices on the shelves. This maintains the promised benefits that our warriors and their families expected to receive when they raised their right hand and became a United States sailor, airman, soldier, or marine. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR.…”