Dennis Ross's Amendment to Save Military Commissaries from Defense Cuts Passes House

This week, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., introduced an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act which ensures military commissaries will remain open even as the Defense Department looks to make cuts. The bill, with the amendment, passed the House.

Ross took to the House floor to make his case.

I have an amendment at the desk, Ross said. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to offer an important amendment to this years Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill

My amendment would protect access to commissaries for our active-duty service members, our veterans, and their families, Ross continued. As the representative of a community with such a strong military presence, I have had the honor to be advised by a number of active veterans and military leaders. Their requests have always been consistent. We must not balance our nations fiscal problems on the backs of our veterans and active-duty personnel.

Unfortunately, the secretary of Defense released his fiscal year 2015 budget request for the Department of Defense, which included the proposed closures of commissaries, Ross continued. Just last night, I held a telephone town hall meeting and retired CMSgt Richard Redhill voiced his concern over the closure of commissaries. Now look. There are already attempts out there to gut their health care by way of cutting TRICARE. There are attempts out there to gut their cost-of-living adjustments. Lets at least leave their commissaries alone.

Let us respect the obligations that we owe to those who raise their right hands to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life in defense of this country, Ross said. Our military is the most advanced and well-trained that the world has ever seen, not just because we are the best in technology and weapons systems, but also because of those men and women who volunteer to stand in defense of our country.