We Have a Duty to Provide Safe Housing for Our Military Families. We Can and Must Do Better.

Statement

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) released the following statement on the persistent, poor conditions of privatized military housing on Fort Meade:

"The living conditions described by these military families are outrageous and completely unacceptable. For months, families have been sounding the alarm on health and safety hazards in private base housing. These problems persist today due to negligence, no sense of urgency and a lack of oversight. Our troops and their families deserve better.

We task the men and women in our armed services with missions critical to the safety and security of this country. The last thing they should have to worry about is whether their children and spouses are getting sick from mold in rundown homes.

In Congress, I continue to seek the establishment of a tenants' bill of rights which would require assessments of home safety and prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements. Additionally, I've sought to empower base commanders to conduct inspections on behalf of their service members and require the Inspector General to fully audit private military housing.

We can and must do better - it is our duty to do so."

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