Pushing to Keep Topsham Commissary

Press Release

Snowe, Collins, and Pingree Urge DOD to Consider Pilot Program in Topsham Commissary Decision

U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins and Representative Chellie Pingree are urging Under Secretary of Defense Clifford Stanley to take into account legislative proposals offered in both the House and Senate that would further enhance the value of a commissary servicing the Topsham-Brunswick region and its more than 10,000 active duty, Guard, and Reserve service members, retirees, and their dependents.

In a letter to Under Secretary Stanley, they identified two separate legislative solutions to support continued operations of commissary stores at military installations slated for closure or adverse alignment. Proposals introduced by Senators Snowe and Collins in the Senate and Representative Pingree in the House would authorize an "enhanced commissary store" pilot program allowing these stores to sell products commonly sold by the military exchanges, such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Unlike other goods at the commissary, which are sold at cost plus a 5 percent surcharge, these products would be sold at prices determined by the Secretary of Defense, and the proceeds from those sales would help reduce operating costs at each enhanced commissary.

Senators Snowe and Collins introduced S. 1044 on May 23, 2011. Rep. Pingree included her version of the legislation within the House-passed version of H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 by amendment during consideration by the House Armed Services Committee.

The letter also noted that, according to preliminary estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, this authority "could reduce the annual operating costs of a commissary in the Topsham-Brunswick area by $300,000 or more." Although this would not offset the entire costs of the store, "it would result in a substantial reduction in costs, and provide an opportunity to demonstrate and evaluate a concept that could help reduce operating costs of other commissaries around the world."

"Recognizing the budgetary constraints facing our nation today, this legislation would provide the Department of Defense with a means to reduce operating costs for a commissary in the Topsham-Brunswick region," said Senator Snowe. "In these trying economic times, it is particularly important for Under Secretary Stanley to consider these fiscally responsible legislative proposals before terminating such an important benefit to our service members and veterans."

"The retired and active duty personnel who will remain in the Midcoast region have made it clear that they want to keep the commissary open, and I am committed to doing all I can to help meet this goal. I urge the Department of Defense to consider the options that we have put forward as a way of reducing operating costs while continuing to provide this valuable benefit to our veterans and their families," said Senator Collins.

"A family of four can save over $4,000 a year by shopping at a commissary," said Congresswoman Pingree. "It's a benefit that military personnel, retirees and their families depend on and they deserve. It's critically important that a commissary remains in the Midcoast even though the Brunswick Naval Air Station has been closed."

Source