Maine delegation working to preserve Commissary presence after BNAS shutdown

Congressman Mike Michaud and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced that they intend to introduce legislation that would guarantee a Navy Exchange and Commissary in the Brunswick area through 2011 and require an independent analysis of the profitability of the Exchange.

Michaud and Pingree will introduce a proposal similar to one that Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins plan to introduce in the Senate.

“There will be thousands of active duty personnel and retirees who will need access to these facilities,” said Michaud.  “Our congressional delegation is united in our work to protect their continued access to the commissary and exchange.”

The legislation would require an independent audit of the profitability of the Navy Exchange and a General Accounting Office analysis of that report.

“The Defense Department has claimed there won’t be enough demand after base closure, but according to their own policy, the Midcoast region will meet the criteria to continue these services,” Pingree said. “I am convinced that an independent analysis would show that there are more than enough active duty and retired service members to make it very worthwhile.”

Michaud is a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Pingree serves on the House Armed Services Committee.