U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE), Chairman of the Quality of Life Panel, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing where Quality of Life Panel members received testimony from other members of Congress on their perspective regarding military quality of life issues.
Rep. Bacon's remarks as prepared for delivery:
I want to thank our colleagues for providing testimony. I look forward to hearing their perspective on the issues this Panel has been chartered to consider. Service members and their families make untold sacrifices to protect this nation. They should not have to sacrifice, nor be concerned with their basic necessities, such as food, living conditions, access to health care, and basic quality of life issues due to their military service. These men and women deserve better.
Over the past six months, the Panel has heard from military spouses regarding the struggles obtaining child care and maintaining employment due to multiple military moves. We have heard from the Government Accountability Office about the abhorrent condition of unaccompanied housing. We talked to military compensation experts about the adequacy of junior enlisted pay. Throughout these events we have found that although the Department has done some work to improve service members' quality of life, significant gaps remain.
As the Panel begins to consider legislative recommendations for the House Armed Services Committee Military Personnel Subcommittee, I very much look forward to hearing from our colleagues about concerns they are hearing from their constituents.
