Military Community and Family Program Support for Quality of Life

organizations, who also testify today. This team, with many new players, brings a wealthof experience and commitment to guide their organizations and to work together toguarantee future success.APPROPRIATED BUDGET REQUESTSThe President’s budget submission continues the Department’s strong support forService members and their families. The Fiscal Year 2009 President’s Budget requests$4.006 billion to operate the commissary, exchange, MWR, child care and youthprograms. The DeCA FY 2009 budget request is $1.2911 billion, which covers the$1.3009 billion operating budget, adjusted for prior years. The $245.6 million requestedfor the Armed Service Exchanges includes $179.5 million to fully support transportationrequirements to ship U.S. procured goods to overseas locations, as is required by the law.The Military Departments request $2.1 billion for direct support of the MWR programs,with $969 million designated to support child and youth development programs. Inaddition, the Fiscal Year 2009 budget requests $375.1 million of MILCON and $138million of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) funding for commissary, child care,fitness, recreation, and lodging facilities.RESALE SYSTEM OVERSIGHTThe commissaries and exchanges exist as government entities to deliver resultsthat can not be entirely furnished by the private sector. We must, therefore, continue todemonstrate that our commissaries and exchanges, individually and in aggregate, aremeeting the needs of our Service members and are contributing positively to recruiting,retention, and readiness. We set long term goals and monitor program performancethrough the DeCA Board of Directors, the respective Exchange Boards, and within myoffice. The commissary and exchange performance are components of the Quality of8