The Disabled Veterans Commissary & Exchange Store Benefits Act
One of the benefits of career military service is use of the military commissary and exchanges located in VA hospitals and many military bases. These stores sell food and goods such as clothes at below retail prices due to the subsidy provided by the federal government. These benefits extend to families of retired military personnel, their survivors, veterans with 100 percent disability, active service members and families of those with service-connected deaths.
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H.R. 4121
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During the 109th Congress, in session from 2005 to 2006, Rep. Michael Sodrel (R-IN), introduced H.R. 4121 --- Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act. The purpose of the bill was to extend commissary and exchange privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and their families. The bill had 27 co-sponsors, both Democratic and Republican. It was referred to the House Armed Services committee, where it stayed, never making it to the House floor for a vote.
109th , 110th and 111th Congresses
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During the 109th, 110th and 111th Congresses, in session from 2008 to 2009, 2009 to 2010 and 2010 to 2011, respectively, Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) proposed H.R. Bill 2495, H.R. Bill 1178 and H.R. 1818, respectively. The bills had 21 co-sponsors, both Democrats and Republicans. The bill was sent to the House Armed Services Committee for discussion. It was assigned to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Affairs. There it languished until it died.
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112th Congress
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Undaunted by its poor showing in the 111th Congress, Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry (R-NE) once again proposed this legislation in the 112th Congress, which runs from 2011 to 2012. In this Congress, the bill only has two co-sponsors, again both Democratic and Republican. Once again, on March 17, 2011, the bill was referred to the House Armed Services committee for debate and investigation.
Committees
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The House and the Senate both have standing committees set up to review legislation before it is brought to the floor to be read and voted on. The committee will debate the merits of the bill, then report on the bill to the full session of their legislative branch. Reports are favorable or unfavorable. This reporting is the only way a bill can move forward to full consideration by the legislative body. Most bills never go into committee, but if one does, as this one did, the committee it is assigned to can ensure the bill never comes up for a vote, by not producing a report and consequently never moving the bill forward.
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