sr1127_As_introduced_LC_21_8912_2.html
06 LC 21 8912
Senate Resolution 1127
By: Senator Douglas of the 17th


A RESOLUTION

Urging the United States Department of Defense to take action to cause the commissary and post exchange located on Fort Gillem to remain open; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, on September 15, 2005, the President approved the final Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, which will result in the closure of Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem, and the Naval Air Station Atlanta, all of which are in the Atlanta metropolitan area; and

WHEREAS, the closure of these bases will leave over 36,000 retired military personnel and their over 54,000 family members, in addition to over 15,000 national guardsmen and reservists, with no Defense Commissary Agency commissary or major Army-Air Force Exchange System post exchange within 100 miles, creating an exceptional opportunity for the Department of Defense to continue to support the remaining personnel of all components at Fort Gillem by retaining the current commissary and post-exchange complex; and

WHEREAS, when Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, and Fort Ord, California, were closed, each facility maintained its commissary and exchange to support local reserve component personnel and retired military personnel and their families, and those facilities continue to thrive and are very popular with their customers; and

WHEREAS, the Atlanta metropolitan area has a large population of retired personnel who rely on the current exchanges and commissaries, and the current annual sales at the Atlanta area post exchanges exceed $22 million, while the current annual sales at the Atlanta area commissaries approach $25 million, figures that will be easy to maintain even with the active duty personnel transfers.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the members of this body strongly urge the United States Department of Defense to maintain the commissary and exchange facilities at Fort Gillem.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the United States Secretary of Defense.