I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2850 
To establish the Military Resale Patron Benefits Advisory Commission, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 8, 2017 
Mr. JONES (for himself and Mr. WALZ) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To establish the Military Resale Patron Benefits Advisory 
Commission, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Military Patron Pro-
tection Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. MILITARY RESALE PATRON BENEFITS ADVISORY 
COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Military Resale Patron Bene-
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fits Advisory Commission’’ (in this Act referred to as ‘‘the 
Commission’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission shall be 
to advise the Secretary of Defense regarding— 
(1) the effects of the operations of military 
commissaries and exchanges on— 
(A) patrons of military commissaries and 
exchanges; and 
(B) morale, welfare and recreation pro-
grams; 
(2) the sources and uses of revenue from mili-
tary commissaries and exchanges, including sur-
charge funding; 
(3) fulfillment of the requirements under Sec-
tion 661 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–840); 
(4) proposed reforms to the operations of mili-
tary commissaries and exchanges that could effect— 
(A) the use of revenue from military com-
missaries and exchanges (including surcharge 
funding); 
(B) the morale, welfare and recreation pro-
grams provided for members of the Armed 
Forces and their dependents; and 
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(C) philanthropic programs that benefit 
members of the Armed Forces and their fami-
lies; and 
(5) the possible effects of such reforms on the 
morale of members of the Armed Forces and their 
dependents. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission shall be comprised of seven members, ap-
pointed by the Secretary of Defense from military or 
veterans service organizations to represent the inter-
ests of patrons and beneficiaries of military com-
missaries and exchanges. 
(2) TERMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be 
appointed for a term of one year, subject to re-
newal by the Secretary of Defense. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Com-
mission shall be filled in the manner in which 
the original appointment was made. 
(3) PAY.—Members of the Commission shall 
serve without pay. 
(4) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Each member shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence. 
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(5) CHAIRPERSON.—Members of the Commis-
sion shall elect a Chairperson. 
(6) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
the call of the Chairperson. 
(d) DIRECTOR
AND STAFF
OF COMMISSION; EX-
PERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
appoint a member of the Armed Forces to serve as 
the Director of the Commission. 
(2) EXPERTS
AND
CONSULTANTS.—With the 
approval of the Commission, the Director may pro-
cure temporary and intermittent services under sec-
tion 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re-
quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
basis, any of the personnel of that department or 
agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out 
its duties under this Act. 
(e) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commis-
sion may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, 
hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 
considers appropriate. 
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(2) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis-
sion may secure directly from any department or 
agency of the United States information necessary 
to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that 
department or agency shall furnish that information 
to the Commission. 
(3) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agen-
cies of the United States. 
(4) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.— 
Upon request of the Commission, the Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission, 
on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out 
its responsibilities under this Act. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may 
submit to the Secretary of Defense interim reports 
as the Commission considers appropriate. 
(2) FINAL
REPORT.—The Commission shall 
transmit a final report to the President and the 
Congress not later than the day on which the Com-
mission terminates under subsection (g). The final 
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report shall contain a detailed statement of the find-
ings and conclusions of the Commission, together 
with its recommendations for legislation or adminis-
trative actions the Commission considers appro-
priate. 
(g) TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to 
the termination of advisory committees) notwithstanding, 
the Commission shall terminate upon the day that is five 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. REPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2018, 
and annually thereafter for the subsequent four calendar 
years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Con-
gress an annual report regarding the following: 
(1) The use of funds generated by military com-
missaries and exchanges other than to— 
(A) cover capital costs of such military 
commissaries and exchanges; 
(B) support morale, welfare and recreation 
programs; 
(C) provide services directly to members of 
the Armed Services or their families; or 
(D) support operations in a forward de-
ployed or tactical environment. 
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(2) The constitution and purpose of the respec-
tive boards of directors of the Military Exchanges 
and Commissary Operations and any determination 
by any such board to use proceeds covered in a re-
port under paragraph (1). 
(3) Responses of the Secretary to any findings 
or proposals of the Commission. 
(4) Actions described in subsection (b), (c), or 
(d). 
(b) NOTIFICATION
BEFORE
CERTAIN
EXPENDI-
TURES.—The Secretary of Defense shall notify the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate and the Committees on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives and the Senate no 
later than 90 days before expending any funds generated 
by a military commissary or exchange for a purpose other 
than those named in subsection (a)(1). 
(c) NOTIFICATION BEFORE ACTIONS THAT REDUCE 
CERTAIN CONTRACTS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
notify the Committees on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate no later than 90 days 
before taking any action that would result in the reduction 
of a contract awarded by the Defense Commissary Agency 
that has been awarded to— 
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(1) a small, veteran-owned, woman-owned, or 
disadvantaged business concern; 
(2) a qualified nonprofit agency for the blind 
under section 8501(7) of title 41, United States 
Code; or 
(3) a qualified nonprofit agency for other se-
verely disabled under section 8501(6) of title 41, 
United States Code. 
Æ 
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