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2020 SESSION

20104673D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 26
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 5, 2020
Memorializing the Congress of the United States to address substandard housing conditions for families living on military bases through increased funding and holding the owners of privatized housing accountable.
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Patron-- Kiggans
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) operates more than 420 military installations in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, sustaining the presence of the United States Armed Forces at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is home to 27 military bases, representing every branch of the armed services; and

WHEREAS, these installations are used to train and deploy troops, maintain weapons systems, and care for the wounded; and

WHEREAS, in addition, the installations support military service members and their families by providing housing, health care, childcare, and on-base education; and

WHEREAS, a critical component to the well-being of military families is safe, clean, and decent housing; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 2000, the federal government began efforts to privatize the residential housing on military bases; and

WHEREAS, a survey was conducted by the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) between January 30, 2019, and February 6, 2019; and

WHEREAS, more than 55 percent of respondents reported a negative or very negative experience, with problems cited including reports of the existence of black mold, lead-based paint, faulty wiring, poor water quality, pesticides, and a wide variety of vermin, insects, and other animals (e.g., bats, skunks, and squirrels) in their homes; and

WHEREAS, on February 13, 2019, military housing residents testified to members of Congress about unacceptable conditions in privatized housing at various military installations; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for Congress to address these documented military housing issues for the overall well-being of not only Virginia's military families but also the military families living in housing across all U.S. military installations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Congress of the United States be urged to address substandard housing conditions for families living on military bases through increased funding and holding the owners of privatized housing accountable; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.