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For Immediate Release
6/6/06
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Sen. Pippy, Rep. Mustio Urge Defense Department to Establish Commissary in Moon Township

Ask for delay in closing Oakdale commissary until new regional site ready.   

Harrisburg – State Sen. John Pippy (R-37) and Rep. Mark Mustio (R-44) are urging the U.S. Defense Department to establish a military commissary at the site of the 99th Regional Readiness Command in Moon Township to serve military personnel and families in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  

In a letter to Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S. C. Chu, the lawmakers also advocated a delay in closing the region's only existing commissary at the Charles E. Kelly Support Center in Oakdale. The Support Center is due to close under the recent Base Realignment and Closure Report.  

"The next closest similar facility is located in Carlisle, PA, which is 188 miles away," the members wrote.  "Given that 30,762 military personnel, retirees and their families live within 40 miles of the current Commissary, and an additional 68,261 soldiers reside within 150 miles of the facility, preserving a Commissary is critically important not only to Pittsburgh but the region as a whole."  

Commissaries are where active military, retired veterans and their families can purchase food and other household items at cost. 

"Over the years, the servicemen and women of Western Pennsylvania have proved to be critically important to our nation's safety and security, and have served and sacrificed honorably in the course of the missions assigned to them. It is our hope that the benefits to which they are entitled can be preserved," Senator Pippy and Representative Mustio wrote.

In an effort to give residents a voice in this process, Pippy and Mustio posted a survey at www.senatorpippy.com/commissary.htm which allows a person to register their support for a new Commissary.  The survey will remain at the website through June, after which the names will be compiled and sent to the region's federal delegation and to the Department of Defense.  The intent is to send a clear message to Washington DC that the new Commissary is a critical resource for Western Pennsylvania and all military families throughout the tri-state region.

U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, as well as U.S. Representatives Tim Murphy and Melissa Hart have also urged keeping the Oakdale site open until construction of the Moon Township Commissary.

CONTACT: Matt Campion (412) 571-3822