Palm Coast Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman and Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Mike Waltz (FL-6), along with U.S. Congressman and Ranking Member John Garamendi (CA-8), has sent a letter urging the Department of Defense to address the concerning findings of a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study. The study, published last week, highlighted the poor living conditions in U.S. military barracks and emphasized the need to ensure that service members are provided with the quality housing they deserve.

In the letter addressed to Secretary Austin, Congressman Waltz expressed his concern regarding the living conditions of servicemembers and emphasized the importance of addressing readiness issues that impact their quality of life, recruitment, and retention. He stated, "The men and women in uniform that serve our nation are our greatest assets; we owe it to them to provide the necessary resources to defend our nation which includes, at the bare minimum, satisfactory living conditions."

The GAO study revealed alarming findings that pose serious risks to the physical and mental health of servicemembers. These include mold, broken fire alarm systems, extreme temperatures, and even methane gas leaking out of aging plumbing. Congressman Waltz cited an incident where a servicemember was hospitalized due to respiratory illness caused by mold. Additionally, he highlighted the disturbing practice of servicemembers being responsible for cleaning biological waste in a room after a suicide.

To improve barracks living conditions and readiness levels, the GAO study identified five areas of weaknesses that require immediate attention. These areas include assessing barracks conditions uniformly, collecting information on the effects of such conditions, tracking and reporting funds spent on barracks, establishing fair policies, and providing proper oversight of the barracks programs. The GAO also made 31 recommendations for the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military services to address these challenges.

In response to these findings, the Subcommittee on Readiness has requested a briefing from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Military Departments, on the current conditions of barracks and the corrective measures being taken. Congressman Waltz urged swift action and emphasized that chronic under-funding of infrastructure sustainment accounts has contributed to the decline in barracks quality.

The Congressman's letter concluded by expressing the Subcommittee's commitment to providing effective oversight and ensuring that service members receive the quality housing they deserve. For further coordination or inquiries, individuals can contact Patrick Nevins of the Committee on Armed Services Majority Staff or Jeanine Womble of the Committee on Armed Services Minority Staff.

These alarming findings regarding the living conditions of U.S. military barracks highlight the urgent need for immediate action. The Subcommittee on Readiness, led by U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz, is dedicated to addressing these issues and ensuring that the men and women who serve our nation are provided with the necessary resources and satisfactory living conditions.