To require a Comptroller General report on closure of Department of Defense dependent elementary and secondary schools and commissary stores.

SA 3204. Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Kennedy) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 372, after line 17, insert the following:

SEC. 2844. PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OF COMMISSARY STORES, MWR RETAIL FACILITIES, AND DEPENDENT ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION OF CONGRESS.

(a) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Defense may not close any commissary store, MWR retail facility, or Department of Defense dependent elementary or secondary school without the specific authorization of Congress for such action by law.

(b) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the policy of the Department of Defense, and the criteria utilized by the Department, with respect to the closure of commissary stores, MWR retail facilities, and Department of Defense dependent elementary and secondary schools, including an assessment whether or not such policy and criteria are consistent with Department policies and procedures on the preservation of the quality of life of members of the Armed Forces.

(c) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means--

(A) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

(2) The term “MWR retail facility” means an exchange store or other revenue-generating facility operated by nonappropriated fund activities of the Department of Defense for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of the Armed Forces.