Guam legislator sits in US oversight body

Guam Congressman Robert A. Underwood has been selected by Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, as ranking member of the Committee’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Oversight Panel.

“This is a very important position,” Mr. Underwood said. “It gives me the opportunity to be of assistance to our people in uniform around the world, as well as affect the nature of commissary and exchange services on Guam. Hopefully, we’ll be able to pursue increased opportunities for businesses in Guam to sell at the exchanges and commissaries.”

The MWR Panel has oversight responsibility for the Department of Defense’s non-appropriated fund activities, which include childcare centers, recreation facilities, guesthouses, bowling allies, theaters and libraries serving US military communities worldwide.

The Panel also provides support for appropriated funding activities, such as military commissaries, exchanges, clubs and other related programs.

MWR programs serve more than 12 million people, employ over 100,000 workers and generate more than $15 billion annually.

Mr. Underwood, a member of the MWR Panel since the 105th Congress (1997-98), will travel to Texas today for oversight work with Army-Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) headquarters in Dallas.