Legislation passed by the House Armed Service Committee would require that at least one gate remain open regardless of whether the primary visitor center is open. The description of the bill said that it is designed to allow for eligible veterans’ spouses and dependents to accompany them to the commissary and MWR facilities without separate visitor registration.”

The measure, passed by the House Armed Services Committee on June 4 provides that “the bases always have the capability and procedures to process visitors to the military installation, regardless of whether the installation’s primary visitors control center is open.” the provision, introduced by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) states that personnel at the military installation must be able to direct visitors to the appropriate office on the military installation.

The provision has a long way to go before becoming law but it passed a major hurdle in clearing the committee process for inclusion in the FY 2027 Defense Authorization Act.

The ALA has been working to ease base access for beneficiaries and lawmakers have been urging DoD to have standard practices to make it easier for patrons of exchanges and commissaries, particularly veterans and caregiver, to get on base to use their benefits.