U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) introduced a bill on Wednesday, Jan. 14 to lessen the burden on disabled veterans by extending military commissary and exchange store privileges to former service members and their families.

“This bill provides for the needs of our disabled military personnel and their families in the Central Valley and across the nation,” said Rep. Denham. “Taking care of our heroes who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom is a necessary benefit. Veterans and their families should not lose access to the cost savings of shopping at a commissary simply because they were disabled in the line of duty.”

Rep. Denham’s bill, H.R. 342, is a common-sense solution that would ensure disabled vets and their families have access to commissary and exchange stores. Commissaries, markets typically located on military bases that sell household items and food for cost and a 5 percent surcharge, and exchanges, which offer competitive prices and tax-free shopping at more than 2,400 facilities, enable military members to provide for their families at lower costs and with easier access.

Rep. Denham introduced this bill last Congress as H.R. 1131.