WASHINGTON?– U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement in response to a recently released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining the state of American military barracks:

“This report’s findings are shameful and troubling for the future of our force,” Wicker said. “Our servicemembers deserve a safe place to live and work. Failing to provide this basic necessity harms readiness and discourages recruitment and retention. ?This year's Senate NDAA would add increased oversight, establish basic habitability standards, and add targeted funding to help address some of these challenges. Rest assured that we are committed to ensuring these changes are implemented through conference.”

Read the GAO report in full here. Read more about Senator Wicker’s work on national defense here.