A letter from the ATA-MSC (American Trucker’s Association – Movers and Storers Conference), to all members, dated 23 May 2024, has advised that the US House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has approved provisions championed by the ATA Moving and Storage Conference to increase oversight of the DOD's Defense Personal Property Program and its Global Household Goods Contract Program.

The committee's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has required an evaluation of the management and oversight of the GHC and the Defense Personal Property Program by the independent Government Accountability Office (GAO) by 1 April, 2025.  It also requires the delivery to the Committee of an assessment of the GHC's initial transition by 31 December, 2024, including ‘a current assessment of industry enrolment’.

In the autumn of last year the ATA-MSC called on Congress to increase oversight of the GHC program, including assessing its feasibility in key areas such as capacity, economics, and the application of the Service Contract Act, and potential impacts to military readiness and military family quality of life.

The letter explained that over the past eight months, Conference and ATA staff have been actively engaged with Armed Services committee members and committee staff in pursuit of this oversight. Additionally, several ATA-MSC member company leaders met with Committee staff earlier this year to lend their voices to ATA-MSC's advocacy efforts.

Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Mike Waltz said that the House NDAA provides necessary oversight of the global household goods contract. He added: “The ATA-MSC further applauds the Committee for including several provisions to support military spouse employment following a relocation. The FY25 NDAA will permanently authorise the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot, a significant win for improving the overall quality of life for military families.”

The ATA-MSC said that this program provides essential employment support to military spouses, simplifies the transfer of professional licenses across states, and expands access to childcare.