From: MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Floyd Sears
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 8:24 PM
To: !MRGRG e-mail network
Cc: hal.cleveland@CHARTER.NET
Subject: [MRGRG-MS] [Fwd: lonestargrp: Pelosi and Edwards Statements on TRICARE]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:     lonestargrp: FW: Pelosi and Edwards Statements on TRICARE
Date:        Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:01:56 -0600
From:       Hal Cleveland <hal.cleveland@CHARTER.NET>

From: Manatos, Tom [mailto:Tom.Manatos@mail.house.gov] On Behalf Of Democratic Leader Pelosi
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 7:22 PM
Subject: Pelosi and Edwards Statements on TRICARE
Importance: High

News From House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
H-204, The Capitol, Washington D.C. 20515

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement following a roundtable discussion this afternoon hosted by House Democrats with the leaders of several veterans' and military organizations. At the same time, House Democrats, led by Congressman Chet Edwards led the fight in the House Budget Committee to block TRICARE fee increases, the number one issue of concern expressed by the veterans’ and military organizations.

“Today, we heard loud and clear from the leaders of our nations veterans’ and military organizations that blocking the ill-advised TRICARE fee increase including in the President’s budget is their number one priority.

“The Bush budget increases TRICARE health care premiums for 3.1 million of the nation's military retirees under 65. Premiums will double for senior enlisted retirees and triple for officer retirees by 2009 and drug co-payments will increase -- costing military retirees $2.4 billion over five years. These fee increases of more than $1,000 could drive more than 144,000 military retirees out of the TRICARE system, leaving them without the health care they earned through 20 years of service.”

“It is unconscionable to impose a fee increase on the men and women in uniform who bravely sacrificed for our country, especially during a time of war. We must demonstrate our commitment to our troops and future veterans by assuring them that just as they protected us, we will take care of them when their service ends.

“Just as our men and women in uniform vow to never leave a soldier behind in battle, so must we commit to never leaving a veteran behind when they need healthcare.”

Thought you would to read this statement from Congressman Chet Edwards on his amendment to block the Bush Administration’s proposed increase to health care premiums for our nation’s veterans – the number one priority for veterans’ groups across the country. Every single Republican on the Budget Committee voted against the Edwards amendment.

News from Congressman

Chet Edwards

17^th District, Texas · 2264 Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-4311 (202) 225-6105

115 south Main Street Suite 202 Cleburne, Texas 76033 (817) 645-4743

600 Austin Avenue, Suite 29, Waco, Texas 76706-1093 (254) 752-9600

111 University Drive East Suite 216 College Station, TX 77840 (979) 691-8797

Homepage: www.house.gov/edwards

Edwards’ Amendment To Block Military Retiree Health Care Tax Rejected On Party Line Vote in Budget Committee

(Washington, DC)— Today, the House Budget Committee rejected an amendment offered by U.S. Representative Chet Edwards (TX17) to the fiscal year 2007 Budget to block the Administration’s proposal to double and triple health care premiums for about 3 million enlisted and officer retirees under Tricare, the military’s health insurance system. Edwards’ amendment would have added $735 million to Department of Defense (DoD) healthcare budget to block the proposed increases. It failed on a party line vote 15-22.

“Minutes after this committee acted in a bipartisan fashion and voted down increased enrollment fees and prescription co-pays for veterans, my Republican colleagues endorsed a $1000 annual tax on military retirees’ health care by rejecting my amendment,” said Edwards. “I believe that keeping our promise of quality, affordable health care for military retirees is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. It is right because our nation has a moral obligation to keep our promises to those who have kept their promise to defend our nation. It is the smart thing to do because we cannot attract the best and brightest to fight our war on terrorism in the years ahead if they see us breaking faith with those who served in years past. To win the war on terrorism, we must keep faith with our warriors and stop this military retiree tax,” said Edwards, also ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs.

For the first time under the Administration’s budget proposal, annual enrollment fees for Tricare Prime, the military’s managed care option, would triple by October 2008 for working-age retired officers and double for enlisted retirees. Yearly deductibles for retirees using Tricare Standard, the fee-for-service health insurance option, would double for officers and rise by a third for enlisted. Also, for the first time, retirees who use Tricare Standard would pay an enrollment fee in addition to their deductible.

On March 15^th, Edwards introduced HR 4949, the Military Retirees’ Healthcare Protection Act, which already has over 100 cosponsors. Edwards’ bill, co-authored by Representative Walter Jones (NC03), is also supported by numerous associations representing military retirees.