[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    DO NOT FORGET MILITARY RETIREES

                                 ______


                          HON. JOHN M. McHUGH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 1995
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, today the United States stands as the 
world's only remaining superpower. Having won the cold war we set out 
to downsize our military and cut defense expenditures. As we continue 
this process, we must not forget those military retirees who, through 
their many years of service and dedication, helped secure our Nation's 
future.
  I fear that those who served during the World War II, Korea, and 
Vietnam eras, and who have since retired from the military, are being 
asked to bear unfairly the brunt of this downsizing process. The 
closing of bases throughout the country will leave many retirees 
without immediate access to DOD medical facilities. For example, the 
1993 BRAC Commission's ill-advised closure of Plattsburgh Air Force 
Base will leave thousands of military retirees in upstate New York and 
in nearby Vermont without the services of the base hospital. Retirees 
over the age of 65 will be forced to rely on other, more costly, means 
to secure health care. Many people joined the military with the 
understanding that DOD would provide them with health care for life.
  If we renege on our commitment to these military retirees, it will 
only serve to harm future efforts to attract high-quality personnel. We 
cannot expect service members to make a long-term career out of the 
military if we continue to demonstrate that a promise made yesterday no 
longer counts today.
  Mr. Speaker, we have come to be a nation of strength by holding 
steadfast to our commitments and not by shirking our responsibilities. 
We did not do it in the past and we should not start now, especially 
when it comes to those men and women who were willing to make the 
ultimate sacrifice for their country. I believe that we must do 
whatever is in our means to ensure that these military retirees are not 
left to fend for themselves.


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