[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E3-E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              MILITARY RETIREE HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE ACT

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                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2003

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to introduce the Military 
Retiree Health Care Task Force Act of 2003. This legislation will 
establish a Task Force that will look into all of the health care 
promises and representations made to members of the Uniformed Services 
by Department of Defense personnel and Department literature. The Task 
Force will submit a comprehensive report to Congress which will contain 
a detailed statement of its findings and conclusions. This report will 
include legislative remedies to correct the great injustices that have 
occurred to those men and women who served their country in good faith.

[[Page E4]]

  Let us not forget why we are blessed with freedom and democracy in 
this country. The sacrifices made by those who served in the military 
are something that must never be overlooked. Promises were made to 
those who served in the Uniformed Services. They were told that their 
health care would be taken care of for life if they served a minimum of 
twenty years of active federal service.
  Well, those military retirees served their time and expected the 
government to hold up its end of the bargain. They are now realizing 
that these were nothing more than empty promises. Those who served in 
the military did not let their country down in its time of need and we 
should not let military retirees down in theirs. It's time military 
retirees get what was promised to them and that's why I am introducing 
this legislation.

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