[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E407-E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE SELECTED RESERVES

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2008

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with 
Representatives Steve Buyer, Gene Taylor, Jeff Miller and 41 additional 
members, to introduce legislation to provide transitional health care 
for the Selected Reserves.
  When an active duty soldier is involuntarily separated from the Army, 
he or she is afforded 180 days of transitional health care at no cost. 
Unfortunately, those soldiers who have served honorably and simply 
leave active duty at the end of their contractual agreement with one of 
the military services are not afforded transitional health care.
  The brave men and women who join the ranks of our proud military 
deserve every consideration upon their release from active duty. This 
legislation provides an important measure to the servicemembers and 
their families as they move to civilian life. It seeks to keep the 
skilled military members in the Guard and Reserves.
  Without our dedicated Guard and Reserves forces, it is impossible to 
keep the threat of terrorism at bay and sustain the Global War on 
Terrorism. Retaining these highly skilled men and women is paramount in 
maintaining

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our Nation's security. Skills learned while serving on active duty and 
carried to the Guard and Reserves will provide for future national and 
world threats. This small incentive allows departing service members a 
period of adjustment without worrying about a sudden illness or a 
health emergency.
  It is interesting to note that since September 11, 2001, we have had 
over 600,000 members of the Guard and Reserves called to active duty. 
Without the Selected Ready Reserves, our ability to defend against 
enemies foreign and domestic would be greatly reduced. The strength of 
our Guard and Reserves has always been those former active duty 
servicemembers who join their ranks.
  Those servicemembers also represent a trained pool of military talent 
available to serve our Guard and Reserves in a different capacity . . . 
a citizen patriot. Congress should act quickly to help support our 
Guard and Reserves by passing this bill. I am proud to sponsor this 
bill along with the many co-sponsors and encourage you to support this 
important measure.

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