[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 5, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DEFENDING TRICARE

  (Mr. RIGELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RIGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have the great privilege, and really the 
honor, of representing the largest concentration of active duty and 
retired military members in the country; and it's a true honor to 
defend those who wear our Nation's uniform and to speak boldly on 
behalf of our veterans.
  Today, I rise to address a recent decision by the Department of 
Defense regarding TRICARE. The DOD has increased fees for those 
enrolling in TRICARE Prime after October 1, 2011. Mr. Speaker, this 
action is nothing less than a breach of trust between this great Nation 
and its veterans.
  Career members of the uniformed services and their families make 
incredible sacrifices over the course of long careers defending our 
freedom. They honored their commitment and exceeded what they told us 
that they would do. They have served with distinction.
  We need to honor our commitment to each of them. So I call on the 
Department of Defense to reverse its decision and to honor its promise 
to our veterans.

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