[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 23065-23066]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                              {time}  1815

INTRODUCTION OF THE KEEP OUR PROMISE TO AMERICA'S MILITARY RETIREES ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SHOWS. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Keep Our Promise 
to America's Military Retirees Act, a bill which will correct an 
injustice against millions of Americans who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice in defense of their country and our country.
  Madam Speaker, the United States is the greatest power in the world. 
American forces have fought bloody battles on land, sea and in the air 
to preserve democracy. We could never have achieved such military 
superiority without the millions of Americans who risked all to serve 
in this great country. These patriots put the security of home and 
family on the line to defend the right of all Americans.
  Career servicemen and women are willing to sacrifice their own lives 
so that all Americans can live freely. We do not hesitate to ask 
American men and women to make military service a career. And what do 
they ask for in return? All they ask is that the promises made when 
they entered the service are fulfilled when they retire. That is the 
injustice I rise to address today.
  Madam Speaker, millions of Americans joined the service with the 
understanding that health care would be available to them when they 
retired. But for too many military retirees, there is no health care, 
or the health care that is available is doled out like table scraps for 
the family dog. The United States should never break a promise to the 
American people. But it is wrong to be this callous to the very people 
who keep America safe and strong. It is wrong. It is very wrong.
  Madam Speaker, prior to June 7, 1956, health care provided for 
retirees varied from service to service but Congress had never 
authorized any of those systems. This changed when CHAMPUS, the 
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, was 
enacted into law in 1956. So people who entered the service after 
CHAMPUS was enacted were sure they could look forward to health care 
upon retirement, or so they thought. I am going to address that issue 
later in my remarks.
  But what about the people who entered the service before CHAMPUS was 
enacted? The sad fact is that many Americans who joined the service 
prior to CHAMPUS were promised free health care by recruiters who had 
no right to make such a promise. Because there was no statutory health 
care, those empty promises simply could not be fulfilled.
  Now, Madam Speaker, when you or I or anyone else buys something on 
the open market, we are always warned to let the buyer beware. But, 
Madam Speaker, should Americans be in doubt when their own government 
makes similar claims? Military recruiters are not salesmen. Recruiters 
are agents of the United States Government, the American people. We owe 
it to our military retirees who were led to believe they would receive 
free health care upon retirement that their government will be there 
for them.
  Now, Madam Speaker, what do we do about the military retirees who 
entered the service after CHAMPUS? Madam Speaker, military retirees are 
eligible to participate in CHAMPUS or Tricare programs that have 
evolved from CHAMPUS. Essentially they can get treatment at military 
treatment facilities on a space available basis. That is, they can pay 
for treatment if, and that is a very big ``if,'' if space is available, 
or if civilian doctors choose to participate.
  At a time when we are downsizing the military and closing bases, 
space availability and access to military treatment facilities are very 
difficult. And treatment is impossible for retirees who are unable to 
travel even short distances. And then guess what? At 65, retirees lose 
coverage and become eligible for Medicare benefits which we all know 
are shrinking every day. So these post-CHAMPUS retirees are left with 
fewer and fewer health care options.
  Today, Madam Speaker, I am introducing the Keep Our Promise to 
America's Military Retirees Act. This landmark legislation will restore 
adequate health care that was promised to all our military retirees. It 
will make military retirees who entered the service prior to CHAMPUS 
eligible for health care under the Federal Employee Health Benefits 
Program, with the United States paying the full cost of the enrollment. 
This bill also extends to all our military retirees expanded options 
for health care. They can enroll in the Federal employees health care 
program, or they can participate in the CHAMPUS program after they 
reach age 65, or they can remain in the Tricare program. This is the 
``broken promise'' bill that America's military retirees have been 
waiting for years to come.
  Many of these heroic Americans risked all in World War II, Korea, 
Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. The least we can do for these American 
heroes is keep our word. We should move these

[[Page 23066]]

bills through the legislative process so they do become law. We should 
restore health care that was promised to our military retirees and to 
which they are entitled after devoting their lives to defend this 
country. We should keep our promise to America's military retirees.
  I do ask that you help me support this bill. It is a great bill. It 
is a broken promise that we have not kept to our military retirees.
  I want to acknowledge the efforts of four organizations that have 
been instrumental in crafting this legislation: The Retired Enlisted 
Association, The Retired Officers Association, The National Association 
for Uniformed Services, and the Class Act Group of Military Retirees.
  I also want to thank Congressman Charlie Norwood for his 
cosponsorship and his efforts.
  Before I close, Madam Speaker, I want to pay special tribute to one 
man: Jim Whittington. I want all of my colleagues here in Congress to 
know that the introduction of this landmark legislation is living proof 
that democracy really works in our country, and that one American 
citizen really can make a difference.
  Jim Whittington is the most tenacious individual I know. Last March, 
Jim organized a summit of military retirees in his hometown of Laurel, 
Mississippi. The summit attracted hundreds of retirees from the 
southeastern United States.
  Madam Speaker, if you ever have the opportunity to meet Jim, be 
prepared to get an earful. He is articulate and passionate about this 
issue.
  And he is selfless. Jim does all right for himself, but he cares 
about his fellow retirees, many of whom have been abandoned by their 
country and need help.
  Madam Speaker, I would not be introducing this legislation today 
without the persistence of Jim Whittington. He is what democracy is all 
about.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce today ``The Keep 
Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act.''
  Passing this bill will let America's military retirees know that we 
honor them, we respect them, we appreciate them, and that we will keep 
our word to them.
  And passing this bill will get the attention of the next generation 
of Americans, who must not be discouraged from military service.
  They must know that the American people will value the sacrifice they 
would make by devoting their lives to national service.
  After all, Madam Speaker, we must face the fact that we will always 
need heroes who will be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice!

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