[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 842]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  H.R. 3573, THE KEEP OUR PROMISES ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Chenoweth-Hage). Under a previous order 
of the House, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Madam Speaker, every year since coming to Congress in 
1995, I have made a point to bring to our attention the sacrifices made 
by our veterans to defend our country. Each year, we call for our 
Nation to honor those who have served.
  Yet each year, we continue to ignore the promises made to our 
veterans and military retirees concerning health care benefits. In my 
mind, it is impossible to honor someone while at the same time refusing 
to honor commitments made to that person.
  It is time to stop honoring our veterans with just words, ladies and 
gentlemen, instead let us honor them with action.
  Retirees that entered the military prior to 1956 were promised that 
if they served 20 years, they would receive free health care for life 
for both themselves and their dependents. For those who signed up after 
1956, they were told that they would receive free health care at 
military facilities or supplemental health insurance.
  Today both groups are pushed out of the military health care system 
entirely and enrolled in Medicare, the same plan they would have 
received had they never served a day.
  On September 28, I introduced the Keep Our Promises to America's 
Military Retirees Act, H.R. 3573, along with the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Shows), as a nonpartisan restoration of the health 
care benefit we owe our retirees.
  A companion bill, S. 2003 is being introduced by the Senator from 
Georgia (Mr. Coverdell) and the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. 
Johnson).
  The pre-1956 retirees would be enrolled in the Federal Employees 
Health Benefit Plan at no cost, just like we told them, no matching 
premiums, no deductibles, no copays. The post-1956 retirees would be 
enrolled under the same rules as civilian Federal retirees.
  As we consider this legislation, we need to be keenly aware that 
there is more at stake than just these benefits. Today's young people 
take note of the level of importance we place on military service.
  If we renege on our promises to veterans, we have stated in a very 
loud voice that we hold their sacrifices in contempt.
  Why should anyone sacrifice life, limb, career or temporary personal 
freedom, when their reward will be the contempt of those that they 
defend? They will not. And when the next challenge to national 
existence erupts, there will be few or none willing to carry America's 
banner.
  As of the State of the Union address, there are 236 Members of the 
House who have signed onto this legislation. It is the fairest, most 
practical means of any available to redeem the promises we made to our 
retired veterans.
  We have a clear-cut majority, very evenly split between our two 
parties, ready to bring this bill forward.
  There are certainly cost issues that have to be addressed. I urge 
leaders on both side of the aisle to move quickly to bring this bill up 
before all appropriate committees of jurisdiction.
  Madam Speaker, we have an unanticipated budget surplus. If we cannot 
restore the promises we made to these men and women now, we never will.
  Madam Speaker, let us pay off our past due promises before we take on 
any new spending. It is now our turn to defend the lives of the men and 
women who spent a lifetime defending ours.

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