[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY RETIREE HEALTHCARE

  (Ms. GRANGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of improvements in 
military retiree healthcare. While we can never adequately thank the 
millions of men and women who have proudly worn the uniform in defense 
of America, we must honor our commitments to them.
  Several provisions of the fiscal year 2001 Defense authorization 
bill, which is currently in conference committee, are important steps 
in honoring that commitment.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that both Chambers passed proposals 
to provide a prescription drug benefit to Medicare eligible military 
retirees. Currently, military provided health benefits for 
beneficiaries over 65, fall far short of what larger employers, 
including the Federal Government, provide to their retired civilians.
  Including a drug benefit for military retirees is a necessary step in 
keeping our promises to the men and women who risk their lives for our 
freedom. As I like to say, every day when I get up, I thank God for my 
life and I thank our Armed Forces for my way of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the conference committee to include these common 
sense proposals in the Defense authorization bill, and in doing so, we 
will honor the heroes who protected freedom in America and ensured 
democracy for the world.

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