Ike Puzon posted on May 01, 2009 00:05
At this writing, the President’s FY 2010 budget is expected to be released shortly. One of our primary legislative
goals for the last three years has been the prevention of health care fee increases for retired military members. We recently wrote the White House on this issue and have asked our membership and friends to write in opposition to raising health care fees for retired military members. These increases should not occur. There are other ways to achieve financial savings besides increasing fees on those members that have served this country.
For the last three years, we have stood side by side with the 34 associations, 5.5 million members, of The Military
Coalition, www.themilitarycoaltion.org, and the 31 associations, 3.5 million members, of the National Military
Veterans Alliance in calling for no increases, or absolutely minimal increases, in TRICARE fees for retired military
members. We strongly support no increases.
Congress agrees that TRICARE fees for retired military members should not be increased and has introduced bills in the past sessions and in the 111th Congress to prohibit the Department of Defense’s capabilities to increase fees. H.R. 816, Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, introduced by Congress Edwards (TX) and Congressman Jones (NC) is one bill to prohibit increases. However, The Department of Defense, along with the Services and OMB, appear to be headed toward proposing that TRICARE fees should be increased again. This is not acceptable. We believe that military members pay their premiums with a lifetime of sacrifice and service! Especially during wartime and conflicts, military members and families pay high prices for their health care through separations, injury, and even death. Why is it now necessary for these members to pay for higher prices for their earned benefits? It cannot be because the U.S. budget demands an increase. Look at what we have done to save other institutions with the U.S. budget. If those economic bailouts and budget issues are necessary, then, surely, providing the proper earned and promised health care for retired military members and their families through existing fees is absolutely mandatory.
We urge our members and all Navy team members to use our legislative action function at www.navy-reserve.org, or http://capwiz.com/navalreserve/home/ to e-mail Congress and the White House in support of NO TRICARE fee increases. We are asking the President, OMB, and Congressional members not to impose TRICARE fee increases on retired military families. Career military people were told that their decades of demanding service and sacrifice constituted an earned lifetime of health coverage. Any TRICARE fee hikes are unfair and upsetting because they devalue those decades of sacrifice — in wartime and peace.
At our recent conference, we updated our existing Resolutions. Please review these, as we will forever maintain our Navy Reserve focus while we change our name and focus on total U.S. Navy issues.
Naval Reserve Association Updated 2009-2010 Resolutions.
As we evolve our name and association, we revised our current resolutions as seen below. We will update our resolutions to reflect our Association’s total focus by the end of calendar year 2009 in preparation for our new focus. The following resolutions will be maintained and included in our focus in the future:
03-01-2009 – Navy Reserve Force Mission Validation.
The Association urges Congress to cease Navy Reserve manpower losses, hardware unit decommissioning, and unit disestablishments until current and future missions and requirements are validated.
03-02-2009 – Navy Reserve Recapitalization.
The Association urges Congress to provide funds requested in NAVPLAN 2030 to recapitalize Navy Reserve equipment through all available appropriations.
09-01-2008 – Equitable Treatment for Navy Reservists Ordered to Active Duty.
The Association urges Congress to amend existing legislation to extend eligibility for Navy Reservists who have served honorably, regardless of order type and further urges the Department of the Navy to modify its policies to ensure equitable treatment for all Navy Reservists ordered to active duty.
09-02-2008 – Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) for Reserve Component Members.
The Association urges Congress to update legislation to authorize JPME II credit be awarded to Service members who have completed accredited service war college nonresident courses, retroactive to 1 January 2000.
03-01-2008 – Reduce Retirement Age for Guard and Reserve Components Upgrade.
The Association urges Congress to improve and upgrade the Reserve retirement provision (90 days for three month reduction) passed in the FY-08 NDAA to include all those Reserve and National Guard members activated since 11 September 2001.
03-02-2008 – Wounded Warrior and Seamless Transition for Mobilized Navy Reserve Members and Their Families.
The Association urges Congress to fund fully the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Programs for returning Sailors.
We encourage our members and all Navy members to stay engaged in the evolving military/defense issues that will come out of the President’s budget and Congressional actions on the appropriations and authorization bills.
www.navy-reserve.org.