8 February, 2006
The Honorable Duncan Hunter
Chairman House Armed Services Committee
2265
Fax: 202-225-0235
Dear Mr. Chairman Hunter:
The Honorable Ike Skelton
Ranking Member Armed Services Committee
2206
Fax: 202-225-2695
Dear Congressman Skelton:
The Fleet Reserve Association strongly opposes plans to increase health care costs for retired military beneficiaries under age 65 as detailed in the Administration’s FY 2007 Budget request.
FRA represents enlisted Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel, Reservists, and veterans, and the majority of our members are retirees who honorably served our nation for lengthy periods of time. Many completed full careers despite low pay and difficult and dangerous duty assignments because they believed the government would fulfill its commitment of free health care for life.
Our memberships appreciates the compensation and benefit
enhancements-including TRICARE For Life-enacted into law in recent years and
salutes your great leadership in advancing these improvements and ensuring full
implementation. Unfortunately the
Department of Defense believes the cost of sustaining these enhancements-
particularly for military retirees, negatively impacts military readiness and
is proposing a significantly greater cost share to younger retirees-many of who
have, or will have served significant time in
Our Nation is at war and imposing these costs on retirees sends a powerful negative message not only to them, but to those currently serving about the value of their service. Unlike private sector employees, military retirees have answered the call to serve and most have done so under extremely difficult circumstances while separated from their families to defend the freedoms we all enjoy today.
For these reasons it’s important to identify alternatives to imposing higher health care enrollment and pharmacy fees on military retirees.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH L. BARNES
National Executive Secretary
cc: Personnel Subcommittee
F:/ letter to ike&DuncanopposingHealtcarePremium
Personnel Subcommittee: 202-224-226-0789
Rep. John M. McHugh (Chair)
Rep. Vic Snyder (Ranking Member)
Rep. Jo Ann Davis
Rep. John Kline
Rep. Thelma Kline
Rep. Michael Conaway
Rep. Jim Saxton
Rep. Walter B. Jones
Rep. Jim Ryun
Rep. Robin Hayes
Rep. Martin T Meehan
Rep. Loretta Snachez
Rep. Robert E Andrews
Rep. Susan Davis
Rep. Mark Udall
Rep. Cynthia McKinney
Cc: Chairman and Ranking Member SASC
Honorable John Warner
Fax: 202-224-6295
Honorable Carl Levin
Fax: 202-224-1388