A bi-partisan group of lawmakers and association leaders, including retired Brig. Gen. Stephen Koper, NGAUS president, announced Feb. 9 new House and Senate bills that would provide Guardsmen, Reservists and their families Tricare coverage, regardless of activation status.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, introduced their versions of the Guard and Reserve Readiness and Retention Act along with Sens. George Alien, R-Va., Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y, Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., who vowed to see the fullcoverage measure pushed through this year.
The legislation lets Guardsmen and their families purchase health care coverage on a cost-share basis. They would pay roughly the same health care rate as military retirees. The Senate approved a similar bill last year.
General Koper said at the news conference that the Adjutants General Association (AUSA) determined five years ago that Guardsmen and Reservists needed better access to health care or there could be a serious impact to readiness.
"They began by determining, with extensive surveying of soldiers and airmen in the field, what it was that would keep them in," he said. "Universally, the answer to all of those surveys was, 'health care for me and my family.'"
The torch was passed to NGAUS to lead the effort in Washington.
General Koper added that one concept has survived to this day-that Guardsmen are willing to pay their share.
Still, the White House and key House members did not support last year's measure.
However, they did reach a compromise in the 2005 defensive authorization act.
The provision extended and made permanent the time before and after a mobilization that Guardsmen are eligible for military health care. Guardsmen can now receive Tricare 90 days before a mobilization and 180 days after.
Another provision enables Guardsmen their families to purchase an additional year of coverage after the 180-day period expires, as long as the mobilization was at least 90 consecutive days.
But for NGAUS, Senator Graham and the others, it's not nearly enough.
"Ultimate war fighting requires people to be physically able to go to war," he said. "This is preventive health care in a smart way. "
Since the initiative began with AGAUS and NGAUS five years ago, it has steadily gained momentum.
"This is my message to the administration-70 senators have seen this the same three times," Senator Graham said. "You'll have an S80 billion supplemental coming up, and I will vote for it gladly, but they need to understand it's going to get amended in the Senate. We're going to fix this problem this year."
He also suggested the Pentagon work with Capitol Hill throughout the process but reiterated the group's determination in dealing with the Defense Department.
"Don't deny it to the Guard and Reserves who need it," he said, "because you're going to lose that fight."
HiIi Gets Defense Budget
President Bush sent his $421.1 billion fiscal year 2006 Defense Budget to Capitol Hill last month, which reflects the steady rise in military spending in recent years but includes cuts to some major defense programs.
Among the factors driving the request was an expected 8 percent increase in operations and maintenance and a projected 3.5 percent increase in personnel accounts. However, research and procurement accounts remain relatively flat at $69.4 billion and $78 billion.
The president requested $100 billion for the Army-$300 million less than in fiscal year 2005-because of a reduction in operations and maintenance accounts, which is unusual in a time ot war. However, most war costs are included in the president's separate $82 billion supplemental request.
In addition, the Army expects to realize savings in its training accounts as lengthy deployments negate the need to send soldiers to training rotations at sites such as the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.
For procurement, the budget includes $878 million to help equip a sixth Stryker brigade and $109 million to buy 28 light-utility helicopters.
The Air Force received the biggest overall budget increase-7.5 percent more than last year-including $4.4 billion for new aircraft, but procurement accounts were reduced by 2 percent, including an 8.2 percent cut in the F/A-22 Raptor program.
While the Pentagon ponders options for new tanker aircraft, the Air Force budget also includes $99 million to enhance the current KC-135 fleet.
Chu Reverses Benefit Stance
David S. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 1 that defense officials want to raise by more than 50 percent the combined death benefit of $262,000 available to families of service members killed in wartime.
Officials would do so by increasing the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) maximum insurance benefit payout and raising the separate death gratuity payment.
Remarkably, one week earlier, the Wall Street Journal quoted Mr. Chu saying military pensions, health insurance and other benefits for widows and retirees "have gotten to the point where they are hurtful. They are taking away from the nation's ability to defend itself. "
His reversal came one week atter a group of Senators introduced legislation to raise the one-time death gratuity to $100,000 and increase the SGLI maximum insurance beneiit payout amount from $250,000 to $300,000.
The current survivor's death gratuity payment, which is tax-free, is about $12,420.
Equipment, Manning for Breakfast
Lt. Gen. Roger Schultz, Army Guard director, emphasized the need for new equipment, an increase in full-time manning and an affiliation bonus for the Army National Guard at the House National Guard Caucus breakfast, co-hosted by NGAUS in early February.
In addition, Brig. Gen. Charles Ickes, Air Guard chief operating officer, noted a need for procurement dollars, recruiting and retention bonuses and incentives for the Air Guardsmen.
The annual breakfast gives the National Guard Bureau chief and directors an opportunity to tell key Congressman what they need in the fiscal year budget.
Attendees included Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, ranking member Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and Reps. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., and Gene Taylor, D-Miss., caucus co-chairs.
Bill Would Narrow Pay Gap
NGAUS recently worked with Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., to craft a bill to close the pay gap for some deployed National Guardsmen.
Introduced Feb. 18, the measure would provide a tax credit up to half a Guardsman or Reservist's salary to an employer who makes up the difference between military and civilian pay if the Guardsman loses pay when deployed.
The bi-partisan bill also gives incentives to local and state governments that already make up the pay difference and provide tax credits lor private sector employees.
© 2005 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Source: National Guard
