HR 11 Urges the Federal Government to Honor Its Commitment to Veterans & Families

(Juneau) – The Alaska House yesterday told the federal government not to go through with a proposal to lower Tri-Care military health care benefits.

House State Affairs Committee Chair Bob Lynn‘s House Resolution 11 urges the federal government to honor its commitment and contract with servicemen and women and not try to balance its budget on the backs of families and retirees.

“This resolution sends a message to those who need to hear it: ‘don’t throw our military under the bus’ with a means test for promised health care benefits,” Lynn, R-Anchorage, said. “When we raised our hands and swore to God to defend our country in the face of mortal danger, we passed its ‘means test.’ Tri-Care for military retirees is not welfare.”

HR 11 doesn’t call for more benefits; it simply calls for maintaining the current level.

Copies of HR 11 will be sent to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Commerce Secretary John Bryson, Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Joint Chiefs Chair General Martin Dempsey, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, and the members of Alaska’s congressional delegation.