Senators Hillary Clinton, Lindsey Graham,Tom Daschle, Patrick Leahy

Saxby Chambliss and Mike DeWine step up to the plate for the troops..

October 12, 2004

Mr. Tom Corey
President
Vietnam Veterans of America
Suite 400
8605 Cameron Street
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Dear Mr. Corey:

I am pleased to announce that Congress has approved a plan to expand
TRICARE benefits for members of the Guard and Reserve and their
families. I was a co-sponsor of this legislation with Senators Lindsey
Graham, Tom Daschle, Mike DeWine, Patrick Leahy and Saxby Chambliss.
The program was included in the FY2005 Defense Authorization Bill and
was passed by the Senate
late Saturday.

Members of the National Guard and Reserves, in New York and elsewhere,
are serving their country with honor and distinction and making
incredible sacrifices. TRICARE for Guard and Reserve members is an
idea whose time has come. This bill is a positive step towards
providing them and their families with insurance coverage. I look
forward to working with my colleagues in the
future to take further steps toward that goal.

The program passed this weekend significantly increases the length of
time that eligible Reservists are able to receive TRICARE coverage.
Under the new eligibility requirements, Guardsmen and Reservists who
serve on active duty under federal orders for 90 consecutive days will
be eligible for one year of TRICARE coverage. For every additional 90
days of service they will be
eligible for an additional year of health care coverage.

The Department of Defense will pay 72 percent of the cost and the
reservist will be responsible for paying the remaining 28 percent.

Currently, members of the Reserve Component and their families are
eligible for TRICARE only while on active duty. In August, Congress
approved funding to provide enhanced TRICARE benefits to guardsmen and
reservists. The details of the program were negotiated over the past
several months, resulting in the program approved today.

Also included in the bill is a provision that continues the expansion
of pre-and-post deployment eligibility guidelines for TRICARE that the
Senate championed last year. Guardsmen and Reservists become eligible
for TRICARE upon receiving their activation orders and can remain on
the healthcare system for 180 days after they are deactivated. This
provision applies to all members of the Guard and Reserve regardless of
the length of time
activated.

The bill will now be sent to the President for his signature. The
Department of Defense will then have 180 days to locate and notify
eligible Guardsmen and Reservists.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton





http://clinton.senate.gov

Hillary just never makes a dumb move. Good issue, good cause, good press, good grief--if she ever runs I may just vote for her.

Unless Clark is running too.