Military Retiree Medical Care
Resolutions/Proclamations

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01 -- California's Health Care Resolution for Military Retirees
02 -- Florida's Health Care Resolution for Military Retirees
03 -- Michigan's Senate Resolution
04 -- South Carolina's Resolution
05 -- Missouri's Proclamation
06a - Texas House Concurrent Resolution
06b - Texas Senate Concurrent Resolution
07 -- State of Louisiana Proclamation
08 -- State of Mississippi Proclamation
09 -- The Bay County Board of County Commissioners PROCLAMATION
10 -- Mississippi State Medical Association RESOLUTION NO. 7
11 -- Florida's Health Care Resolution for Military Retirees (Web Page)
12 -- State of Mississippi Proclamation (Web Page)


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SJR 39 Health insurance for military retirees.

BILL NUMBER: SJR 39 - CHAPTERED 08/28/98
BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 146
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 28, 1998
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 18, 1998
ADOPTED IN SENATE JULY 2, 1998
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 11, 1998

INTRODUCED BY Senator Thompson

FEBRUARY 20, 1998

Senate Joint Resolution No. 39--Relative to health insurance for military retirees.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SJR 39, M. Thompson. Health insurance for military retirees.

This measure would memorialize the Congress and the President to enact legislation that recognizes the importance that the United States government maintain its commitment to America's military retirees by providing lifetime health care for military retirees over the age of 65 years, legislation to require opening the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program to eligible uniformed services beneficiaries, and any other appropriate legislation that would address the concerns set forth in the measure.

WHEREAS, Military retirees who have served honorably for 20 or more years constitute a significant part of the aging population in the United States; and
WHEREAS, These retirees were encouraged to make the United States Armed Forces a career, in part by the promise of lifetime health care for themselves and their families; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the age of 65 years, these retirees are provided health services by the United States Department of Defense's TRICARE Prime program, but those retirees who reach the age of 65 years lose a significant portion of the promised health care due to Medicare eligibility; and
WHEREAS, Many of these retirees are also unable to access military treatment facilities for health care and life maintenance medications because they live in areas where there are no military treatment facilities, or where these facilities have downsized so significantly that available space for care has become nonexistent; and
WHEREAS, The loss of access to health care services provided by the military has resulted in the government breaking its promise of lifetime health care; and
WHEREAS, Without continued affordable health care, including pharmaceuticals, these retirees have limited access to quality health care, and significantly less care than other retired federal civilians have under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP); and
WHEREAS, It is necessary to enact legislation that would restore health care benefits equitable with those of other retired federal workers; and
WHEREAS, Several proposals to meet this requirement are currently under consideration before the United States Congress, and the federal Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Of these proposals, the federal government has already begun to establish demonstration projects around the country to be conducted over the next three years, including one in California, which would allow Medicare to reimburse DoD for the costs of providing military retirees and their dependents health care. This project would allow a limited number of Medicare-eligible beneficiaries to enroll in DoD's TRICARE Prime program and receive all of their health care under that program; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California calls upon the United States government to maintain its commitment to America's military retirees by providing lifetime health care for military retirees over the age of 65 years; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes the President and Congress of the United States to provide America's military retirees and their families with the health care they were promised, by enacting comprehensive legislation that affords military retirees the ability to access health care either through military treatment facilities or through the military's network of health care providers, as well as legislation to require opening the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) to those uniformed services beneficiaries who are eligible for Medicare, on the same basis and conditions that apply to retired federal civilian employees; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to enact any other appropriate legislation that would address the concerns set forth in this measure; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairpersons of the House and Senate Committees on Aging, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

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RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Governor and Cabinet recognize the contributions which have been made to the State of Florida and to the United States by America's retired military veterans and acknowledge that the health care needs of these veterans should continue to be provided by a grateful nation; and

WHEREAS, World War II and Korean War military retirees and their families constitute a significant part of the aging population in the United States as a whole and Florida in particular; and

WHEREAS, these veterans were guaranteed lifetime medical benefits for themselves and their immediate families upon their retirement for serving our country honorably for 20 or more years; and

WHEREAS, prior to the age of 65 years, these retirees and their families were provided health care services at Military Medical Facilities or through other United States Department of Defense programs; but upon reaching the age of 65, they lost a significant portion of health care to which they were previously entitled; and

WHEREAS, those medical benefits were eliminated in 1995 through federal legislation forcing those retired veterans to pay out of pocket for medical coverage from alternative sources; and

WHEREAS, many military retirees and families living on a fixed and limited income cannot obtain quality health care and pharmaceuticals from other sources, and

WHEREAS, many of these retirees are unable to access military treatment facilities for health care and medications because they live in areas where there are no medical treatment facilities, or where these facilities have been downsized so significantly that available space for care has become nonexistent; and

WHEREAS, these honorable men and women, who have sacrificed in the service of their country, are deserving of the health care they were guaranteed; and

WHEREAS, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have special concerns for all of these retired military veterans; and

WHEREAS, the 6th of June marks the anniversary of the greatest invasion in the defense of freedom in our country’s history.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby declare June 5th and 6th to be

REMEMBER THE PRICE OF FREEDOM WEEKEND

as two days for Floridians to acknowledge the sacrifices made in defense of their freedoms.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet hereby respectfully request the President and the Congress of the United States to address and help us rectify the foregoing concerns in the health care coverage of these retired military veterans and their families.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Tallahassee on this 18th day of May, 1999.

The great Seal of the State of Florida

Signed by:
Jeb Bush (GOVERNOR)
Katherine Harris (SECRETARY OF STATE)
Bob Butterworth (ATTORNEY GENERAL)
Robert F. Milligan (COMPTROLLER)
Bill Nelson (TREASURER)
Bob Crawford (COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE)
Tom Gallagher (COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION)

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The groundwork for this Michigan Senate Resolution was laid by
TSGT Jim Laukhart, USAF, a Military Retiree.

Senator Rogers offered the following Concurrent Resolution
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8
A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to assure that quality and access to health care for veterans are maintained.

Whereas, with the move to a balanced federal budget many people are concerned over the impact of increasingly limited funds for vitally important services. An area of special concern is the health care provided to our veterans, especially through the facilities and programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs: and

whereas, for those who served our country with sacrifice and valor in the Armed Forces the VA health programs reprresent the fulfillment of a promise. The facilities and the programs are literally a lifeline for many. The promise on the part of the nation-to care for our veterans in their time of need-cannot be forgotten or abandoned. The move to bring austerity and fiscal responsibility to government spending cannot override the needs of the veterans who now rely on us as we relied on them in our nations time of need; and

whereas funding to care for veterans who have suffered grave injuries must not be jeopardized. Veterans bedridden by injuries and dependant on VA health serviceshave every right to the same level of dedication they gave to America in battles to preserve our way of life. To decrease our financial and emotional committment to these patriots through inadaquate care is wrong , Continuing cutbacks in funding and reductions in service and personal care represent a flawed approach to caring for men and women who have earned our lasting gratitude; now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives Concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of The United States to assure that quality and access to health care for veterans are maintained; and

be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Senate the Speaker of the House of Representatives and members of the Michigan Congressional deligation. Pending the order that, under rule 3.204, the concurrent resolution be referred to the committee on Government Operations.

Senator Rogers moved that the rule be suspended.

The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefore.

The question being on the adoption of the concurrent resolution, Senator Rogers moved that the concurrent resolution be referred to the committee on Human esources, Labor, Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs.

The motion prevailed.

Senators Young and Dunaskiss were named as co-sponsors of the Concurrent Resolution

This Concurrent resolution was passed by the Michigan Senate and passed to the Michigan House of Representatives on June 1, 1999

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Whereas, military retirees who have served honorably for twenty or more years constitute a signaficiant part of the aging population in the United States;and

Whereas, these retirees were encouraged to make the United States Armed Forces a career, in part by the promise and an implied contract of lifetime healthcare for themselves and their families; and

Whereas, prior to the age sixt-five years, these retirees are provided healthcare services by the United States Department of Defense's TRICARE Prime program, but those retirees who reach age sixty-five years lose a significant portion of the promised health care due to Medicare eligibility; and

Whereas, many of these retirees are also unable to access military treatment facilities for health care and life maintencance medications because they live in areas where there are no military treatment facilities or where these facilities have downsized so significantly that available space for care has become nonexistent; and

Whereas,the loss of access to health care services provided by the military has resulted in the government breaking its promise through an implied contractural agreement on all recruitment brochures of lifetime health care; and

Whereas, without continued affordable health care, including pharmaceuticals, these retirees have limited access to quality halth care and significantly less care than other retired federal civilians have under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEBHP); and

Whereas, it is necessary to enact legislation that would restore health care benefits equitable with those of other retired federal workers; and

Whereas, several proposal to meet this requirement are currently uder consideration before the United States Congress, the federal Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Of these proposals, the federal government has already begun to eatablish demonstrations projects around the country to be conducted over the next three years, that will not include South Carolina, which would allow Medicare to reimburse DOD for the costs of providing military retirees and their dependents health care. This project would allow a limited number ofMedi-care eligible beneficiaries to enroll in DOD's TRICARE Prime program and receive all of their health care under that program. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina, by this resolution. hereby memorialize the President, the Congress, and the government of the United States to maintain it commitments to America's military retirees by providing lifetime health care for military retirees over the age of sixty-five years, to provide America's military retirees and their families with the health care they were promised and earned by enacting comprehensive legislation that affords military retirees access to health care through military treatment facilities or the military's network of health care providers, and by enacting legislation opening the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program to uniform services beneficiaries eligible for Medicare on the same basis and conditions that apply to federal civilian employees.

Be it further resloved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to
President Bill Clinton,
Vice-President Al Gore,
the Honorable Charles Grassley, Chairman, Senate Special Committee on Aging,
the Honorable Denny Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.

THIS WAS SENATE BILL 730 IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, DATED 15 APRIL,99

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PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, just as our forefathers pledged their lives to the pursuit of freedom, the liberties we continue to enjoy are possible only through the efforts of our armed forces: and

WHEREAS, World War ll and Korean War military veterans and their families constitute a significant portion of the aging population in the State of Missouri and the United States: and

WHEREAS, These veterans were guaranteed lifetime medical benefits for themselves snd their immediate families upon their retirement for honorably serving their country for 20 or more years; and

WHEREAS, recent reductions in the size of our armed forces has resulted in the closing of a large number of military bases and treatment facilities, making it difficult for many retires to obtain adequate medical attention; and

WHEREAS, the Office of the Governor believes men and women who sacrificed in the service of their country deserve the health care they were promised;

NOW, THEREFORE, I MEL CARNAHAN, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, do hereby proclaim July 3-4, 1999 to be

REMEMBER THE PRICE OF FREEDOM WEEKEND

in Missouri and urge all citizens to appreciate the service of veterans who fought for our liberty.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great

Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, this 22nd day of June, 1999

signature MEL CARNAHAN
Governor

Attest:

signature Rebecca M. Cook
Secretary of State

The Great Seal of the State of Missouri

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TEXAS HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Military veterans who have served their country honorably and who were promised and earned health care and compensation and pension benefits from the federal government through the Department of Veterans Affairs are now in need of these benefits due to advancing age; and

WHEREAS, The proposed budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration has for the fourth consecutive year proposed a straight-line budget for veterans health care that falls short of the needed funds to counter soaring medical care inflation and other costs associated with the aging veterans population; and

WHEREAS, The proposed budget calls for the elimination of nearly 8,000 full-time employees from veterans health care, which further threatens veterans health care service by placing a greater strain on patient services and further endangers the quality of care for the sick and disabled veterans of this nation; and

WHEREAS, The processing of claims for service-connected compensation and pension benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration has also suffered from inadequate budgets resulting in backlogs in claims processing ranging in the hundreds of thousands; and

WHEREAS, The substantial backlog of service-connected compensation and pension claims by the Veterans Benefits Administration has been a serious and persistent problem resulting in extended waits for veterans and their families to receive decisions concerning application for needed benefits; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary to enact legislation to provide funding necessary to properly deliver earned health care and compensation and pension benefits to the aging veterans population of our nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to maintain its commitment to the veterans of America and their families by providing sufficient funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs to address the above concerns; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives of the United States Congress, and all members of the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.

Solis of BexarSigned by:
President of the Senate
Speaker of the House
Chief Clerk of the House
Secretary of the Senate
Governor

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TEXAS SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Military retirees who have served honorably for 20 or more years constitute a significant part of the aging population in the United States; and

WHEREAS, These retirees were encouraged to make the United States Armed Forces a career, in part by the promise of lifetime health care for themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the age of 65, these retirees are provided health services by the United States Department of Defense's TRICARE Prime program, but those retirees who reach the age of 65 lose a significant portion of the promised health care due to Medicare eligibility; and

WHEREAS, Many of these retirees are also unable to access military treatment facilities for health care and life maintenance medications because they live in areas where there are no military treatment facilities or where these facilities have downsized so significantly that available space for care has become nonexistent; and

WHEREAS, The loss of access to health care services provided by the military has resulted in the government breaking its promise of lifetime health care; and

WHEREAS, Without continued affordable health care, including pharmaceuticals, these retirees have limited access to quality health care and significantly less care than other retired federal civilians have under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary to enact legislation that would restore health care benefits equitable with those of other retired federal workers; and

WHEREAS, Several proposals to meet this requirement are currently under consideration before the United States Congress and the federal Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services; of these proposals, the federal government has already begun to establish demonstration projects around the country to be conducted over the next three years, which would allow Medicare to reimburse the Department of Defense for the costs of providing military retirees and their dependents health care; this project would allow a limited number of Medicare-eligible beneficiaries to enroll in the Department of Defense's TRICARE Prime program and receive all of their health care under that program; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to maintain its commitment to America's military retirees by providing lifetime health care for military retirees over the age of 65; to enact comprehensive legislation that affords military retirees the ability to access health care either through military treatment facilities or through the military's network of health care providers, as well as legislation to require opening the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to those uniformed services beneficiaries who are eligible for Medicare, on the same basis and conditions that apply to retired federal civilian employees; and to enact any other appropriate legislation that would address the above concerns; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Texas Secretary of State forward official copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives of the United States Congress, and all members of the Texas delegation to the Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States.

Signed by:
President of the Senate
Speaker of the House
Chief Clerk of the House
Secretary of the Senate
Governor

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State of Louisiana

M. J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, we recognize the contributions which have been made to the state of Louisiana and to the United States by America's retired military veterans, and acknowledge that the health care needs of these retired veterans should continue to be provided by a grateful nation; and

WHEREAS, World War II and Korean War military retirees and their families constitute a significant part of the aging population in the United States as a whole and Louisiana in particular; and

WHEREAS, these veterans were guaranteed lifetime medical benefits for themselves and their immediate families upon their retirement for serving our country for 20 or more years; and

WHEREAS, prior to the age of 65 years, these retirees and their families accessed health care service at military medical facilities or through other United States Department of Defense programs; but upon reaching the age of 65, they lost a significant portion of health care to which they were previously entitled; and

WHEREAS, those medical benefits were eliminated in 1995 through federal legislation forcing those retired veterans to pay out-of-pocket for medical coverage from alternatives sources; and

WHEREAS, many military retirees and their families living on a fixed and limited income cannot always obtain quality health care and pharmaceuticals from other sources; and WHEREAS, many of these retirees are unable to access military treatment facilities for health care and medications because they live in areas where there are no medical treatment facilities, or where these facilities have been downsized so significantly that available space for care has become nonexistent; and

WHEREAS, these honorable men and women, who have sacrificed in the service of their country, are deserving of the health care they were guaranteed; and

WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana has special concerns for all these retired military veterans and feel it would be appropriate to set aside the weekend of November 13, 1999, to honor these men and women.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. J. "Mike" Foster, Jr., Governor of the state of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim November 13-14, 1999, as

REMEMBER THE PRICE OF FREEDOM WEEKEND

in the state of Louisiana, as two days for Louisiana's to acknowledge the sacrifices made in defense of their freedoms.

STATE OF LOUISIANA
Great Seal
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

In Witness Whereof, I have Hereunto set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Louisiana at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this the 14th day of September A.D., 1999.

ATTEST BY The Governor

Signature of Governor of Louisiana

Signature of Secretary of State

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STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
Office of the Governor

A PROCLAMATION
By GOVERNOR
KIRK FORDICE

Whereas, America's retired military veterans have made immeasurable contributions to and countless sacrifices for the state of Mississippi and our nation; and

Whereas, World War II and Korean War military retirees constitute a significant portion of the aging population in the State of Mississippi and the United States; and

Whereas, prior to the age of 65 years, these retirees and their immediate families were provide health services at Military Facilities or through other United States Department of Defense programs, but these retirees lose a significant portion of health care due to Medicare eligibility; and

Whereas, many military retirees live on limited and fixed incomes and cannot obtain quality health care from other sources. Many retirees have found difficulty in obtaining adequate medical attention because they live in areas where there are no medical treatment facilities or where the medical treatment facilities have been significantly downsized; and

Whereas, these men and women have served our nation with pride and honor. They deserve our highest respect and the health care they were guaranteed:

Now, therefore, I Kirk Fordice, Governor of the State of Mississippi, hereby commend our retired Military Veterans and proclaim my support for honoring the promises made to those distinguished citizens by ensuring that quality and access to health care be maintained.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Jackson, July 28, 1999, in the two hundred and twenty-third year of the United States of America.

(Signed)

KIRK FORDICE
GOVERNOR

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Proclamation

The Bay County Board of County Commissioners posted a PROCLAMATION on July 27,1999, that has been sent to President of the United States, Bay County Congressional Delegation, Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Association of Counties to request their intervention on behalf of Bay County and all United States veterans to restore the lifetime health care benefits they were promised before the law changed in 1956.

Bay County Board of Commissioners

WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners of Bay County, Florida, recognizes the many contributions of its twenty thousand veterans and specifically those veterans who retired after many years of faithful service to our nation and whom have traditionally been promised that their health care needs would continue after their retirement, and

WHEREAS, our World War II and Korean War retired military veterans constitute a significant part of the aging population in Bay County and are dying at an ever increasing rate, and

WHEREAS, by a legislative act of changing the wording of the law from "shall" to "may" the Congress of the United Sates, in 1956 swept away more than 100 years of various laws that had provided America's military retired service-men and women health care at all military medical treatment facilities, and

WHEREAS, the lifetime of medical benefits upon retirement have now been taken from these veterans, and

WHEREAS, these medical benefits were also totally eliminated in 1995, forcing these long serving veterans to enroll in the Medicare Health Care Program upon reaching the age of 65, and

WHEREAS, these veterans are now faced with unplanned and unforeseen health care and pharmaceutical expenses from other sources, and

WHEREAS, the Board of Bay County Commissioners are well aware of the unchallenged contributions of these veterans to our nation and their continuing service to the community.

NOW, THEREFORE, BEITPROCLAIMED by the Bay County Board of County Conimissioners that a copy of this proclamation shall be sent to the President of the United States, Bay County Congressional Delegation, Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Association of Counties requesting their intervention on behalf of Bay County and all United States, veterans and return to them the, lifetime health care benefits they were historically promised.

Signed
Carol Atkinson, Chairman
Board of County Commissioners

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Mississippi State Medical Association
132nd Annual Session
Biloxi, Mississippi 2000

RESOLUTION NO. 7

SUBJECT: Military Retiree Medical Care

INTRODUCED BY: Central Medical Society

REFERRED TO: Reference Committee A

WHEREAS, the military retiree was promised medical care indefinitely after retirement, either from the Champus program or from care at a military hospital, if one was withing reasonable distance from his place of residence; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Mississippi State Medical Association and the American Medical Association recommended that Congress institute a program to care for the military retiree in a fashion that other federal government retirees are taken care of, rather than be required to depend on Medicare for their medical care after age sixty-five; and be it further

RESOLVED, that our congressmen be made aware of our interest in this issue and that they be encouraged to participate in pursuing and supporting this legislation.

 

SJR65
By Senator Butler
RFD
Rd 1 09-MAR-2000


URGING CONGRESS TO MAINTAIN ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE LIFETIME HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
TO RETIRED VETERANS.

WHEREAS, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts found this nation's military manpower critically short; and

WHEREAS, the United States government, in its recruitment programs, promised those who made a career commitment to the
military that they would be provided medical, dental, commissary, PX, and all military installation privileges; and

WHEREAS, the commitments promised by these government counselors and recruiters to encourage careers in the military
have become broken promises; and

WHEREAS, military veterans who have served their country honorably and who were promised and earned health care and
compensation and pension benefits from the federal government through the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are
now in need of these benefits due to advancing age; and

WHEREAS, prior to the Medical Act of 1995, military retirees under the age of 65 and their families were provided health
care services at military medical facilities or through other United States Department of Defense programs; however, after the
Medical Act of 1995, these retirees were provided health services through the United States Department of Defense
TRICARE Prime program, and retirees who reach the age of 65 years lose a significant portion of their promised health care
due to Medicare eligibility; and

WHEREAS, many military retirees are unable to access military treatment facilities for health care and medications because
they live in areas where there are no military medical treatment facilities, or areas where those facilities have been downsized so
significantly that available care has become nonexistent; and

WHEREAS, without continued affordable health care, including pharmaceuticals, military retirees have limited access to quality
health care, and significantly less care than other retired federal civilians have under the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program (FEHBP); and

WHEREAS, the move to bring austerity and fiscal responsibility to government spending should not override the promised
medical needs of our retirees, some of whom are now in failing health and in financial need, and who are at the mercy of our
United States government; and

WHEREAS, several proposals to meet this requirement are currently under consideration before the United States Congress;
now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we
hereby memorialize the President and the Congress to maintain their commitments to America's military retirees by providing
lifetime health care for military retirees over the age of 65 years and to provide America's military retirees and their families with
the health care they were promised and earned. This goal may be accomplished by enacting comprehensive legislation opening
the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program to uniformed services beneficiaries eligible for Medicare on the same basis and
conditions that apply to federal civilian employees, and any other appropriate federal legislation to address the concerns set
forth in this resolution.

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER, That copies of this resolution be provided to the President and Vice President of the United
States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Chairpersons of the United States House and United
States Senate Committees on Aging, and to each Senator and Representative from Alabama that are members of Congress of
the United States.

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