Military Officer - April 2008 - (Page 31) washingtonscene At a February hearing before a key House subcommittee, MOAA highlighted needs on wounded warrior, health care, pay, retirement, and survivor issues. L E G I S L AT I V E N E W S T H AT A F F E C T S Y O U Making Your Case M OAA Government Relations Director Col. Steve Strobridge, USAFRet., and several other association representatives testified at a Feb. 7 beneficiary hearing before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel. This was the beneficiary representatives’ major public opportunity to lay out priorities for FY 2009. Chair Susan Davis (DCalif.) began the hearing by acknowledging the significant challenge of addressing the wide variety of important compensation and benefit needs because of constraints imposed on the subcommittee by congressional budget rules, but pledged to do the utmost within the committee’s power. Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret., MOAA’s director of Government Relations, testifies Feb. 7 before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT When asked to help the subcommittee focus on the most important priorities, Strobridge cited the need to reject Pentagon-proposed TRICARE fee increases that inappropriately would penalize millions of retired and currently serving servicemembers and their beneficiaries, noting the plan would quintuple retail copayments for generic drugs (from $3 to $15) that Wal-Mart offers the general public for $4. He said the proposal ignores that career servicemembers prepay far larger premiums for their health coverage than other Americans through decades of service and sacrifice. Strobridge further cited other key priorities, including: I improved health coverage and services for wounded warriors and their families; I further progress in easing financial penalties for disabled retirees and military survivors; I Guard and Reserve retirement and health insurance upgrades; and I manpower and pay improvements for currently serving forces. He cited a GAO study that confirmed Guard and Reserve personnel are overcharged by $50-$175 a month for TRICARE Reserve Select coverage and urged the subcommittee to direct premium reductions and refunds. When asked about warning signals of stress on currently serving forces, Strobridge said he worries government leaders are “becoming deaf from the alarms APRIL 2008 YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED NOW! I Congressional leaders will be drafting the FY 2009 Defense Authorization Act in early May. Call MOAA’s toll free Capitol Hill number, (866) 2726622, ask to be connected to your legislator’s office, and encourage him or her to cosponsor House bill H.R. 579 or Senate bill S. 604 to help prevent unfair TRICARE fee hikes. MILITARY OFFICER 31
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