05-09

SUBJECT
TRICARE for National Guard and Reservists
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

BACKGROUND

During consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2006 (H.R. 1815) (NDAA) before the House Committee on Armed Services (HASC) an amendment was offered by Congressman Gene Taylor (D-MS) to allow cost share access to TRICARE for all members of the National Guard and reserves regardless of drilling status. The amendment passed by a vote of 32 to 30. Due to budget implications however, the amendment was removed from the bill.

The NDAA is scheduled to be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives later this week. Prior to consideration on the floor, the House Rules Committee will vote on what amendments will be allowed to be offered during floor consideration. The Rules committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow (May 24, 2005) at 2:30 pm. The “Taylor TRICARE” amendment providing cost share access to TRICARE for eligible members of the National Guard and reserves will be offered at this time.

RECOMMENDATION:

Step one: Dial 1-866-877-HILL(4455). This is a toll-free number. Calling it will connect you to the Capitol switchboard where you can ask to be connected to your Congressman=s office.

Step two: Tell the individual who answers the phone in the Capitol Hill office that you are a constituent of the Congressman. Give your name, address and phone number. Tell them you support cost share access to TRICARE for all members of the Guard and reserves regardless of drilling status and you would like to have the Congressman support the issue by contacting the members of the Rules committee to allow the
”Taylor TRICARE” amendment to be offered during floor consideration.

Step three: Fax a letter to the Congressman at his Capitol Hill or district office. Tell them that you called the office, the date you called and the name of the person you talked to. Remember, ask for a reply.


PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AND TELL HIM/HER TO CONTACT THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE “TAYLOR TRICARE AMENDMENT”.

Members of the House Rules Committee (alphabetically)

Member
Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Tom Cole (R-OK)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
David Dreier (R-CA)
John P. Gingrey (R-GA)
Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL)
Doc Hastings (R-WV)
James P. McGovern (D-MA)
Adam Putnam (R-FL)
Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY)

A copy of the letter EANGUS faxed to all members of the House Rules committee is below:

May 23, 2005


The Honorable David Dreier, Chairman
House Committee on Rules
H-312 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515-6269

Re: H.R. 1815 National Defense Authorization Act of 2006 Rule

Dear Congressman Dreier:

I am writing on behalf of 45,000 members of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard (EANGUS). We urge you to adopt a Rule making in order the amendment to be offered from Congressman Gene Taylor that would allow cost-share access to TRICARE for eligible members of the National Guard and Reserves.

Since September 11, 2001, over 400,000 members of the reserve component have been deployed. While we appreciate the enhancements to TRICARE included in the committee bill (H.R. 1815), they will not address the issues of medical readiness and continuity of care for members of the reserve component. The availability of health insurance has a direct affect on a service member’s access to healthcare, health status, job decisions and financial security.

There is considerable bipartisan support for cost-share access to TRICARE for all members of the National Guard and Reserves, regardless of status. In the past two years, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has included a provision in their version of the Defense Authorization bill that provided cost-share access to TRICARE.

The House Committee on Armed Services passed an amendment that would provide TRICARE to all National Guard and Reserve members by a vote of 32-30. We understand that the amendment was stricken by the Chairman of the committee due to budgetary implications. The new amendment that will be offered by Congressman Taylor will address those issues.

We believe this issue deserves full consideration by every member of the House of Representatives. Therefore we urge you to adopt a Rule making in order the Taylor amendment allowing cost-share access to TRICARE for eligible members of the reserve component.

Working for America’s Best!


MSG (Ret) Michael P. Cline AUS
Executive Director