Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy
News Conference On The Administration’s Continued Opposition
To The TRICARE Health Insurance Plan For The Guard And Reserves
In The Senate-Passed Version
Of The Iraq-Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Bill
October 22, 2003

Ever since the September 11 attacks, we have turned early, often, and urgently to the dedicated men and women of our National Guard and Reserves.  We now have more than 200,000 reservists, from the Guard and Reserves, activated for the war on terrorism.  More than 20,000 are working on the security and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Another 15,000 citizen-soldiers across the nation have either been alerted or activated for service in Iraq in the coming months.

All of this has brought to the surface the fact that these troops and their families today face major gaps in health insurance coverage.  Our Guard and Reserve troops need stable and comprehensive health insurance more than ever because today they are full-time soldiers and fliers with part-time health care. 

Just this week, in fact, there is troubling news out of Georgia, where Guard and Reservists have been in a “medical hold” limbo, apparently in fairly crude living conditions, for months, while their medical status is determined.  I have dispatched someone on my staff to Georgia to investigate their situation, and I will get that report tomorrow.  This is only the latest evidence showing why access to good health care is important for them, and for our readiness, before they are deployed.

As co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus, it has been my top priority in this congressional session to try to fix this.  We have built a strong coalition that has gotten this ball to the goal line.  The Senate first passed our plan on the Defense Authorization bill this summer, in a vote of 85 to 10.  Two weeks ago, with the crucial cooperation of Chairman Stevens, we built on that effort by including it in the Iraq funding package. 

Secretary Rumsfeld opposed our plan last summer, and we are disappointed now to see that the Administration’s opposition is continuing.

For Iraq, the Administration wants millions of dollars in this bill for a new zip code system.  But when it comes to filling these health insurance gaps facing our Guard and Reserves, the White House just wants zip.

Our Guard and Reserves have answered the call.  What they need now is for the President to step in and join our bipartisan effort to do what’s right for the Guard and the Reserves and their families.  Or at least to end his Administration’s opposition to what we are trying to achieve for them.  Few steps that we can take right now to support our troops and to improve morale and readiness is to pass this TRICARE legislation.  We are counting on the National Guard and Reserve for our security, and they need to know they can count on us.  

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