The Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act

I previously wrote an article on the open attack on Veterans Health Care by the new administration, which placed a priority on cutting “Tri Care for Life” from the congressional budget.

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Tri Care is the military health care program for armed forces veterans past and present. Obama would also force increasing the health care cost-sharing for family members of active-duty military personnel. In response to this outrageous proposal to provide "universal healthcare" for all Americans on the backs of U.S. servicemen and women, U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) introduced the Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009. He introduced this bill to block the administration’s proposal that would re quire a veteran ’s private insurance company to reimburse the Veterans Administration (VA) for certain healthcare costs associated with a service-connected disability. Although the administration do not capitalize later announced it was withdrawing the proposal after much protest from veterans groups, it is important to preclude any future reconsideration of this disrespectful plan. Commander David K. Rehbein of the American Legion stated, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate to care for him or her who shall have borne the battle given that the& nbsp;United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, not private insurance companies." America’s promise to provide the healthcare needs of veterans should be fully honored. As a veteran, I want Congress to understand that any administration proposal that seeks to increase burdens on our nation’s veterans will not be permitted to move forward. The American military is one of the few professions that will swear an oath to give their lives in defense of their country. No private company can claim such allegiance. Congressman Todd Tiahrt sent a letter to the White House calling for withdrawal the VA plan. Providing billions upon billions of dollars of bailout money for corporations that made corrupt decisions one week, then increasing burdens for our veterans another week is not a message that should be sent to all our brave men and women who have served in harm's way on behalf of a grateful nation. Contact your state governors, U. S. senators, and representatives and veterans groups to have them all support this important bill. Let us be certain that our veterans receive the honor and dignity that is their due. They all gave some, some gave all, and they have earned it.

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