On the recordApril 17, 2012
On May 18, 2006, then-Senator Barack Obama gave a speech where he mentioned that a number of our veterans had been apparently ``shortchanged.'' He went on to say: When a young man and woman goes off and serves the country in the military, they should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect when they come home. Unfortunately, the President's budget proposal seeks to further increase the cost for health care for our military retirees and all of our veterans. On October 1, 2011, TRICARE Prime annual enrollment fees were increased dramatically for new family enrollments and dramatically for new individual enrollments. In fiscal year 2013, the administration proposes additional fees and cost-sharing increases, a new annual enrollment fee for TRICARE for Life, increases in pharmacy copayments, and a catastrophic cap of $3,000 per family. Mr. Speaker, when our President promised our servicemembers change, I'm sure they didn't expect it would be ``shortchanged.'' ____________________
