Joe Cunningham: “the promise for veterans health care has been 58 years, 58 years. The subvention bill was not written by Duke…”

“the promise for veterans health care has been 58 years, 58 years. The subvention bill was not written by Duke Cunningham; it was written by my constituents in San Diego, California. I was the originator of this subvention bill. Why? Because nothing was being done for our veterans. TRICARE, if you live in a rural area, is a Band-aid and does not serve. Subvention, if you live in a rural area, my bill is a Band-aid if it is not controlled. I am going to support this. Even though it was in my bill, I have concern. Subvention, TRICARE, FEHBP, like civilians have, if you take a civilian secretary that works alongside a major or lieutenant commander, when they retire they get a government health care plan that supplements their Medicare. The military worker does not. There is a board already formed looking at what is the most universal way that we can provide this health care; and whatever that is, I would hope that this House and the other body will come together to provide whatever is needed, whether it is a combination of TRICARE, a combination of subvention, or FEHBP. I do not feel that subvention is an end-all for our veterans, and I would hope that we come together on that. I would also tell my colleagues there was another promise. My colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), is working on it, as I am. A promise was made to our Filipinos in World War II on that health care.”