Joe Wilson

And both you have identified advances in technology--the clavicle identification.

We look forward to hearing your testimony and working with you to fulfill our commitment to our American heroes who are missing in action or prisoners of war.

Thank you, Chairwoman Davis. And, indeed, I appreciate your efforts that nobody is going to be cut short.

I believe, successfully defeated the terrorists overseas to protect American families at home.

I have had two sons serve in Iraq.

I am very proud and grateful today.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the American Legion's views on these pieces of legislation.

It is certainly a big day to have the Gold Star Wives recognized.

I would like to thank the chairwoman for having this hearing this afternoon. It really has been very helpful to me.

I want to urge you to write letters--they can be handwritten letters, they can be e-mails--of how particular legislation, either that is pending or needs to be adjusted or regulations that need to be improved.

Individual information... is so helpful for us to know the real-world impact of the legislation.

I urge you to look up the bill, for all of you.

I personally oppose raising the TRICARE fees for non-Medicare-eligible retirees.

I am grateful to be working with the Gold Star Wives in support of enactment of H.R. 775, which would eliminate the SBP/DIC offset.

I appreciate you bringing up the issue of the home of record and the difficulties that can be in providing services.

We believe that a civilian-style plan is inappropriate for military service conditions.

We hope that you will be able to fix a glitch in the combat-related special compensation law that causes some to lose the pay that Congress meant for them.

It is my view that Congress can find the additional funding required to protect the men, the women, and their families who make incredible daily sacrifices in service to our Nation.

Madam Chair, based on my review of the testimony submitted to us, the recommendations made by the various groups fall into two broad categories: one, those that are strictly policy issues that require little or no additional funding; and…

This testimony will surely help to shape our legislative and funding priorities as we strive to improve the military personnel, health care, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) systems of the Department of Defense.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman Davis, for holding this hearing today.

We think the Pentagon needs to focus more on fixing TRICARE and less on trying to charge more for it.

While fiscally more difficult, many of the proposals that will make an immediate and positive impact on our service members and their families fall into the latter category.

I am especially grateful that we will hear today from Ms. Margaret McCloud, a Gold Star Wife whose husband, Lieutenant Colonel Trane McCloud, was killed in action in Iraq.

Given the level of dissatisfaction with small arms found by the Center for Naval Analysis is the Army doing anything to generate a new requirement for a pistol or rifle?