John Spratt: “I think it probably forgets an essential element. There is something in the Democratic resolution that we will bring up…”

“I think it probably forgets an essential element. There is something in the Democratic resolution that we will bring up shortly that distinguishes it sharply from what is being proposed here and, that is, we have specifically included in our resolution $16.3 billion over 10 years specifically for health care initiatives for military retirees who are over the age of 65. We have not forgotten defense, and in particular we have not forgotten the men and women who fought to make this country free. We provide for them. We keep the promises that were made to them by military health care. We put the money in function 550 and function 570. We provide $5.4 billion for a prescription drug initiative, $10.9 billion to allow Medicare eligible military retirees simply to go to a military treatment facility and use their Medicare benefits to gain admission. Today most of those over the age of 65 are not able to be treated there. I would like to ask the gentleman if he makes any provision anywhere in his resolution for these men and women who are military retirees.”