Political Quotes

“I thank Senator Daschle for the great help he has been and for his partnership on this piece of legislation. I associate myself with his remarks about the TRICARE program being extended to family members of the Guard and Reserve. During the last Desert Shield-Desert Storm conflict, I was in the Air National Guard unit that was called up to active duty. Planes, pilots, and crews went over and did a magnificent job. I was in a support role as a military lawyer. I was called to active duty--along with doctors and other folks--to take care of families who were left behind by providing legal services. When a family member is deployed in the Guard and Reserve, more likely than not the military pay will be smaller than the civilian pay. The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Leave Act allows a renegotiation of loans and a restructuring of debt so the military pay can cover family expenses. You are not successful all the time. I spent hours negotiating new loans, house payments, and car payments so the military pay would cover the family expenses. But one thing that we haven't addressed is health care.”