Dusty Johnson: “I am pleased to join Senator Paul Coverdell and Senator John McCain today in introducing the Keep Our Promise to…”

“I am pleased to join Senator Paul Coverdell and Senator John McCain today in introducing the Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act. This legislation honors our nation's commitment to the men and women who served in the military by upholding the promise of health care coverage in return for their selfless dedication. Last year, the Senate began to address critical recruitment and retention problems currently facing our nation's armed services. The pay table adjustments and retirement reform enacted in the fiscal year 2000 Department of Defense Authorization bill were both long overdue improvements for our active duty military personnel. However, these improvements do not solve our country's difficulty in recruiting and keeping the best and the brightest in the military. In order to maintain a strong military for now and in the future, our country must show that it will honor its commitment to military retirees and veterans as well. For years, men and women who joined the military were promised lifetime health care coverage for themselves and their dependents.”