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H.R. 1223, The Keeping Faith With the Greatest Generation Military Retirees Act (41 comments ↓)
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
H.R. 1223 would amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive Medicare part B premiums for certain military retirees.
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Visitor Comments
Ray Butts
September 13, 2007, 5:30pm (report abuse)The promise was "Free medical care"! Medicare and its charge came afterward.
Norm Campbell
September 13, 2007, 5:38pm (report abuse)6 reenlistments in 22 years I heard free dental and medical care for life. Medicare costs money in Part B premiums
CDR. A.G. Alexander
September 13, 2007, 6:43pm (report abuse)I joined the Naval Reserve when I was 17. I moved into USN when I was 18, prior to the Draft. I retired after 30 yrs. I am still paying, just like everyone else, even though, like you, I was promised free medical etc. for life. It is time for this to happen, they want me to die now so they won't have to pay for my Medicare.
Robert Sorenson
September 13, 2007, 7:09pm (report abuse)We military retirees were promised we we would receive no cost health care for ourselves and our spouse for the rest of our lives if we served in the military for 20 or more years.
What a LIE
What a SCAM
What a SWINDLE
The promise is yet to happen.
I have been paying for what was promised for 33 years. It's time that Congress pass H.R.1223
Charlie Revie
September 13, 2007, 7:16pm (report abuse)I can support this bill, if and only if, it applies to ALL military retirees and their surviving spouses. As the bill is now, only those who first entered service before 1956 would accrue the benefit.
I first entered in 1959 and was made the promise. I was commissioned in 1964 and was made the promise. I repeated the promise for several re-enlistments and I believed the promise. Recruiters believed in the promise and made the promise.
I only learned with Col Day's class action lawsuit, that the promise had been invalid since 1956! I am not the only one ...
Remove the first entry provision and I can fully support this legislation.
I believe _ALL_ military retirees should be treated the same way.
Jean D. Beard
September 13, 2007, 7:48pm (report abuse)I am the surviving spouse of a Military Retiree, on a very limited income. I support H.R. 1223 100%, and ask the House of Representative to please cosponsor this much over due bill. Look at: http://mrgrg-ms.org/
Jim Berrey
September 13, 2007, 9:07pm (report abuse)During the Korean War I was promised Health Care for life if I would perform 20 or more years in the service when my Country needed us. I did not think too much about it until March 1956 when it became a large factor reenlistment, and ended up serving 24 and 1/2 years, with over 16 years overseas. After retiring, we were notified by President Clinton we were not wanted in the military hospital. The Court agreed a promise was made, but Congress never funded it, and would have to take the necessary action to correct it. Withover 1,000 retiree dieing every day, and thirteen years later, Congress has not taken the correct action. This bill is long over due,
Armando Trasoline
September 14, 2007, 5:45am (report abuse)The rest of our lives means until the day we die....not some date chosen by the government....if we had people in Washington who cared more for our country than themselves or votes or money, the world would not be in the mess that it is, and our country would still be held in high esteem, instead of turning into a third world nation because of our neglected open borders.....shame on you people in washington....it's disgraceful the way veteran's are treated in this country, while our politicians repeat the mantra, "Support Our Troops"....how hollow those words do ring and echo off of the gravestones of our fallen and severely broken comrades ......
Floyd Sears
September 14, 2007, 6:33am (report abuse)PART 1 of 3 -- "They served their country for at least 20 years with the understanding that when they retired they and their dependents would receive full free health care for life. The promise of such health care was made in good faith and relied upon. Again, however, because no authority existed to make such promises in the first place, and because Congress has never ratified or acquiesced to this promise, we have no alternative but to uphold the judgment against the retirees' breach-of-contract claim." - United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, case number 99-1402, Nov. 18, 2002. Of the 13 judges sitting en banc, nine found for the government and four found for the military retirees.
Floyd Sears
September 14, 2007, 6:35am (report abuse)PART 2 of 3 -- This is part of a court's conclusion rendered in a lawsuit bought by military retirees against the government for breach of contract. However, it is also a good description of a swindle. The military hierarchy authorized the making of this medical care promise starting back in World War II, but according to this 2002 court decision they were not authorized to make the promise. So, all is forgotten, all is forgiven, we just write it off, and the military retirees who depended on that promise for medical care get swindled.
Floyd Sears
September 14, 2007, 6:36am (report abuse)PART 3 of 3 -- What if you made payments on a house for 20 years under what you thought was a contract only to discover that the contract wasn't authorized and the house isn't yours? Would you fight for what you think is yours, or would you just roll over and play dead?
Is there a set of rules in place today that protects the men and women who are fighting today's wars from being swindled out of what they are being promised, just like the greatest generation of military retirees are being swindled?
In a few short years it will not matter because all of the military retirees who are affected by this swindle will be dead and the swindle story will die with them.
Floyd Sears
September 14, 2007, 7:12am (report abuse)The Congress seems to be confused concerning military retirees and military veterans. It should be clearly understood by all Representatives and all Congressional Staff members that HR 1222 is a bill for military retirees only. It does not apply to all of the approximately 26.5 million veterans. MILITARY RETIREES were promised free medical care for themselves and their eligible dependents for life at Military Treatment Facilities. MILITARY VETERANS were promised medical care at a VA Hospital or Clinic basically for service connected disabilities or medical conditions. All military retirees are veterans, but not all veterans are military retirees.
Floyd Sears
September 14, 2007, 7:15am (report abuse)In my last post HR 1222 should have been HR 1223.
Floyd Sears
September 14, 2007, 7:31am (report abuse)To: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi:
HR1222 and HR1223 of the 110th Congress is HR602 of the 109th Congress divided into two parts.
During the 109th Congress 174 Democrats cosponsored HR602. As of today there are 115 Democrats that cosponsored HR602 that have not cosponsored both HR1222 and HR1223.
Please take those actions necessary to cosponsor and to encourage your colleagues to cosponsor HR1222 and HR1223.
Floyd Sears
September 14, 2007, 7:47am (report abuse)Since I'm hogging the show, this will be my last post for now. A lobbying plan to gain cosponsors for HR1222 and HR1223 is in progress. The plan is explained at http://mrgrg-ms.org/educate-the-congress-info.html. In addition to the plan we keep track of what we are doing at http://mrgrg-ms.org/educate-the-congress.html. The lobbying schedule started on 4 Sept 2007, but you can jump in anywhere you like.
Charles Joseph
September 14, 2007, 11:57pm (report abuse)First enlisted in Oct. 1957. Every time I re-enlisted I was promised free medical care for life for me and my dependents. There was nothing wishy-washy about the promise. It was firm and fully understood by all of us. It was one of the factors that convinced me to make the military my career. I can only support this bill if it is re-written to cover ALL retirees and their families.
Sten Nelson
September 15, 2007, 6:42am (report abuse)I did not retire from the Military although at times I wish I did. When I read whats going on with the Health Care issues it makes me wonder how those promises can been made. I hope there still not giving those empty promises.
Richard W. Taylor
September 16, 2007, 9:11am (report abuse)Five enlistments, five promises of FREE medical care for life. The House and the Senate gets FREE Lifetime Health Care in their retirement. Does that mean they are better than us? I DON'T THINK SO!
Do the right thing, and give us what we were all promised for signing the line back then.
Richard W. TAylor
September 16, 2007, 9:34am (report abuse)At each of my five enlistments I was told there would be free medical care For Life upon my retirement from active duty. I believed them, then, but I distrust the House and the Senate today.
They get FREE MEDICAL for the rest of their lives after one tour of duty in their elected posts, but they want to deny those who were PROMISED lifetime medical care for twenty years or more military service.
The Greatest Generation (WWII) and Korean War vets did their jobs, those of us that came along afterward did ours too. So, why the denial?
If I was a retired Senator or Representative with a one hundred pluss thousand dollar a year retirement and free medical for one four year tour in Washington D.C. I'd not be bitching about some poor guy who was in the face of death and permanent injury every day for twenty years getting a measley check and free medical that was PROMISED to him every time he enlisted.
If you enlisted after 1956 - Vote NO!
Floyd Baird
September 16, 2007, 9:11pm (report abuse)20 years of service, 30 years retired and still waiting for promised and earned FREE health care..
Ned Petrak
September 17, 2007, 1:11pm (report abuse)When election day rolls around I will remember to forget to vote for the comgressmen who fail to support this bill
Charles Boswell
September 17, 2007, 1:14pm (report abuse)I gave 21 years of service so I fell we earned it.
Morris E. Brovold
September 17, 2007, 1:23pm (report abuse)This administration, and Congress, should be finding ways to fulfill their part of the contract and not whining about how expensive this program is... America's MILITARY RETIREES honored their part of their contract, NOW is the time for America to honor its part !!!!!
The President of the United States, and every member of Congress, ALL persons of influence, should be ASHAMED of themselves for the abominable way they are treating America's MILITARY RETIREES; these American MILITARY RETIREES are ”America’s Greatest Generation” and are the very ones who helped to save a thankless world AND NATION from Communism, Fascism, NAZIism, and Imperialism, and are now helping in the war against the MURDERING, BUTCHERING Muslims !!!!!
Instead of kicking them in the teeth when they most desperately NEED their PROMISED medical care (including dental and optical) why not restore to them that which was PROMISED to them ?????
Jerry Jackson
September 17, 2007, 3:34pm (report abuse)Hopefully Congress will see the light and make it the same for all military retirees and forget about the pre-1956; all military retirees should be treated equally.
Fred Widener
September 17, 2007, 3:53pm (report abuse)I entered the Marines in Jan. 1954. Was promised health care for life as everyone was. I had an operation in 1998 for Agent Orange related cancer. As you know Tricare don't pay all medical bills. I paid thousands out of pocket. Shameful.I served twenty-two years.
JOE LIZOTTE
September 17, 2007, 5:58pm (report abuse)WHAT A JOKE, AND IT'S ON US.
THEIR GOOD WHEN WE ARE NEEDED...BUT AFTER THAT WHO CARES
SIGN HR 1223 AND GIVE US WHAT WE ARE ENTITLED TOOOOO.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR MILITARY!!!
JOE LIZOTTE
September 17, 2007, 6:04pm (report abuse)JERRY JACKSON I AGREE WITH YOU I ENTERED IN 1972 BUT FEEL ALL MILITARY SHOULD RECEIVE THE SAME.
John Caughman
September 29, 2007, 12:45pm (report abuse)Sure, you can trust the government. ASK ANY INDIAN !! Let's face it, we may as well just dig a hole, get in, and pull the dirt after ourselves, for all the $%^%$ politicians care. Promises??? They are made TO BE BROKEN....
Gene McPherson
September 29, 2007, 1:23pm (report abuse)I agree with most of the previous comments and would certainly like to see this bill passed. We DO deserve what we were promised! However, if it were passed tommorow, I doubt if the Social Security System could implement it prior to my demise!!!
Floyd Sears
October 2, 2007, 3:52pm (report abuse)HR1222 and HR1223 is HR602 (the Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act) of the 109th Congress divided into two parts.
At the close of the 109th Congress HR 602 had 260 cosponsors. HR 602 was introduced on 2/2/2005.
As of 2 Oct 2007 HR1223 has 81 cosponsors.
We have lobbied every REP to cosponsor HR1223. Currently we are lobbying those REPs that cosponsored HR602, but have not cosponsored both HR1222 and HR1223.
Floyd Sears
October 2, 2007, 3:55pm (report abuse)To see how many times a given REP has been contacted look at http://mrgrg-ms.org/cgi-bin/educate-the-congress.cgi
Floyd Sears
October 2, 2007, 4:03pm (report abuse)To see the current plan which started 4 Sep 2007 look at http://mrgrg-ms.org/educate-the-congress-info.html
To see how we track what we are doing look at http://mrgrg-ms.org/educate-the-congress.html
Don Rehwaldt
October 3, 2007, 8:09am (report abuse)I, too, was promised free medical care for me and my family - for life. I see this broken promise as a warning to those currently serving. I predict that, those now serving, unless they get their promises in writing, they, too, will suffer the same injustices being bestowed on those who served in the past. I am convinced that these broken promises affect current recruitment. Wake up, Congress! Take politics out of this important issue and co-sponsor H R 1223 and H R 1222
L
October 5, 2007, 1:56am (report abuse)Dear America,
Stop electing crooks.
-L
Joe Coughlin
October 28, 2007, 10:18am (report abuse)Support HR 1223? You betcha. We are long overdue our free medical benefits that were promised.
Johnny Coy
January 12, 2008, 8:08pm (report abuse)America!! Do you support the Troops? If so, call your congressmen & representatives and remind them that voting time will soon be here. Remind them to support H.R. Bill 1222 & H.R. Bill 1223. God Bless America
Natalie Drest
April 2, 2008, 8:18pm (report abuse)If it weren't so tragic, I could laugh myself sick, re/the promises of Government...We all accepted approximately HALF-PAY, as we were assured of lifelong medical care. Boy, were WE STUPID !!
Judith Rieffer Theiss
June 11, 2008, 1:00pm (report abuse)My husband went into the marines in 1954 to 1956 He was reserve status until going in the Air Force in 1957,until retiring in 1974. I went into the Air Force in july 1958 and heard this promise. He passed away in 1984 and now that I am on a limited income, that part B premium whould sure come in handy.
RAY GUTIERREZ
July 20, 2008, 2:42pm (report abuse)Served in USN 7/54 to 9/75. Like the rest of you, I was promised free medical benefits after 20 years of service. While campaigning, REPS & SENS promise us the world. Once elected, military retirees are forgotten, yes, forgotten. What became of HR 1223?
Harold Kilburn
August 3, 2008, 1:44pm (report abuse)I support this bill, I came aboard Navy March 1956, retired 1985. Being retired in the Philippines I pay Medicare Part B for my self and wife but, it is no good over seas, and neither is TriCare, howcome where you retire should make a difference to what medical you were promised. Even the VA in Manila want do much for you except your service connected disabilities, who ever heard of a person die from bad hearing?????
JOE LIZOTTE
October 2, 2008, 6:58am (report abuse)700 BILLION FOR GETTING THE COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK AND A BONUS FOR THOSE THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. BILLIONS TO COUNTRIES THAT CARE LESS ABOUT AMERICA. WHEN IT COMES TO OUR RET. VETS IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY,SORRY NO MONEY.