Congressional Record—Senate S6660
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S6660 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 20, 2003 ‘‘(E) The total amount that DOD may pay have some disposition of the Reed of pays plus $100 for an enlisted Guard or for the applicable premium of a health bene- Rhode Island amendment sometime Reserve member, $150 for an officer. So fits plan for a member under this paragraph this afternoon. it is a very good deal for the Reserve in a fiscal year may not exceed the amount Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the dis- and Guard families. They pay into the determined by multiplying— ‘‘(i) the sum of one plus the number of the tinguished leader is correct. Efforts are system if they choose to be a member member’s dependents covered by the health being made to see if that can be worked of TRICARE. That way when they are benefits plan, by out. If those good-faith efforts do not called to active duty they do not leave ‘‘(ii) the per capita cost of providing materialize, then, of course, the Sen- one health care plan for another. They TRICARE coverage and benefits for depend- ator is entitled to a recorded vote or a will have continuity of health care. ents under this chapter for such fiscal year, voice vote, whatever is his preference. They do not get bounced around be- as determined by the Secretary of Defense. Mr. REID. It is my understanding tween systems. It would really help ‘‘(F) The benefits coverage continuation Senator KENNEDY will be here early with recruitment and retention. It has period under this paragraph for qualified health benefits plan coverage in the case of this afternoon to offer his amendment been a bipartisan effort like none I a member called or ordered to active duty is or amendments. have ever experienced. the period that— Mr. WARNER. The Senator is cor- I want to add cosponsors, and then I ‘‘(i) begins on the date of the call or order; rect. The Senator from Michigan spoke will yield for Senator DEWINE, who has and to me before he departed the floor say- been a tremendous leader on this issue. ‘‘(ii) ends on the earlier of the date on ing that was his desire and he will be I ask unanimous consent that the fol- which the member’s eligibility for transi- speaking. lowing Senators be added as cosponsors tional health care under section 1145(a) of We can now stand in recess until the to this compromise product: Senators this title terminates under paragraph (3) of such section, or the date on which the mem- hour of 2:15 p.m. CLINTON, DEWINE, KENNEDY, MILLER, ber elects to terminate the continued quali- f ALLEN, LEAHY, STABENOW, MIKULSKI, fied health benefits plan coverage of the de- LANDRIEU, CHAMBLISS, CAMPBELL, COL- pendents of the member. RECESS LINS, and DORGAN. ‘‘(G) Notwithstanding any other provision The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under I compliment Senator DASCHLE for of law— the previous order, the Senate stands his fine efforts in making this possible. ‘‘(i) any period of coverage under a COBRA The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without continuation provision (as defined in section in recess until 2:15 p.m. Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:49 p.m., objection, it is so ordered. 9832(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of The Senator from Ohio. 1986) for a member under this paragraph recessed until 2:15 p.m. and reassem- Mr. DEWINE. I thank the entire mili- shall be deemed to be equal to the benefits bled when called to order by the Pre- tary coalition for all their hard work coverage continuation period for such mem- siding Officer (Mr. BENNETT). ber under this paragraph; and and support for this effort. I thank all ‘‘(ii) with respect to the election of any pe- f of my colleagues. I also thank General riod of coverage under a COBRA continu- NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- Smith of the Ohio National Guard for ation provision (as so defined), rules similar TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR all they have done to keep this initia- to the rules under section 4980B(f)(5)(C) of 2004—CONTINUED tive moving forward. such Code shall apply. As my colleagues are well aware, our ‘‘(H) A dependent of a member who is eligi- AMENDMENT NO. 696 amendment would offer a comprehen- ble for benefits under qualified health bene- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under sive approach to health coverage for fits plan coverage paid on behalf of a mem- the previous order, there will now be 5 ber by the Secretary concerned under this members of our military reserve com- paragraph is not eligible for benefits under minutes equally divided prior to a vote ponent. Put simply, it would provide a the TRICARE program during a period of the with respect to the Graham of South critical health care safety net for serv- coverage for which so paid. Carolina amendment. ice members and their families by of- ‘‘(I) A member who makes an election Who yields time? fering uninterrupted, affordable health under subparagraph (A) may revoke the elec- The Senator from South Carolina. insurance. tion. Upon such a revocation, the member’s Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. If it I can’t emphasize enough how impor- dependents shall become eligible for benefits is appropriate with Senator SESSIONS, I under the TRICARE program as provided for tant this is both as a readiness and as under this chapter. will proceed. a retention issue. ‘‘(J) The Secretary of Defense shall pre- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I un- We know how important it is that we scribe regulations for carrying out this para- derstand we are in 5 minutes debate on fund our military hardware and base graph. The regulations shall include such re- each side and then there will be a vote installations. But, at the same time, quirements for making an election of pay- on this amendment. we can’t ignore our military personnel. ment of applicable premiums as the Sec- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. We can’t ignore the very men and retary considers appropriate. CHAMBLISS). It is 5 minutes evenly di- women who voluntarily lay their lives ‘‘(5) For the purposes of this section, all vided. members of the Ready Reserve who are to be on the line to protect our national se- called or ordered to active duty include all Mr. SESSIONS. I am pleased to yield curity. It’s the very least we can do, members of the Ready Reserve. to the Senator from South Carolina on particularly as we continue to rely ‘‘(6) The Secretary concerned shall prompt- his time. more and more on our Reserve and Na- ly notify all members of the Ready Reserve The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tional Guard. that they are eligible for screening and care ator from South Carolina is recognized. Our amendment is an important sign under this section. Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Mr. of support for those called to serve, as Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask President, I thank the Senator for well as their families. I urge my col- unanimous consent that at 2:15 p.m. yielding. I have been working with leagues to support it. today, there be a period of 5 minutes Senators on both sides of the aisle to I yield the floor. prior to a vote in relation to the modi- approve a compensation package for Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, this fied Graham amendment No. 696; pro- guardsmen and reservists. We have a amendment is intended to close an un- vided further, that if the amendment is modification to Senator DASCHLE’s fortunate and unacceptable gap in agreed to, the underlying amendment amendment. I second-degreed his health insurance coverage for families No. 689 then be agreed to, as amended. amendment last night. We have of Reserve and Guard members who are The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without reached a compromise where we called up for active duty in the Armed objection, it is so ordered. merged the best of the two packages. Forces. The amendment is a needed Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, for Basically, what we are trying to do is step forward in taking care of our clarification, the 5 minutes will be make sure that Guard and Reserve troops and their families, and it in- equally divided between the two sides. members, if they choose to, can become cludes most of the provisions of S. 647 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without members of TRICARE, the military that I introduced earlier this year to objection, it is so ordered. health care network for military mem- close the gap. Mr. REID. Also, Mr. President, there bers and their families, by paying a Today’s military relies more heavily are some arrangements being made to premium. It would be what a retiree than ever on the Reserve and Guard. VerDate Mar 15 2010 21:40 Jan 14, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2003SENATE\S20MY3.REC S20MY3 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY May 20, 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6661 Over 215,000 Guard and Reserve sol- for the war in Iraq. These volunteer This legislation is cost-effective, diers, sailors, marines, and airmen soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines solving the problem with the minimum have been mobilized in support of Oper- have responded with professionalism, necessary expenditures. The Congres- ation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Endur- skill, and honor. In my own State, hun- sional Budget Office has informally ing Freedom, and Operation Noble dreds of members of the Green Moun- scored the entire bill at $4 billion over Eagle. One challenge they should not tain Boys from the Vermont National 5 years, going from about $350 million have to face is maintaining their Guard were deployed to Iraq, Afghani- in the first year and leveling out at health insurance coverage.