Heinrich Shows Strong Support for New Mexico Veterans

Press Release

Heinrich Shows Strong Support for New Mexico Veterans

Representative Martin Heinrich, a member of the House Military Veterans Caucus, has cosponsored three major pieces of legislation to benefit New Mexico's veterans: H.R.1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, H.R. 816, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, and H.R. 775, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. This is the latest in a series of actions that Representative Heinrich has taken recently in support of our troops, military families, veterans and military retirees.

H.R.1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, would require Congress to pass the annual Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appropriations bill one year in advance of the fiscal year in order to provide greater transparency and predictability for the VA and its beneficiaries.

"Timely, predictable funding for the Veteran's Administration is a top priority of mine and veterans service organizations across the country," said Rep. Heinrich. "I believe Congress must pass advanced veterans funding to ensure that our veterans have consistent and predictable access to healthcare."

H.R. 816, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, would prevent increases of medical premiums (including TRICARE), deductibles, copayments or other changes in medical or dental coverage for military personnel. For the last three years, the Department of Defense proposed plans to double fees on senior enlisted retirees and triple them for officer retirees. For some retirees, this would have meant an increase of up to $1,000 to their annual payments. H.R. 816 would prohibit theses increases for FY2010.

Rep. Heinrich said, "Quality, affordable health care for military retirees is a promise our nation must keep. I am proud to support this legislation which will help protect those who defended our county from unnecessary cost increases to their health care."

H.R. 775, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, would eliminate an offset that unfairly takes away annuity funds for spouses of service members killed in the line of duty. Fifty-nine thousand widows and widowers across the country are currently affected by this offset. The National Military Veterans Alliance, which represents 31 million veterans and the views of over 35 veteran service organizations, strongly supports this bill.

"We must ensure that military widows and widowers receive the pensions and annuities they rightfully deserve," said Rep. Heinrich. "This is a sad reality that must be changed."

In addition to cosponsoring these bills, Rep. Heinrich helped lead an effort to eliminate a budget proposal to require service members to pay for treatment of service-related injuries via their own private healthcare company. Rep. Heinrich joined a bipartisan group of House members who urged President Obama to eliminate that plan, which was done shortly after he received this letter.

On March 16, 2009, Rep. Heinrich joined other House Armed Services Committee members in a visit with wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan who are currently receiving care at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda campus. Rep. Heinrich was able to talk with many Iraq and Afghan veterans and their families about their experiences, and gathered the impression from the wounded warriors that they are receiving quality care and that the VA facility is heading in the right direction. The Bethesda Campus replaced the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which faced cases of alleged neglect in 2007.

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