THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

51

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION'S SUPPORT FOR MEASURES TO RESTORE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS TO VETERANS.

 

WHEREAS, since World War II, recruiters and military personnel have been encouraging young people to enlist in the military and to make the military a twenty plus year career; and

WHEREAS, one of the key incentives used in these recruitment and retention drives was the promise of free lifetime health care benefits for retired military veterans and their dependent spouses; and

WHEREAS, while these promises were repeatedly made and relied upon in good faith by countless veterans, in fact, there was no legal requirement for the government to provide these health care benefits for veterans who served this county prior to December 7, 1956; and

WHEREAS, the only obligation in law to provide veterans health care benefits are to retired veterans that enlisted subsequent to December 7, 1956, and then, only subject to the availability of space and facilities and the capabilities of the medical and dental staff; and

WHEREAS, with four rounds of military base realignments and closings between 1988 and 1995, military medical and dental facilities have also closed, leaving many veterans with virtually no "space available" health care in military medical treatment facilities; and

WHEREAS, these veterans must now rely on Medicare, which requires them to pay for monthly supplemental coverage and surcharges, charges that some veterans find unaffordable; and

WHEREAS, on February 11, 2004, S. 2065 to restore health care benefits to retired members of the uniformed services was introduced in the United States Senate; and

WHEREAS, on November 6, 2003, H.R. 3474 to restore health care benefits to retired members of the uniformed services was introduced in the United States House of Representatives; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye and United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka, and United States Representative Neil Abercrombie and United States Representative Ed Case are urged to support our veterans by supporting the passage of S. 2065 and H.R. 3474, respectively; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to each member of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Veterans' Health Care Benefits