Update for week ending October 13, 2000

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Update for week ending October 13, 2000

The TSCL Board of Trustees, and staff extend our most heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, staff, and colleagues of the late Representative Bruce F. Vento of Minnesota who passed away this week. Mr. Vento was well-respected public servant who served 12 terms in the House of Representatives. The loss of Mr. Vento, whose work on behalf of older Americans was well documented, is a great tragedy.

TSCL is pleased to report that Representative Gary A. Condit (D-CA) became the eighty-second co-sponsor of H.R. 1422, "Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act". This bill deals with establishing a cost-of-living adjustment that accurately reflects the true costs of older Americans. The 2,792 TSCL members and supporters in Mr. Condit's district are acknowledged for their efforts in influencing his decision. Special thanks from TSCL for their vigorous grass roots efforts!

This week Congress finally took action to provide military retirees, their beneficiaries and survivors with a life long healthcare and pharmacy benefit. The Senate followed the lead of the House of Representatives in overwhelmingly passing the Armed Services Authorization Bill that provides both lifetime TRICARE medical care for Medicare eligible military retiree, their families and survivors that also includes a broad and generous pharmacy benefit and a mail-order pharmacy benefit for those retirees not near a military medical facility. The President is expected to sign the bill ensuring that after years of hard lobbying and grass-roots work by many people, military retirees will receive the earned medical benefits they deserve. TRICARE for life goes into effect on October 1, 2001 and will work as a wraparound benefit under Medicare. There will be no co-payments or fees but the retiree MUST be enrolled in Medicare Part B. The pharmacy benefit, which becomes effective on April 1, 2001, will allow all military retirees to use the National Mail Order Pharmacy (with an $8 co-pay or a 90-day supply) as well as a network (with a 20 percent co-pay) and out-of-network pharmacies (with a 25 percent co-pay). TSCL is proud of our affiliation with The Retired Enlisted Association and wishes to extend congratulation for their efforts and a job done exceedingly well.

Both chambers of Congress are expected to continue work for one more week, with hopes of finishing all Appropriations Bills for government spending. There are now 25 days until the November 7th Election. TSCL continues to urge members and their families to get out and VOTE on November 7th. Now is the time to make your voice heard!

If Congress completes its work we will have one more update next week to finalize things for the year. If they do not finish and schedule a "lame-duck" session after the November elections, we will of course provide updates for as long as Congress remains in session.