Bush won't support our troops, but you can! Call to action to pass TRICARE

[xray s]

From Operation Truth http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm

Urgent Call to Action: TRICARE

We have until October 8th (just about one week!) to help Support Our Troops by encouraging our lawmakers to push through a critical piece of legislation currently being considered.

TRICARE is the health insurance system offered to servicemembers and their families through the Department of Defense. Earlier this year, in a bi-partisan move, Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Tom Daschle (D-SD) introduced and pushed legislation through the Senate that would enable National Guardsmen and Reservists to have access to TRICARE at an affordable rate.

40% of our National Guardsmen and Reservists between the ages of 18-25 do not have health insurance, and yet, the Department of Defense opposes this legislation!

According to the measure reservists would pay 28% of the health care premiums, and the federal government would pay the remainder. Reservists' dependents also would be eligible for health coverage under the amendment. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who co-sponsored the amendment with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), said extending full-time health care coverage to reservists would help improve recruiting and retention among guard and reserve troops. The measure would cost $700 million next year, and $14.2 billion over a decade. The bill's sponsors say that the cost of the bill would amount to about one-fifth of 1% of the total defense budget and add that it could pay for itself over time by attracting and retaining skilled National Guard and reserve members.

We need to make our voices heard to overcome the opposition, as this legislation is now up for final consideration in Congress. Taking only a couple of minutes to follow the steps outlined below can make a strong impact on our troops lives!

Take a few moments to follow the steps below to help our troops!

CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMEN VIA EMAIL

http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=legislativeAction&lnav=2

This is a very simple step. Simply click here, then click on the first Action Alert. This will bring you to a pre-written email. All you need to do is enter in your information and your email will be routed to your Representative. That’s it! If possible, please add a message of your own as personalized mails are given the most weight.

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN

Don’t just write in to your Representative, but CALL! Remember, these people work for you!

There are two ways you can do this easily. The first is dial 1-866-877- HILL (4455). This is a toll-free number that will connect you to the Capitol Switchboard where you can ask to be connected to your Representative’s office. The second is you can click here, enter your Zip Code in the area called “President & Congress” and then click “Info” below your Representative’s picture and name. This will bring up his or her phone number.

Once you are connected with your Representative’s office, do the following.

Tell the person who answers the phone that you are a constituent of the Representative (meaning that you are a person he represents).
Give your name, address and phone number.
The critical step: then tell them that you Support access to TRICARE for National Guardsmen and Reservists and that you want your Representative to “tell members of the House Armed Services Committee and conferees to adopt the Senate language concerning TRICARE in the Defense Bill that is currently in conference”.
You can ask that you receive a phone call or letter back concerning your phone call.