VFW Criticisms of Health Insurance Reform Law Unfounded

DNC Veterans Council Refutes Claims of Inadequate Protections of TRICARE, Veterans' Health Care

WASHINGTON, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Thomas J. Tradewell, yesterday retracted his inflammatory comments pertaining to the recently enacted health insurance reform legislation directed at the President. However, Tradewell did not retract the erroneous claim that veterans' health systems are inadequately protected under the legislation.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DNCLOGO)

Lt. General Claudia Kennedy and Col. Don Fowler, Co-Chairs of the Democratic National Committee's Veterans and Military Families Council released the following statement in response:

"We are pleased that VFW national commander Tradewell has apologized for using language he said was 'too harsh' in criticizing the President, but find his assertions about the legislation unfounded and surprising given his recent testimony praising the President's efforts to better veterans' quality of life. TRICARE, TRICARE for Life and Veteran's Health Care each meet the quality of coverage required under the enacted legislation. Enrollees in these programs face no negative consequences as a result of the President's effort to reform the health insurance system, and claims to the contrary are simply untrue.

"VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton have issued statements that refute Tradewell's claims. The reality is that historic and sweeping changes will ensure affordable health insurance for an additional 32 million Americans, but veterans and military health care will be unaffected, and they'll continue to benefit from the same quality of service that they have in the past."

In his March 9, 2010 testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate committees overseeing veteran affairs, Tradewell praised the Administration and Congress for their efforts to honor our nation's veterans and acknowledged the historic importance of passage of advanced appropriations legislation which he characterized as an act that "will greatly enhance the quality of life of America's veterans."

He also noted that the "VFW is very pleased with the Administration's FY 2011 VA budget request... because the Administration exempted VA health care and benefits programs from the three-year federal freeze for most non-defense discretionary spending."

SOURCE Democratic National Committee