“Since my election to Congress almost six years ago, I have had the opportunity to hear from thousands of retirees and veterans who feel that the country they risked their lives for is now letting them down,” Jones said.  “In my mind, this is unacceptable.  If we can send $18 billion to the Balkans, we ought to be able to help our retirees here at home. This provision is an important step to show retirees that we are working in Congress to ensure that they have access to the quality medical care they deserve.”

Rep. Jones joined Reps. Gene Taylor (D-MS), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) in sponsoring an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that would expand the Medicare subvention program and permit a greater number of Medicare eligible retirees to seek medical care at military hospitals.  Currently, many retirees who turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare lose the opportunity to utilize military facilities for health care. 

H.R. 4205 authorizes $309.9 billion to improve the quality of life of our military personnel and fund military equipment and modernization programs.  Specifically, the bill includes a 3.7 percent pay increase and improved health care benefits for active duty and retired military personnel.  The bill also includes a provision that would raise the military standard of living for the most economically challenged personnel, especially those living on food stamps, by creating a targeted subsistence payment of up to $500 per month.   This is a cause that has been championed by Rep. Jones.

“Regrettably, more than 6,000 of our men and women in uniform are forced to stand in line for government assistance just to feed their families.  In my opinion, a single military family on food stamps is one too many.  Over the last year, I have worked to convince my colleagues that this issue deserves our utmost attention. These are the men and women who are ready and willing to lay down their lives for this country today.  I am pleased that the House was finally forced to make this issue a priority,” Jones said. 

The legislation also includes provisions secured by Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-NC), Member of the House Committee on Armed Services, to expand the congressional oversight of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program.