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By AMY DOMINELLO
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON – A Georgia congressman is proposing a bill to provide transitional health care to members of the military who join the reserves.
Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Democrat, has proposed offering six months of free health care for service members who join the reserves, as well as their families.
Currently, service members lose their health care as soon they complete their active duty. Bishop’s proposal would offer health care for service members as they transition from active duty to reservists.
Bishop was unavailable for comment Tuesday. But his spokeswoman, Caroline Burns, said the bill would be an incentive for members of the military to continue to serve their country.
In turn, she said, the military would bolster its reserve force and further its goal of maintaining a strong force.
The proposal would cost between $25 million and $30 million a year, according to Bishop’s office.
Lt. Col. Les Melnyk, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense, said the department typically does not comment on proposed legislation.
The bill, which has the support of 40 bipartisan co-sponsors, was referred to the Committee on Armed Services but has not been scheduled for a hearing, Burns said.
Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON – A Georgia congressman is proposing a bill to provide transitional health care to members of the military who join the reserves.
Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Democrat, has proposed offering six months of free health care for service members who join the reserves, as well as their families.
Currently, service members lose their health care as soon they complete their active duty. Bishop’s proposal would offer health care for service members as they transition from active duty to reservists.
Bishop was unavailable for comment Tuesday. But his spokeswoman, Caroline Burns, said the bill would be an incentive for members of the military to continue to serve their country.
In turn, she said, the military would bolster its reserve force and further its goal of maintaining a strong force.
The proposal would cost between $25 million and $30 million a year, according to Bishop’s office.
Lt. Col. Les Melnyk, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense, said the department typically does not comment on proposed legislation.
The bill, which has the support of 40 bipartisan co-sponsors, was referred to the Committee on Armed Services but has not been scheduled for a hearing, Burns said.
Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com