BRAVO! Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fraudida) has distinguished
himself since 9/11/01, by demanding (and ceasing to
relent in his demand)a thorough airing of the White
House has been struggling to keep "Secret," i.e. its
incompetence (at best) prior to 9/11 and in the
immediate aftermath, AND his courageous and
foresighted vote AGAINST the _resident's Iraq war
resolution (which Kerry and so many others capitulated
on). He is my personal first choice, but he is
increasingly a long shot. However, he would be a
powerful asset as a running mate to either Clark or
Dean if they make it through the gauntlet. All three,
Clark, Dean and Graham have stood unequivocally
against the _resident's foolish military adventure In
Iraq. (Graham was, as I have mentioned before,
Clinton's first choice for Gore's running mate. What
would have happened if Gore had been willing to select
him instead of the Senator from Sanctimonicutt?)
"Senator Bob Graham, D-Florida, said today that he will file a bill to prohibit charging service members for meals while they are hospitalized as a result of injuries or illnesses suffered while in combat or training for combat."
http://graham.senate.gov/pr091203.html
Graham: Stop Billing Injured Soldiers for Meals
September 12, 2003
Senator Bob Graham, D-Florida, said today that he will
file a bill to prohibit charging service members for
meals while they are hospitalized as a result of
injuries or illnesses suffered while in combat or
training for combat.
“This policy is an outrageous insult to our men and
women in uniform. How can we justify spending billions
of dollars on no-bid contracts to rebuild Iraq, then
turn around and charge an injured soldier $8.10 a day
for meals while they are being treated for war
injuries? Clearly, it cannot be justified,” said
Graham, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans
Affairs Committee.
Graham’s bill mirrors one filed in the House (H.R.
2998) by Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Florida, but it goes
one step further. In addition to paying for the meals
of those injured while in combat or while training for
combat, the Senate bill will cover those who get ill
while in combat situations, such as the current cases
of pneumonia and malaria.
Graham will file the bill when the Senate reconvenes
the week of September 15. He sent a letter to his
colleagues on Friday seeking co-sponsors.
Young filed his bill - which has more than 130
co-sponsors in the House - after learning that Marine
Staff Sgt. Bill Murwin of Nevada had been billed $243
for his meals while hospitalized due wounds suffered
in Iraq, first in Germany and then in Bethesda,
Maryland. Part of Murwin’s left foot was amputated.
The policy is the result of a 1981 law that requires
soldiers to repay their daily “basic allowance for
subsistence” when they are hospitalized. The current
daily allowance is $8.10.
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