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Veterans resolution
TRICARE
Recognizing the
honorable and
valuable service
rendered by the U.S.
veterans residing in
Puerto Rico in the
Armed Forces of the
United States of
America for the
protection of the
lives and freedom of
our citizens and the
democracy of our
Nation; and
expressing the need
for a fair and equal
treatment regarding
TRICARE health care
benefit options
available to
veterans who reside
in Puerto Rico, as
opposed to the
benefits available
to all other
veterans who reside
in the fifty (50)
states and the
District of Columbia.
RESOLUTION
Whereas Puerto Rico
has been a territory
of the United States
since 1898;
Whereas Puerto
Ricans have been U.S.
citizens since the
approval of the
Jones Act in 1917;
Whereas Puerto
Ricans have had a
significant role in
the U.S. Armed
Forces since World
War I;
Whereas Puerto
Ricans have fought
and died valiantly
in all major U.S.
conflicts, including:
World War I, World
War II, Korea,
Vietnam, the Gulf
War, and the War on
Terrorism;
Whereas the
participation of the
American citizens of
Puerto Rico has
always been
commendable and
honorable in all
armed conflicts of
paramount importance
to our Nation;
Whereas, President
Abraham Lincoln,
when delivering his
second Inaugural
Address on March 4,
1865 spoke of the
need “to care for
him who shall have
borne the battle and
for his widow and
his orphan”, and not
to care for only
some of those who
shall have borne the
battle,
Whereas Puerto Rican
veterans have “borne
the battle” in the
defense of our
democracy and
freedom in order to
preserve our way of
life and to protect
our Country and its
interests around the
world;
Whereas Puerto Rican
veterans deserve all
the support, help,
respect, and
admiration of their
government and
fellow citizens for
risking their lives
in the line of fire;
Whereas veterans
residing in Puerto
Rico should be
entitled to all the
privileges other U.S.
veterans enjoy;
Whereas veterans who
reside in Puerto
Rico do not have the
same TRICARE benefit
options available to
all other U.S.
veterans in the
mainland; and
Whereas Puerto Rican
veterans certainly
deserve the same
benefits and equal
treatment as their
peers:
Now, therefore, be
it Resolved, that
the National
Hispanic Conference
of State
Legislatures
(1) recognizes the
honorable and
valuable service
rendered by Puerto
Rican veterans in
the Armed Forces of
the United States of
America for the
protection of the
lives and freedom of
our citizens and the
democracy of our
Nation; and
(2) expresses the
need for a fair and
equal treatment
regarding TRICARE
health care benefit
options available to
veterans who reside
in Puerto Rico, as
opposed to the
benefits available
to all other
veterans who reside
in the fifty (50)
states and the
District of Columbia.
Be it further
Resolved, that the
National Hispanic
Caucus of State
Legislatures calls
upon the Congress to
support fair and
equal treatment
regarding TRICARE
health care benefit
options being made
available to
veterans who reside
in Puerto Rico.
Be it further
Resolved, that a
copy of this
resolution be sent
to all
members of the 111th
Congress and the
44th President of
the United States
This resolution
was adopted on
November 15, 2008,
at the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
Executive Committee
Annual Meeting held
in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
Representative
Joseph Miró (DE),
NHCSL President
Co-Sponsored By:
Representative Floyd
Esquibel (WY)
Senator Iris
Martinez (IL) |
