European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 a a the stars and stripes sunday november 11,1990 panel role in closing of bases questioned by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a depending on who is talking a new commission set up by the fiscal 1991 defense authorization act will either complicate or streamline the politically sensitive process of closing stateside military bases. The new Law signed by president Bush last week states that future base closing decisions must be approved by an eight member commission which will be bipartisan and in session Only in Odd numbered a read that non election years. The Law applies Only to Domestic military bases but Congress expects defense Secretary Dick Cheney to Quot move aggressively a to close or reduce operations at overseas bases wherever possible. A the credibility of the Domestic Basc closure process depends in no Small measure on the closure of bases overseas Quot lawmakers said in the report accompanying the authorization Bill. Unlike . Bases the Secretary of defense can close overseas installations without consulting Congress. Pentagon officials Are leery of the numerous Steps involved in the new procedures. Quot the Basc closure provision essentially is a cumbersome process a Pentagon spokesman Bob Hall said at a news briefing recently. A it appears designed to delay and deter Pentagon management but lawmakers say the process will accomplish two important things a strip partisan taint from Basc closings decisions and tic those decisions to Force Structure changes. Rep. Les Aspin d-wis., chairman of the House armed services committee said the new procedures retain the Best features of the 1988 commission that was formed for the one time task of drawing up a list of bases to be closed. The commission produced a list of 86 bases that it Felt could be closed or reduced in size and those actions Are being taken now. Congressional staffers said the new Law was drawn up with Cheney a list of suggested base closings fresh in Many lawmakers minds. That list submitted in january blindsided democrats who sharply criticized its partisan tilt 19 of the 21 bases named were in democratic districts a potential disaster in an election year. The Law bars Cheney from closing any bases on that list but Aspin said the defense Secretary is free to submit them again As part of his first offering to the new commission. But Aspin warned that any bases recommended for closure a must make sense and they will Only make sense if they re guided by a firm notion of what kind of forces Well need and where Well need them in the the new Law Calls for the president to appoint All eight commission members but Only two on his own. He must consult with congressional leaders in naming the other six which a House aide said basically Means the House and Senate get to name them. The members will be named by Jan. 3 and must be confirmed by the Senate. Cheney then has to submit a list of proposed base closings to the commission and Congress by april 15. By july 1, the commission will Forward a list of proposed closings to the president who has until sept 1 to act on it. He can reject it but if he turns Down two lists in the same year the process is suspended until the next non election year. If the president approves the list Congress has 45 Days to disapprove it with a Resolution or allow the bases on the list to begin closing. The president could veto any Resolution. Sprucing up memorial volunteers scrub the Vietnam veterans memorial in Washington on Friday. Roland Ross right and others from Bolling fab near the capital Are wielding brushes to prepare the Black Granite Wall for sundays veterans Day. The memorial which lists those who died in Vietnam usually draws Large crowds. Veteran tangled in champs catch-22 St. Petersburg Fla. A when Andy Cox retired from inc army in 1977 after 22 years in the military he took for granted the Promise of lifelong health care. That was until he fell off a ladder in 1987, suffering a traumatic head injury which left him a quadriplegic a unable to speak even Swallow. Costs for his around the clock treatment were High but his military sponsored health insurance was Good a while it lasted. But a provision in the Law stripped him of that coverage and put him under the medicare program a with fewer benefits. Quot there a one thing they forgot to Tell him when he was fighting for his country for 22 years a said Cox a wife 1 Crry. Quot you Only get to keep your health insurance if you stay Cox Isnit alone. Many military retirees done to find out until its too late about provisions that end coverage under the civilian health and medical program of the uniformed services a champs if ency require continuous medical cure for longer than two years or when they reach the age of 65. Under the 1972 Law when champs ends the government subsidized medicare health plan takes Over. But act runs say the Swap cheats them of benefits they earned. For Cox 53, who has remained almost motionless in bed since his injury medicare has been of Little help. It offers limited provisions for Home health care and none for him since his Case was classified As the couple has been left financially devastated. Quot there a a lot of people out there who done to have the coverage they think they have Quot said Patrick Deleon administrative assistant to sen. Daniel Inouye Dha Waii. A trouble is you done to hear about them until they re hit with a situation like mrs. Cox also has fired off letters to president Bush congressional members senators and military officials asking that the Law be changed to allow her husband Back m the champs program which covers people Terry Cox sits with her husband Andy who suffered a head injury in 1987 that left him a quadriplegic. In the military military retirees and dependents when they seek care in civilian hospitals. She a received a stack of letters but no action. A i truly sympathize with your situation and concerns a responded capt. Paul t. Mcdavid director of the department of defense a champs office in Aurora Colo. Quot however i am limited in authority to effect a Inouye introduced a Bill last year that would have changed the Law to extend champs coverage to people such As Cox and to retired military personnel under medicare who become ill while out of the country. Medicare does not carry coverage overseas champs does. The Bill died without a vote largely because the department of defense had not yet provided figures on exactly How Many veterans Are affected and the possible Cost Deleon said. When Cox was diagnosed after his fall with a subdural Haematoma a bleeding within the Skull around the brain a some doctors said he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. After a year in hospitals and rehabilitation centers he was sent Home a still Semi comatose breathing with the Aid of oxygen and taking his food through feeding tubes hooked into his stomach. With his champs coverage Cox received 24-hour skilled nursing care physical and speech therapy and prescription drugs. Mrs. Cox estimates champs was providing $17,000 in Home health care every month. But last april 1, Cox a eligibility for champs ended. Word came in a department of defense letter asking the Veteran who retired in 1977 after serving in Korea and Germany to return his eligibility card listing coverage As a i believe it. I thought it had to be some kind of mistake a mrs. Cox said. A part of the reason he decided to make a career out of the military was the benefits knowing head always be taken care he has a sergeants pension at about $700 monthly for service in the army Navy and the reserves which makes him ineligible for health programs for the needy. Mrs. Cox has been forced to sell their Home and furniture move in with her Mother and scrape together $5,500 to $6,000 every month to provide what care she can. But she said her savings can to hold out forever. Despite it All she remains Resolute. A they did it to the wrong family this time a she said defiantly. A my husband spent his life serving his country. Now its time for his country to Start serving
