House Scraps Meal Charge for Wounded Soldiers

[hntngirl]

Here' s a bright spot!!!
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House Scraps Meal Charge for Wounded Soldiers

Thu October 9, 2003 10:07 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to change a law that has required wounded members of America' s armed forces to pay for their own meals while recuperating at U.S. military hospitals.

The House voted 399-0 to permanently scrap the requirement that service members reimburse the government $8.10 a day out of their own pockets for the food they eat while in treatment for their injuries.

The little-known rule came to the attention of U.S. lawmakers after a surge in the number of combat wounded from the war in Iraq and subsequent military occupation.

" When I learned about that, I have to tell you I couldn' t believe it," said Florida Republican Rep. Bill Young, the chief sponsor of the effort.

The House and Senate had already agreed to suspend the law for one year as part of the 2004 defense spending bill, which President Bush signed into law last month.

The House action on Wednesday would make that suspension permanent. The Senate is expected to follow suit soon.

[Jorgy]

The House voted 399-0 to permanently scrap the requirement that service members reimburse the government $8.10 a day out of their own pockets for the food they eat while in treatment for their injuries

I have never heard of a vote of 399-0 on anything. Maybe our elected officials aren' t all brain dead after all

[frizzellr]

reimburse the government $8.10 a day out of their own pockets for the food they eat while in treatment for their injuries.

We get a food allowence of $8.10 a day so it isn' t like we were paying out of our own pockets anyways. Nice gesture though.

[8x8bull]

this really did not do anything because the soldiers get paid about 8 dollars for their meals then they get billed for the meals so they use the 8 dollars given to them to pay the bill.

[CalHunter]

It may be a wash when you consider they' re given $8/day for meals but it still looks and sounds bad when you' re charging a wounded G.I. for something we should be proud to provide in the first place. Kind of like we' re kicking them when they' re down. Any wounded G.I. in any hospital should be getting 1st class treatment and damn the expenses. Not saying this has to make the most logical sense but it' s my 2 centws worth.

[Dave590]

CalHunter, I suspect it' s more about the " appearance" rather than any issues about morality.

In the big scheme of things the meal charges of wounded soldiers is negligible. The fact that those soldiers were getting the exact same amount of money as a daily food allowance in addition to base pay does not even enter the picture.

The THOUGHT that they even got a BILL for the food they ate while in a hospital environment is what has gotten the attention of the media and " do-right" groups.

It' s pretty much a non-issue...The joke among the walking soldiers is..." If I can only get shot in the butt...I can eat for free" .

[CalHunter]

I agree that the " appearance" probably plays a huge part in any decision made. Logically, we know this is the same as uninjured soldiers getting paid money to spend in the chowhalls. psychologically, they' re our wounded soldiers and somebody is daring to " charge" them for something.

On a side note, although nobody wanted to get shot when i was in the Corps, most guys figured getting shot in the butt would be embarrassing and also comment unfavorably on your courage.