Is Tricare Fee Hike Dead?: The House Armed Services Committee backed its subcommittee on military personnel in prohibiting the Pentagon from increasing Tricare fees for military retirees under age 65—at least until Dec. 31, 2007. The committee added $735 million to the Administration’s 2007 budget proposal to offset what the Pentagon cut. House authorizers say delaying any fee increases until the end of 2007 will provide time for outside reviews and creation of a “comprehensive policy and fiscal basis” to sustain the Tricare program. Senators appear headed in a similar direction on the Tricare issue.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
