Testifying before the House Budget Committee, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England asked Congress for help in the Pentagon effort to increase Tricare fees for military retirees. “We have a lot of laws enacted by the Congress that increase benefits,” said England, adding, “Not always do we ask for them.” He estimated that if the Pentagon can return fees to the 1996 original baseline levels, savings across the future years defense program (Fiscal 2007-2011) would net $11.2 billion. Without raising fees, asserted England, “frankly, there’s nothing else we’re going to be able to do, except come back to this committee and ask for more money every year.”
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
