Press Releases

Today, Rep. Joseph Heck (R-NV), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, made the following remarks on the hearing titled "Views on H.R. 4298: Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act and H.R. 5458: Veteran’s TRICARE Choice Act." For testimony and to watch the hearing live click here.

"Today the Subcommittee meets to hear testimony on two important but diverse subjects: the eligibility of TRICARE beneficiaries to enroll in Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, and the placement of a memorial within Arlington National Cemetery to honor helicopter pilots and crewmembers who died while flying helicopters in combat in Vietnam.

I want to thank Representative Mark Amodei from my home state of Nevada and Representative Chris Stewart from Utah for introducing H.R. 4298, The Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act and H.R. 5458, The Veteran’s TRICARE Choice Act, respectively. I appreciate your support for our service members and retirees and for your willingness to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I welcome you both here today.

We have two panels today, the first to discuss The Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act and the second to discuss The Veteran’s TRICARE Choice Act. I am interested in hearing from our witnesses today their views on each of these bills that have been introduced in the House of Representatives.
With that, I want to welcome our witnesses and I look forward to their testimony.

Let me welcome our first panel:

The Honorable Mark E. Amodei
2nd District, Nevada

Mr. Patrick Hallinan
Executive Director
Arlington National Cemetery

Mr. Bob Hesselbein
Chairman, Legacy Committee
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association

Let me welcome our second panel:

Mr. Bill Secord
Legislative Affairs Chairman
Air Line Pilots Association"