Top HASC Dem: Raise Tricare fee if necessary - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Top HASC Dem: Raise Tricare fee if necessary

The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said Thursday that he doesn’t find the Pentagon’s proposed Tricare fee increases to be unreasonable.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., speaking at the Defense Writers Group breakfast in Washington, said any business facing budget problems would look to cutting labor costs just like the Defense Department is doing.

While not endorsing the specifics of the Pentagon plan for modest Tricare fee increases aimed at working age retirees, Smith said he supports “benefits reform.”

“We have to examine where some of that money is going, as it is a significant driver of the budget,” Smith said.

Generally supportive of cutting the number of active-duty troops, Smith said he expects this will be possible after a significant cut in U.S. troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan but expects a request from Iraq to maintain some troop presence after Jan. 1. Whether Congress will agree depends on how many troops are involved and what they might do, he said.

“There has to be a fairly significant drawdown on Jan. 1,” he said.