Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 7, 2003

Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act - Includes as an employee, for purposes of Federal provisions authorizing enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: (1) a member of the armed forces who began service before June 7, 1956, and retired after a minimum of 20 years of such service or by reason of a service-connected disability; and (2) the surviving widow or widower of such member.Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to provide FEHB coverage to the following eligible beneficiaries: (1) a member or former member entitled to military retired or retainer pay; (2) an unremarried former spouse who was married to a member for at least 20 years, during which such member performed at least 20 years of retirement-creditable military service; (3) a dependent of a deceased qualifying member or former member; (4) a dependent of a living member or former member; and (5) a family member.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD] · D–SD

Committees

Armed Services Committee

11 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jan 7, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Jan 7, 2003
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jan 7, 2003 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.56 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.56, 108th Congress: Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s56/BILLS-108s56is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:03:06Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.56 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.56 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.56, 108th Congress: Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s56/BILLS-108s56is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:03:06Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.56 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.56 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.56, 108th Congress: Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s56/BILLS-108s56is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:03:06Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.56 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.56 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.56, 108th Congress: Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s56/BILLS-108s56is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:03:06Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.56 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.