Speech #910243804

However. the Government contribution could not exceed 50 percent of the.premium of any plans lowoption level. The bill also provides the following: First. to conform to last years change in the civil service retirement program. whereby widows and children of employees who die in active service with less than 5 years of service are granted minimum annuity benefits. the health benefits law is amended to extend health insurance protection to such survivors. Second. to fulfill a longstanding commitment of the United States. contained in treaty negotiations and reaffirmed in subsequent memorandums of understandings. to make available to Panamanian employees the same governmental health and life insurance protection as is available to U.S. citizen employees in the Canal Zone. coverage under the Federal employees health benefits and Federal employees group life insurance programs is extended to approximately 12.000 active noncitizen employees in the Panama Canal Zone. and Third. the Retired Federal Employees Health Benefits Act. which applies to preJuly 1960 annuitants. is amended to permit part B of the medicare program to constitute a qualifying plan for the purpose of allowing certain annuitants to become eligible for a monthly Government contribution toward their health care costs. Mr. Chairman. the need for this legislation is demonstrated by the fact that H.R. 16968 was unanimously approved by all eight members of the Subcommittee on Retirement.