Miller Message

On September 17th, my colleague Representative Jim Moran and I introduced bipartisan House Resolution 6930, the “Military Family Autism Equality Act” to the 110th Congress.  This bill provides retired military families with autistic children the same health care benefit afforded families of active duty service members.  TRICARE medical coverage for autistic children of military retirees is long overdue and I’m pleased Congressman Moran and I were able to address this issue together.  Autism is an insidious disorder inflicted upon our children and we should live up to our obligation to serve the children of those who have served our nation.

This truly is an example of how one concerned citizen can in fact make a difference.  A constituent from the 1st District called my office and let us know that, in 2007, her 2-year-old son was diagnosed with severe autism.  Only months earlier, her husband retired as a Master Sergeant from the Air Force.  Due to her husband’s change of status from active duty to retired, her family was no longer eligible for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) coverage under the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) program.  Active duty service members with an autistic child have access to this benefit through TRICARE and it provides up to $2,500 per month for ABA therapy, a proven and medically necessary treatment for the symptoms of autism.  

When my constituent’s concern was brought to my attention, I was deeply disappointed to find that retirees with autistic dependents were not getting coverage they deserved.  It is not right for a military family member to be covered under the ECHO program one day, then be dropped the next, simply because a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine retired from active service. 

The Department of Defense estimates there are nearly 8,800 retirees with dependents diagnosed with autism or a related disorder.  This legislation will help these families and we will not stop there.  We will continue to make sure that these families get the help and assistance they need.  We also have more work to do for active duty personnel and their families.

I was elected to represent the citizens of Northwest Florida and do everything I can to ensure their voices are heard in Washington.  This is a great example of one of those citizens cutting through the red tape and giving me advice on how to make the federal bureaucracy work

I would like to thank the many advocacy groups who have already provided their support to our bill, namely Autism Speaks, the Autism Society of America, the Military Officers Association of America, and Talk About Curing Autism.  I look forward to getting the Military Family Autism Equality Act passed so that our military retirees battling autism will not have to bear the significant financial burden that comes with their continued fight.  They have already paid a significant price with honorable service and sacrifice to their country and this is a major thank you note from a grateful nation to these families.