S. 1775 · 114th Congress
World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 114th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
MurphySponsor13 cosponsors · 9 D, 4 R
D
Blumenthal
SC
R
Collins
BM
D
Mikulski
BB
D
Boxer
JD
D
Donnelly
MH
D
Hirono
EW
D
Warren
JT
D
Tester
KG
D
Gillibrand
JS
D
Shaheen
KA
R
Ayotte
TS
R
Scott
MR
R
Rounds2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept additional documentation for verifying that an individual performed honorable service as a coastwise merchant seaman during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Jul 15, 2015
World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept additional documentation for verifying that an individual performed honorable service as a coastwise merchant seaman during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires such documentation to include Social Security Administration records and validated testimony in the case of the absence of Coast Guard shipping or discharge forms, ship logbooks, documents, or other official employment records.
Requires DHS, when determining whether to recognize service allegedly performed during such period, to recognize masters of seagoing vessels or other command officers who were authorized to document an individual for purposes of hiring for or discharging from the merchant marine.
Considers any service so recognized as active-duty service for purposes of veterans' burial benefits. Makes such veterans eligible for any appropriate military medals, ribbons, and decorations. Requires DHS to verify that an individual performed such service under honorable conditions without regard to their sex, age, or disability during the service period.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
Latest action (Jul 15, 2015): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Jul 15, 2015
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.