Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to distribute a payment of $25,000 to U.S. merchant marines who engaged in qualified service during World War II. To be eligible, an individual must apply for the benefit and must not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. The bill sets forth what constitutes qualified service, including time frame of service and licensing requirements.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 39 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 39
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation
Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the
United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and
the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2021
Mr. Green of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation
Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the
United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and
the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners
Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED DURING WORLD WAR II IN THE
UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE.
(a) Establishment of Compensation Fund.--Subchapter II of chapter 5
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 533. Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund
``(a) Compensation Fund.--(1) There is in the general fund of the
Treasury a fund to be known as the `Merchant Mariner Equity
Compensation Fund' (in this section referred to as the `compensation
fund').
``(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations for such
purpose, amounts in the compensation fund shall be available to the
Secretary without fiscal year limitation to make payments to eligible
individuals in accordance with this section.
``(b) Eligible Individuals.--(1) An eligible individual is an
individual who--
``(A) during the one-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this section, submits to the Secretary an
application containing such information and assurances as the
Secretary may require;
``(B) has not received benefits under the Servicemen's
Readjustment Act of 1944 (Public Law 78-346); and
``(C) has engaged in qualified service.
``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), a person has engaged in
qualified service if, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946,
the person--
``(A) was a member of the United States merchant marine
(including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport
Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was--
``(i) operated by the War Shipping Administration
or the Office of Defense Transportation (or an agent of
the Administration or Office);
``(ii) operated in waters other than inland waters,
the Great Lakes, and other lakes, bays, and harbors of
the United States;
``(iii) under contract or charter to, or property
of, the Government of the United States; and
``(iv) serving the Armed Forces; and
``(B) while so serving, was licensed or otherwise
documented for service as a crewmember of such a vessel by an
officer or employee of the United States authorized to license
or document the person for such service.
``(3) In determining the information and assurances required in the
application pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall accept a
DD-214 form as proof of qualified service.
``(c) Amount of Payment.--The Secretary shall make one payment out
of the compensation fund in the amount of $25,000 to an eligible
individual. The Secretary shall make such a payment to eligible
individuals in the order in which the Secretary receives the
applications of the eligible individuals.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 2022 $125,000,000 for the compensation
fund. Such amount shall remain available until expended.
``(e) Reports.--The Secretary shall include, in documents submitted
to Congress by the Secretary in support of the President's budget for
each fiscal year, detailed information on the operation of the
compensation fund, including the number of applicants, the number of
eligible individuals receiving benefits, the amounts paid out of the
compensation fund, the administration of the compensation fund, and an
estimate of the amounts necessary to fully fund the compensation fund
for that fiscal year and each of the three subsequent fiscal years.
``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to
carry out this section.''.
(b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe the regulations
required under section 532(f) of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a).
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section
532 the following new item:
``533. Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
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