World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
Latest action · Oct 30, 2013 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedJul 24, 2013
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act - Directs the Secretary 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 (SSA) 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 the Secretary, 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 the Secretary to verify that an individual performed such service under honorable conditions without regard to their sex, age, or disability during the service period.
Cosponsors 8
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jul 25, 2013 to Nov 20, 2014.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-CT | Richard Blumenthal | Jul 25, 2013 | |
| R-ME | Susan M. Collins | Jul 25, 2013 | |
| D-AK | Mark Begich | Oct 28, 2013 | |
| D-HI | Brian Schatz | Oct 30, 2013 | |
| R-FL | Marco Rubio | Nov 12, 2013 | |
| D-CA | Barbara Boxer | Dec 17, 2013 | |
| D-IN | Joe Donnelly | Nov 20, 2014 | |
| R-NH | Kelly Ayotte | Nov 20, 2014 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Oct 30, 2013Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.
- Jul 24, 2013Introduced in Senate
- Jul 24, 2013Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 1288 | World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act | Identical bill | Jun 28, 2013 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Cemeteries and funerals
- Government information and archives
- Marine and inland water transportation
- Military personnel and dependents
- National Guard and reserves
- Personnel records
- Transportation employees
- Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
- Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
- Veterans' medical care
- Veterans' organizations and recognition
- Veterans' pensions and compensation
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jul 24, 2013Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.