Posted:
July 10, 2013
In testimony for a congressional hearing conducted June 28, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and other witnesses urged the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the House of Representatives to advance legislation introduced in March while the opportunity still exists to recognize the few remaining coastwise merchant mariners who served during World War II.
Sponsored by Rep. Butterfield, the World War II Merchant Marine Service Act of 2013 (H.R. 1288), legislation supported by American Maritime Officers, would extend honorary veterans' status to "a forgotten segment of the World War II merchant marine, the coastwise merchant seamen," as noted in a statement from the congressman's office. The bill would extend burial benefits to these merchant marine veterans of World War II, and would expand the list of documentation accepted by the Department of Homeland Security to establish seagoing service during World War II.
In testimony for the hearing conducted by the House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Rep. Butterfield urged the leadership of the Veterans' Affairs Committee "to schedule a markup soon so that these few remaining unsung American heroes have a chance to gain the recognition they rightly deserve.
"My bill is very simple," Rep. Butterfield said. "It would expand the types of documentation accepted by the federal government when a very small group of mariners that operated tugboats and barges domestically during World War II apply for veterans' status. Once recognized as veterans, they would be provided benefits limited only to burial and a U.S. flag. Let me repeat that - qualifying merchant mariners, who can prove service through expanded acceptable documentation, would receive only burial benefits and the honor of being recognized by their country for their sacrifice and service. My bill does not provide for health coverage, disability payments, or payouts of any kind to merchant mariners who served during World War II and does not impact direct spending.
"For those that are still living, we must not let their efforts and contributions go unrecognized while we still have a chance," he said. "The passing of Senator Lautenberg, the last remaining World War II veteran in the Senate, is a strong reminder to all of us in Congress that if we are to honor and recognize these merchant mariners, the time to do so is now.
"Estimates show that fewer than 2,000 of these mariners who served the United States during World War II are still living," Rep. Butterfield said. "In fact, it's very possible that there are only hundreds left today. Colleagues, we are quickly running out of time to recognize these few remaining Americans that stood up for freedom and democracy when their country needed their help."
In written testimony submitted for the hearing, J. Don Horton, president of the World War II Coastwise Merchant Mariners, noted the thousands of merchant mariners who sailed on coastwise barges and tugs during World War II "have gone unrecognized for their gallant service in defense of this country when all were needed to support our troops overseas and keep the enemy from our doors. H.R. 1288 would finally correct the travesty of not recognizing the service of these individuals and give the few remaining men and women a shot at gaining recognition as veterans.
"This bill stands alone in helping these coastwise merchant seamen gain recognition that they have been deprived of due to records being withheld, destroyed or denied," Horton said. "This needs to be corrected and soon. These seamen are leaving us at an alarming rate. If not now, it will all be for history. We need to stand up and do what is right for these seamen."
Congressional hearing addresses legislation to recognize service of coastwise merchant mariners of World War II
In testimony for a congressional hearing conducted June 28, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and other witnesses urged the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the House of Representatives to advance legislation introduced in March while the opportunity still exists to recognize the few remaining coastwise merchant mariners who served during World War II.
Sponsored by Rep. Butterfield, the World War II Merchant Marine Service Act of 2013 (H.R. 1288), legislation supported by American Maritime Officers, would extend honorary veterans' status to "a forgotten segment of the World War II merchant marine, the coastwise merchant seamen," as noted in a statement from the congressman's office. The bill would extend burial benefits to these merchant marine veterans of World War II, and would expand the list of documentation accepted by the Department of Homeland Security to establish seagoing service during World War II.
In testimony for the hearing conducted by the House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Rep. Butterfield urged the leadership of the Veterans' Affairs Committee "to schedule a markup soon so that these few remaining unsung American heroes have a chance to gain the recognition they rightly deserve.
"My bill is very simple," Rep. Butterfield said. "It would expand the types of documentation accepted by the federal government when a very small group of mariners that operated tugboats and barges domestically during World War II apply for veterans' status. Once recognized as veterans, they would be provided benefits limited only to burial and a U.S. flag. Let me repeat that - qualifying merchant mariners, who can prove service through expanded acceptable documentation, would receive only burial benefits and the honor of being recognized by their country for their sacrifice and service. My bill does not provide for health coverage, disability payments, or payouts of any kind to merchant mariners who served during World War II and does not impact direct spending.
"For those that are still living, we must not let their efforts and contributions go unrecognized while we still have a chance," he said. "The passing of Senator Lautenberg, the last remaining World War II veteran in the Senate, is a strong reminder to all of us in Congress that if we are to honor and recognize these merchant mariners, the time to do so is now.
"Estimates show that fewer than 2,000 of these mariners who served the United States during World War II are still living," Rep. Butterfield said. "In fact, it's very possible that there are only hundreds left today. Colleagues, we are quickly running out of time to recognize these few remaining Americans that stood up for freedom and democracy when their country needed their help."
In written testimony submitted for the hearing, J. Don Horton, president of the World War II Coastwise Merchant Mariners, noted the thousands of merchant mariners who sailed on coastwise barges and tugs during World War II "have gone unrecognized for their gallant service in defense of this country when all were needed to support our troops overseas and keep the enemy from our doors. H.R. 1288 would finally correct the travesty of not recognizing the service of these individuals and give the few remaining men and women a shot at gaining recognition as veterans.
"This bill stands alone in helping these coastwise merchant seamen gain recognition that they have been deprived of due to records being withheld, destroyed or denied," Horton said. "This needs to be corrected and soon. These seamen are leaving us at an alarming rate. If not now, it will all be for history. We need to stand up and do what is right for these seamen."