Posted:
May 19, 2015
During a markup hearing April 30 for H.R. 1987, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, Congresswoman Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Congressman John "Jimmy" Duncan (R-TN) called on Congress to recognize the service of U.S. merchant mariners during World War II and provide a one-time benefit to the surviving merchant marine veterans of that war.
Rep. Hahn introduced the Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015 in the 114th Congress and Rep. Duncan is the principal cosponsor of the legislation, which if enacted would provide a one-time benefit of $25,000 to eligible surviving U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II.
During the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup hearing, Rep. Hahn and Rep. Duncan introduced an amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act to implement the Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015.
"A huge part of our maritime industry over the years has been the participation of our merchant mariners," Rep. Hahn said. "This amendment would finally repay the debts to the surviving World War II members of the merchant marine. During World War II, millions of Americans in uniform fought bravely to secure freedom and peace throughout the world. And we honored their sacrifices by ensuring that we took care of them when they came home through initiatives such as the G.I. Bill and other services meant to support our veterans. However, our U.S. merchant mariners were not included in these benefits.
"The U.S. merchant marine was responsible for transporting troops, delivering supplies for the military in hostile areas," she said. "And in the words of our President, Franklin D. Roosevelt: they completed the most difficult and dangerous transportation job ever undertaken, and as time goes on, there will be greater public understanding of our merchant fleet's record during this war.
"Hundreds of ships, thousands of men were lost to enemy submarines and aircraft, including dangerous missions ferrying supplies to Western Europe and even Russia," she said. "It was one of the most critical roles played during the early part of that war. And then-General Dwight Eisenhower put it: When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the merchant marine.
"Unfortunately, those who served this nation so valiantly during that time were not eligible for the G.I. Bill that helped millions of veterans go to college, secure a home, transition seamlessly into civilian life," she said. "The fact that we did not provide similar benefits to those who risked their lives for this country is simply unfathomable. And for too long, we've failed to fulfill our promise to them.
"And with only 5,000 remaining survivors, it is now or never to right this wrong. That's why I'm offering this amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act. I've tried everything," she said.
"This amendment is based on a very similar piece of legislation I've introduced with my colleague, John Duncan, called the Honoring Our World War II Merchant Mariners Act of 2015," Rep. Hahn said. "This amendment would provide a one-time benefit of $25,000 to the surviving 5,000 World War II mariners. In just the last two years, the number surviving merchant mariners has been cut in half. And if we fail to act now, none of them will see the promise that we made to them fulfilled."
Rep. Duncan spoke in support of the amendment and U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II during the hearing.
"I agreed to be the lead cosponsor of this legislation and this amendment because of my great respect for Ms. Hahn, but even more importantly because of my great appreciation for tremendous service provided by those members of the merchant marine," Rep. Duncan said.
"I think most people know that, in my entire time in Congress, I've been one of the most fiscally conservative members here, and generally I support and cosponsor amendments to cut spending," he said. "But I think this is one of the most important, most legitimate amendments that I've seen since I've been here.
"We all try to do as much for our veterans as we can," Rep. Duncan said. "We do far more in this country for our veterans by far than any other country, and we want that to be. But we've never done anything for these veterans of the merchant marine and we really should try to do something."
Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, expressed strong support for legislation to recognize the courageous service of the U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II, but asked that Rep. Hahn withdraw the amendment, pointing out that, as an amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act, it would charge the Department of Homeland Security with administering a veterans' program and would also prevent the Coast Guard Authorization Act from being scheduled for consideration by the House, as it would create a new program without a funding offset to cover the cost of providing the benefit.
Both Rep. Hunter and Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, committed to working with Rep. Hahn and Rep. Duncan and the Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services Committees to advance this measure with the appropriate committee.
Rep. Hahn agreed to withdraw the amendment, acknowledged the commitments made, and pledged to work with Congressmen Shuster and Hunter to get this legislation approved.
Representatives Hahn, Duncan urge recognition of service for U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II
During a markup hearing April 30 for H.R. 1987, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, Congresswoman Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Congressman John "Jimmy" Duncan (R-TN) called on Congress to recognize the service of U.S. merchant mariners during World War II and provide a one-time benefit to the surviving merchant marine veterans of that war.
Rep. Hahn introduced the Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015 in the 114th Congress and Rep. Duncan is the principal cosponsor of the legislation, which if enacted would provide a one-time benefit of $25,000 to eligible surviving U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II.
During the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup hearing, Rep. Hahn and Rep. Duncan introduced an amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act to implement the Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015.
"A huge part of our maritime industry over the years has been the participation of our merchant mariners," Rep. Hahn said. "This amendment would finally repay the debts to the surviving World War II members of the merchant marine. During World War II, millions of Americans in uniform fought bravely to secure freedom and peace throughout the world. And we honored their sacrifices by ensuring that we took care of them when they came home through initiatives such as the G.I. Bill and other services meant to support our veterans. However, our U.S. merchant mariners were not included in these benefits.
"The U.S. merchant marine was responsible for transporting troops, delivering supplies for the military in hostile areas," she said. "And in the words of our President, Franklin D. Roosevelt: they completed the most difficult and dangerous transportation job ever undertaken, and as time goes on, there will be greater public understanding of our merchant fleet's record during this war.
"Hundreds of ships, thousands of men were lost to enemy submarines and aircraft, including dangerous missions ferrying supplies to Western Europe and even Russia," she said. "It was one of the most critical roles played during the early part of that war. And then-General Dwight Eisenhower put it: When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the merchant marine.
"Unfortunately, those who served this nation so valiantly during that time were not eligible for the G.I. Bill that helped millions of veterans go to college, secure a home, transition seamlessly into civilian life," she said. "The fact that we did not provide similar benefits to those who risked their lives for this country is simply unfathomable. And for too long, we've failed to fulfill our promise to them.
"And with only 5,000 remaining survivors, it is now or never to right this wrong. That's why I'm offering this amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act. I've tried everything," she said.
"This amendment is based on a very similar piece of legislation I've introduced with my colleague, John Duncan, called the Honoring Our World War II Merchant Mariners Act of 2015," Rep. Hahn said. "This amendment would provide a one-time benefit of $25,000 to the surviving 5,000 World War II mariners. In just the last two years, the number surviving merchant mariners has been cut in half. And if we fail to act now, none of them will see the promise that we made to them fulfilled."
Rep. Duncan spoke in support of the amendment and U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II during the hearing.
"I agreed to be the lead cosponsor of this legislation and this amendment because of my great respect for Ms. Hahn, but even more importantly because of my great appreciation for tremendous service provided by those members of the merchant marine," Rep. Duncan said.
"I think most people know that, in my entire time in Congress, I've been one of the most fiscally conservative members here, and generally I support and cosponsor amendments to cut spending," he said. "But I think this is one of the most important, most legitimate amendments that I've seen since I've been here.
"We all try to do as much for our veterans as we can," Rep. Duncan said. "We do far more in this country for our veterans by far than any other country, and we want that to be. But we've never done anything for these veterans of the merchant marine and we really should try to do something."
Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, expressed strong support for legislation to recognize the courageous service of the U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II, but asked that Rep. Hahn withdraw the amendment, pointing out that, as an amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act, it would charge the Department of Homeland Security with administering a veterans' program and would also prevent the Coast Guard Authorization Act from being scheduled for consideration by the House, as it would create a new program without a funding offset to cover the cost of providing the benefit.
Both Rep. Hunter and Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, committed to working with Rep. Hahn and Rep. Duncan and the Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services Committees to advance this measure with the appropriate committee.
Rep. Hahn agreed to withdraw the amendment, acknowledged the commitments made, and pledged to work with Congressmen Shuster and Hunter to get this legislation approved.