H.R. 23 would amend title 46, United States Code, 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.
Detailed Summary
<b>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 27, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b>
Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Treasury the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund for payments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a monthly benefit of $1,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, was a documented member of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was operated in U.S. waters by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation and under contract to, or the property of, the United States. Requires such individuals to: (1) apply for such benefit before October 1, 2009; and (2) not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.
Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.
Requires the Secretary to include, in annual budget documents submitted to Congress, detailed information on the Fund's operation.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 9/5/2007: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Connie Heffern
November 27, 2007, 10:51am (report abuse)It is about time that the American people thanked these men for their heroism. All of our Allies in WWII have been compensated. What's wrong with our Country.
Donna Bannister
February 5, 2008, 11:07am (report abuse)The tribute of the Merchant Marines in WW11 was magnificent performance of dedication, loyatly and honor for this country. The benefit package should be expediently approved.
w d hobbs
March 6, 2008, 11:26am (report abuse)if not now when,we are all over 80 years old,all of the washington officals retire on what they are making as asen. or congressman,good luck to all my comrads
w miller
March 16, 2008, 2:21pm (report abuse)my father was a merchant marine during ww11 and he nor my mother didn't receive anything for him serving in this war...when and how do you get these benefits started..and does his children who were minors at the time get anything from this bill..?
john courville
April 17, 2008, 2:20pm (report abuse)I am one of the 80+ .Evene my life insurance was canceled at end of V J day while I was in mine infested waters off Okinawa.
robert vilagi
May 6, 2008, 5:20am (report abuse)Does the committee know that the RUSSIAN government gave GOLD medals to the merchant marines that made the NORTH ATLANTIC RUN to Russia during the war?
M Gould
June 2, 2008, 9:07pm (report abuse)My dad (Combat MM Veteran, 42-45, 3 theatres.)was hoping to get this benefit. He's gone now.
So how many more have to go before this is passed?
Very disappointing.
Laura OogheT
July 1, 2008, 3:01pm (report abuse)Thats our tax dollars/government hard at work.! Keep shuffling papers until about 1/2 of the current surviving
M.M.'s are left to drop the original dollar amount. I just hope my father-in-law is still around
when /if this does pass!
Carl Harless
July 13, 2008, 1:11am (report abuse)What is wrong with our government? the merchant mariners lost 1 out of every 25 people they deserved this benefit long ago,how many more will pass away befor this is passed?
Deane Knowles
July 25, 2008, 12:52pm (report abuse)my husband Frank L. Knowles was captured at the beginning of the war and spent 4 years in horrilbe conditions during that period. Do we not even now deserve some compesation? Please let this bill go forward.
AILEEN PANCHERI
August 18, 2008, 10:18am (report abuse)TIME MARCHES ON, CONGRESS IS ON VACATION, HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE. TILL ALL THE mERCHANT mARINERS ARE GONE. MY HUSBAND IS ALREADY 81. oTHER LESS IMPORTANT
THINGS HAVE TAKEN OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THEY SERVED, THEY DESERVE!!!
Gerald T. Greene
August 19, 2008, 3:17pm (report abuse)Joined USMM at age 16. Now 80 yrs
Wait a bit longer and we will all be gone. Side point. Who do you think carried the supplies for Korea, Afghanistan and Irag?? It arrived by osmosis.
Michelle Rockman
September 2, 2008, 11:59pm (report abuse)My father bravely served during war time, yet only two years before he passed away, did he get the recognition he deserved. The original bill provided a benefit to the surviving spouse. Now it appears that it has disappeared from the final bill. Is this correct?
Aileen PANCHERI
September 16, 2008, 3:47pm (report abuse)wE CAN FIND MONEY TO BAIL OUT fANNIE mae, etc. but not this. tHEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY WELL
AND SOON there WILL BE NONE LEFT.
Ceos feather their own nests getting huge amounts of mo9251vney. Pass this bill now!!!!
Bud Leach
September 22, 2008, 9:18pm (report abuse)I was thier from 1943 to 1948,sailed thought out the war and never got a word of thanks and will probley die before the jerks in wash. pass this pie in the sky. I sailed out of Baltimore and Nyc most of the time. dumb ass me, I loved and believed so much in the jerks in wash. that even went to Korea and vietnam. really had a great time during those years,still am.
Charlie L. Gamer
September 30, 2008, 3:17pm (report abuse)I enlisted at age 16 and supplied the Navy's 3rd Fleet throughout the Pacific. One of the first ships into Japan (Yokohama) when the war ended. I'm 81 plus now, but I'll wait as long as I can to see if the "good old Boys" in Congress can see their way clear to throw us a bone.
robert holt
November 7, 2008, 10:07pm (report abuse)get s-961 out of the commitee and into the senate for a vote.you want to get us out of this economic crises this is a way to do it. this money paid to our merchant seaman would go into the states the same as veterans .social security,and the billions now being furnished now by the govt.i know this would only be a drop in the bucket in comparison to the billions being spent to get us out of this mess but every little bit counts.it would also let the whole world know how much we appreciate the sacrifice made by our merchant seaman in ww2 who never made it back and some are still m.i.a.
William Delancy
December 31, 2008, 11:49am (report abuse)HR23 PASSED THE HOUSE AND S 961 HAS 61 COSPONSORS IN THE SENATE .YET CHAIRMAN AKAKA BLOCKS ANY ACTIVITY ON THIS BILL IN THE SENATE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WHILE SUPPORTING A BILL FOR SIMILAR COMPENSATION FOR FILIPINO CIVILLIAN FIGHTERS OF WWII.MOST MERCHANT SEAMEN ARE NOW 80 YEARS OLD AND IM CONVINCED THAT WE WILL NEVER RECEIVE ANY RECOGNITION FOR OUR SERVICE FROM OUR GOVERMENT AS LONG AS THESE COMMITTEES ARE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT GOV. BUSINESS IN THIS SHAMEFUL MANNER. WHY IS THIS ALLOWED? I HAVE EMAILLED SEVERAL SENATORS INCLUDING PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THEM.