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DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE

July 30, 2007

House of Representatives Passes Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007

Washington, D.C. – Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that the House of Representatives passed H.R. 23, The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007. The bill would establish a Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide monthly payments in the amount of $1,000 to qualifying members of the United States Merchant Marine who served during World War II. H.R. 23 includes qualifying members of the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service.

“The House of Representatives took the opportunity to correct a grave injustice heaped upon the gallant men of the Merchant Marine of World War II,” stated Chairman Filner. “We call our veterans ‘heroes’ for a reason and the heroes from past wars deserve all the care and dignity that this nation can bestow. We will work boldly and tirelessly to move this legislation forward.”

H.R. 23 rectifies the mistreatment that the Mariners suffered by being denied GI Bill benefits at the end of WWII and compensates them, over sixty years later, for their heroic deeds. The Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund would be available only to all qualifying mariners who apply by October 1, 2008.

The Merchant Mariners of World War II were granted veteran status in 1988 after fighting for over forty years to attain it. Their casualty rate was one in twenty six, the highest of any of the other armed branches of service. It is indisputable that the United States would not have been able to begin, sustain of end WWII without their service.

“I am pleased that the House of Representatives passed The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007,” concluded Chairman Filner. “The heroic and brave service of these veterans has gone unheralded by this country for too long. We owe these heroes a thank you and today, we are one step closer to righting this wrong – ONCE AND FOR ALL. These veterans kept their promises to serve our country and it is not too late to keep our promises to those that have fought for our country.”

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Larry Scott  --