Trent Lott: “today, it is my pleasure to introduce the Merchant Mariners Fairness Act. My bill would grant veterans status to…”

“today, it is my pleasure to introduce the Merchant Mariners Fairness Act. My bill would grant veterans status to American merchant mariners who have been denied this status. In 1988, the Secretary of the Air Force decided, for the purposes of granting veterans benefits to merchant seamen, that the cut-off date for service would be August 15, 1945, V-J Day, rather than December 31, 1946, when hostilities were declared officially ended. My bill would correct the 1988 decision and extend veterans benefits to merchant mariners who served from August 15, 1945 to December 31, 1946. It would extend eligibility for burial benefits and related veterans benefits for certain members of the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. I urge my distinguished colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.”