On the recordJanuary 27, 2015
In World War II, more than 200,000 brave Americans answered the call of duty by joining the merchant marine, braving troubled seas to deliver crucial supplies to the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific. They faced enemy attack. Thousands perished at sea, and hundreds more were captured. Unfortunately, the veterans of the merchant marine who risked their lives in the service of this Nation were never eligible for the provisions of the GI bill that helped millions of veterans go to college, secure a home, and transition seamlessly into civilian life. To right this wrong, I am introducing the Honoring Our World War II Merchant Mariners Act of 2015. This bill would provide the one-time payment of $25,000 to fewer than 5,000 surviving World War II mariners. With many of these forgotten heroes well into their nineties, time is running out to repay this debt of gratitude. I encourage my colleagues to act quickly in cosponsoring this important legislation. ____________________
