Political Quotes

“I rise today to introduce the Hotels for Heroes Act. Next week is Veterans Day and we owe it to our military men and women to support them every day but especially in their time of need. Today, military families are facing enormous challenges, not just emotionally, but financially. The legislation I am introducing will help more families to be with their loved ones as they recover from injuries and illnesses sustained defending our country and our way of life. This bill expands on the popular Hero Miles program created in 2003 by my Maryland delegation colleague, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. The Hero Miles program authorizes the Department of Defense to accept donated frequent traveler miles to provide free round-trip airfare to military members recovering at military or Veterans Administration, VA, medical centers as a result of injuries sustained in overseas conflicts. The program also enables family and friends to visit injured troops while they are being treated. The Fisher House Foundation administers the program. The Foundation is a non-profit best known for its network of comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. The bill that I am introducing today would expand the program to allow the Department of Defense to accept the donation of hotel points in addition to airline miles. Congressman Ruppersberger has introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.…”