Congressman Al Green Cosponsors H.R. 563, the Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015

(Washington, DC)--On Thursday, October 8, 2015, Congressman Al Green spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about his support for H.R. 563, the Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015. H.R. 563 is sponsored by Congresswoman Janice Hahn (CA-44). The legislation seeks to correct the significant historic oversight of not justly compensating the U.S. Merchant Marines for their World War II service. During World War II, approximately 243,000 U.S. Merchant Marines served in some capacity during World War II, often stepping into combat roles. They also suffered the highest fatality rate of the armed services—with 1 in 26, approximately 9,500, perishing during the war.

“Those who put their lives on the line to defend this great nation, as well as freedom and democracy abroad, deserve our utmost appreciation,” Congressman Al Green said.  “While this legislation does not compensate for the extensive loss of benefits and resources our brave U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans have suffered, it is a step in the right direction toward honoring all those who were instrumental in our World War II victory.”

Despite their contributions, only in 1988, following a class-action lawsuit, were the U.S. Merchant Marines legally recognized as Veterans. The legal designation granted them the right to healthcare at Department of Veterans Affairs’ hospitals and burial flags. However, since they were not eligible for the original benefits under the G.I. Bill, they did not receive college tuition subsidies, home loan guarantees, pensions, or other provisions accorded to the millions who fought during World War II.

While reflecting on the historic injustice and the struggle to rectify it, U.S. Merchant Marine Veteran Morris Harvey from Florida said: “The only way we became Veterans was by going to court.”

 “This is important because we feel that we have been left out of the well-deserved recognition from Congress,” said U.S. Merchant Marine Veteran Charles Mills from Texas. “This bill would make a statement to the country that the Merchant Marines were there.”

H.R. 563, the Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015, seeks to address this injustice by specifically establishing the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund from which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is to make one payment of $25,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, was a member of the U.S. Merchant Marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crew member 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.

“I am honored that I have the opportunity to champion this cause alongside Congresswoman Janice Hahn,” Congressman Al Green said. “As I see it, one of my primary duties in Congress is to ensure those individuals and their families that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation are shown the appreciation, as well as given all that they have earned from our grateful nation. Just as we would not literally leave our service people behind, we must not leave them and their families behind either after their service has ended.”

“The G.I. Bill compensated those who served in World War II.  Unfortunately, those benefits did not extend to the brave Merchant Mariners” said Congresswoman Janice Hahn. “The brave Americans of the Merchant Marine served and risked their lives for this country during the most trying times. It is unfathomable that decades later they still have not been thanked or properly recognized, and I thank Congressman Al Green for his support in my mission to right this wrong.”