[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S14315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     BELATED THANK YOU TO THE MERCHANT MARINERS OF WORLD WAR II ACT

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, today I join my colleagues, Senators 
Nelson, Mikulski, Landrieu, Murkowski, Boxer, Snowe, Reed, Roberts, 
Lautenberg, DeWine, Smith, Jeffords, Corzine, Stevens, Sarbanes, Kerry, 
Lincoln, Murray, Durbin, Coleman, Feinstein, Johnson, Collins, Schumer, 
Baucus, Cochran, Brownback, Cantwell, Clinton, Dodd, Lieberman, and 
Stabenow in cosponsoring S. 1272, Belated Thank You to the Merchant 
Mariners of World War II Act of 2005.
  The contribution Merchant Mariners made during WWII have gone 
unheralded for far too long. The Merchant Marine is the forgotten 
service of World War II.
  Although their numbers were small, they suffered the highest 
casualties of any service in World War II. Merchant mariners were 
responsible for transporting troops, tanks, food, fuel, airplanes and 
other supplies and, as a result, their likelihood of combat was 
extremely high. In fact, enemy forces sank over 800 of their ships 
between 1941 and 1944.
  For more than 40 years, Merchant Mariners were denied any G.I. bill 
of rights benefits. In 1988, they were granted a ``watered down'' 
version of the G.I. bill of rights, but some portions of those benefits 
were never made available to them. In addition, they still have not 
received proper recognition as veterans for Social Security purposes.
  This legislation would rectify that inequity by recognizing these 
American heroes with the status of ``veteran,'' and it would grant a 
small monthly stipend to these veterans or their widows in order to 
offset their lost benefits.
  As a veteran, I will always seek to protect the honored place of our 
military heroes. I cherish their service, and I will do everything in 
my power to support their interests. I look forward to working with my 
Senate colleagues to pass this important piece of legislation.

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