[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1200]
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 OF 2009

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                               speech of

                           HON. ED PERLMUTTER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2009

  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor 
the service the U.S. Merchant Marines and the sacrifice each gave for 
our country. The merchant seamen of World War II were volunteers and a 
civilian a military corps serving the United States in the war. They 
were denied veterans' benefits comparable to those provided to World 
War II era military veterans. By most reports, the World War II 
merchant marines suffered the greatest casualties of any of the 
fighting branches--with nearly 1-in-26 dying in battle.
  H.R. 23, the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War 
II Act of 2009 will provide benefits for an estimated 38,000 
individuals in the first year of the enactment of this legislation. I 
believe this legislation is long overdue. I am eager to see them 
receive all the benefits they deserve.
  I am proud and grateful for the opportunity to nominate constituents 
to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. There they receive an education 
for a future in this field. I applaud the hard work an dedication of 
the merchant mariners and the sacrifices they have made for our 
country.

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