[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 165 (Tuesday, November 1, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S7007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Wicker, and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 1776. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the 
Operation Hero Miles program to include the authority to accept the 
donation of travel benefits in the form of hotel points or awards for 
free or reduced-cost accommodations; to the Committee on Armed 
Services.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, 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. Here in the Senate, I 
am proud to have bipartisan support for this bill: Senator Wicker is 
the lead co-sponsor. The Fisher House Foundation, the USO, and the 
Military Child Education Coalition all support the legislation.
  Donating unused frequent flyer airline miles and hotel points is a 
wonderful and easy way for Americans to express their appreciation for 
our brave men and women in uniform and their families. The Senate is 
not renowned for acting expeditiously, but one nice way to help pay 
tribute to our veterans and active duty servicemen and women would be 
to pass the Hotels for Heroes Act as soon as possible. I urge all my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1776

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF OPERATION HERO MILES.

       (a) Expanded Definition of Travel Benefit.--Subsection (b) 
     of section 2613 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(b) Travel Benefit Defined.--In this section, the term 
     `travel benefit' means--
       ``(1) frequent traveler miles, credits for tickets, or 
     tickets for air or surface transportation issued by an air 
     carrier or a surface carrier, respectively, that serves the 
     public; and
       ``(2) points or awards for free or reduced-cost 
     accommodations issued by an inn, hotel, or other commercial 
     establishment that provides lodging to transient guests.''.
       (b) Condition on Authority To Accept Donation.--Subsection 
     (c) of such section is amended--
       (1) by striking ``the air or surface carrier'' and 
     inserting ``the business entity referred to in subsection 
     (b)'';
       (2) by striking ``the surface carrier'' and inserting ``the 
     business entity''; and
       (3) by striking ``the carrier'' and inserting ``the 
     business entity''.
       (c) Use.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(3) providing humanitarian support to members and 
     eligible beneficiaries receiving care through the military 
     health care system; and
       ``(4) providing support to allow participation of members 
     and their families in Department of Defense sponsored and 
     authorized programs.''.
       (d) Administration.--Subsection (e)(3) of such section is 
     amended by striking ``the air carrier or surface carrier'' 
     and inserting ``the business entity referred to in subsection 
     (b)''.
       (e) Stylistic Amendments.--
       (1) Section heading.--The heading of such section is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 2613. Acceptance of frequent traveler miles, credits, 
       points, and tickets: use to facilitate rest and 
       recuperation travel of deployed members and their families, 
       support members and other beneficiaries of the military 
       health care system, and support participation in authorized 
       programs''.

       (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 155 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 2613 and inserting the following 
     new item:

``2613. Acceptance of frequent traveler miles, credits, points, and 
              tickets: use to facilitate rest and recuperation travel 
              of deployed members and their families, support members 
              and other beneficiaries of the military health care 
              system, and support participation in authorized 
              programs.''.
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