[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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