[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 96 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3626-S3627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2622. Mr. SCHATZ (for himself and Mr. Boozman) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5515, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title VI, add the following:
SEC. 633. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN MORALE, WELFARE, AND
RECREATION PRIVILEGES TO CERTAIN VETERANS AND
THEIR CAREGIVERS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In 2017, the Secretary of Defense determined that the
addition of new patron categories to the commissary and
exchange systems would support the growth of a robust
customer base and help ensure the ability of both systems to
provide benefits to members of the Armed Forces and their
families.
(2) The Secretary previously opposed extending commissary
and exchange privileges to large patron groups such as
disabled veterans.
[[Page S3627]]
(3) In January 2017, the Secretary of Defense approved
limited online exchange shopping privileges for all veterans,
effective November 11, 2017.
(4) The Secretary determined that current patrons of
exchanges did not perceive the extension of such privileges
as diluting the benefit for members of the Armed Forces.
(5) The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration,
awarded to members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded
or died in combat, fighting for the United States. Since the
modern incarnation of the award was established in 1932,
approximately 1,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have been
awarded the Purple Heart.
(b) Commissary Stores and MWR Facilities Privileges for
Certain Veterans and Veteran Caregivers.--
(1) Extension of privileges.--Chapter 54 of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities:
certain veterans and caregivers for veterans
``(a) Eligibility of Veterans Who Are Medal of Honor
Recipients.--A veteran who is a Medal of Honor recipient
shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR
facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces
entitled to retired or retainer pay.
``(b) Eligibility of Veterans Awarded the Purple Heart.--A
veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart shall be permitted
to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis
as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or
retainer pay.
``(c) Eligibility of Veterans Who Are Former Prisoners of
War.--A veteran who is a former prisoner of war shall be
permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the
same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to
retired or retainer pay.
``(d) Eligibility of Veterans With Service-connected
Disabilities.--A veteran with a service-connected disability
shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR
facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces
entitled to retired or retainer pay.
``(e) Eligibility of Caregivers for Veterans.--A caregiver
or family caregiver shall be permitted to use commissary
stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of
the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.
``(f) User Fee Authority.--(1) The Secretary of Defense
shall prescribe regulations that impose a user fee on
individuals who are eligible solely under this section to
purchase merchandise at a commissary store or MWR retail
facility.
``(2) The Secretary shall set the user fee under this
subsection at a rate that the Secretary determines will
offset any increase in expenses arising from this section
borne by the Department of the Treasury on behalf of
commissary stores associated with the use of credit or debit
cards for customer purchases, including expenses related to
card network use and related transaction processing fees.
``(3) The Secretary shall deposit funds collected pursuant
to a user fee under this subsection in the General Fund of
the Treasury.
``(4) Any fee under this subsection is in addition to the
uniform surcharge under section 2484(d) of this title.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `MWR facilities' includes--
``(A) MWR retail facilities, as that term is defined in
section 1063(e) of this title; and
``(B) military lodging operated by the Department of
Defense for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of
the armed forces.
``(2) The term `Medal of Honor recipient' has the meaning
given that term in section 1074h(c) of this title.
``(3) The terms `veteran', `former prisoner of war', and
`service-connected' have the meanings given those terms in
section 101 of title 38.
``(4) The terms `caregiver' and `family caregiver' have the
meanings given those terms in section in section 1720G(d) of
title 38.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 54 of such title is amended by adding at
the end the following new item:
``1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: certain veterans
and caregivers for veterans.''.
(3) Effective date.--Section 1065 of title 10, United
States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall take effect at
the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations for Updating EPACS for
Military Commissaries.--There is hereby authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of
Defense, $500,000 for updating the electronic physical access
control system used by military commissaries and exchanges so
that the system may recognize and accept veteran health
identification cards.
(d) Sense of Congress on Individuals Awarded the Purple
Heart.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of
Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, should maintain a list of all individuals awarded
the Purple Heart.
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