[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7486]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING OUR WORLD WAR II MERCHANT MARINERS ACT OF 2013

  (Ms. HAHN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HAHN. Madam Speaker, for over 200 years, the U.S. Merchant Marine 
has been a pillar in the foundation of our country's national security 
and economic growth, and so it is fitting that every year on May 22 we 
celebrate National Maritime Day in recognition of their service and 
sacrifice across the centuries.
  On this day, we reflect on the service of the men and women of the 
Merchant Marine who served during World War II, many thousands of whom 
died in delivering the arsenal of democracy over the seas to the 
battlefields of Europe and the Pacific. Merchant mariners died at a 
higher rate in World War II than any uniformed service. Unfortunately, 
the veterans of the Merchant Marine who risked their lives in the 
service of this Nation and of all freedom-loving nations were never 
eligible for the provisions of the GI Bill, which helped millions of 
veterans go to college, secure a home, and transition seamlessly into 
civilian life.
  That's why I have introduced the Honoring Our World War II Merchant 
Mariners Act of 2013. This bill would provide a $1,000 monthly benefit 
to the nearly 10,000 surviving World War II mariners. By providing this 
modest benefit, we will finally be giving our brave merchant mariners 
the recognition and benefits they deserve.

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