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Posted by Ron Carlson
on May 18, 2009, 2:42 pm, in reply to "Bill passed in the House of Representatives"
161.80.10.20
Mr. Burr refers to a bill know as H.R. 23, titled "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of
World War II Act of 2009," which passed the House of Representatives on May 12. It is similar to other bills that have been debated in recent sessions of Congress, none of which have become law. A similar bill, S. 663, is currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.
The purpose of the bill, as its title suggests, is to recompense World War II-era merchant mariners for their service, which was denied them for many years. Not until 1988, and then only as the result of a court case, did merchant mariners receive limited recognition as veterans. In the meantime millions of U.S. military veterans from the uniformed services, including the U.S. Navy and therefore the Armed Guard, enjoyed the benefits of the G.I. Bill, which included education assistance, VA health care and counseling, housing and small business loans, unemployment benefits, and preferential treatment in hiring for the federal civilian workforce. While there were differences in pay between merchant sailors and uniformed U.S. military personnel, a report issued by the U.S. Congressional Research Service entitled "Veterans Benefits: Merchant Seaman," dated May 8, 2007, stated that the issue of pay comparability "is extremely difficult to sort out."
It is certainly true that Armed Guard personnel were subject to the same dangerous conditions that merchant mariners faced. But millions of other sailors, soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen likewise were placed in danger. Should not all of these veterans likewise receive a monthly stipend? Where does one draw the line? But those veterans had access to benefits that were denied merchant mariners.
I will admit to a bias in favor of the merchant marine. Merchant mariners were treated poorly by the nation they served, defended and died for. They deserve recognition, just as the Armed Guard deserves recognition, just as every veteran deserves recognition.
God bless them all.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
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