Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997
Official title: To provide that certain service of members of the United States merchant marine during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of any law… Show full official titleShow less
Official title: To provide that certain service of members of the United States merchant marine during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of any law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
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Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997 - Provides that certain qualified service of a member of the U.S. merchant marine, including a vessel crewmember of the U.S. Army or Naval Transport Service, during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of eligibility for various veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires the Secretary of Defense to issue an honorable discharge under such Act to each merchant marine member whose qualified service warrants such a discharge.
Prohibits the payment of any retroactive benefits under this Act.
Mandates a processing fee for any benefit application of a member possessing such qualified service.
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1126: Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1126/
"H.R. 1126: Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1126/.
H.R. 1126, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1126/.
[H.R. 1126: Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1126/)