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S 718 108th Congress Senate

Troops Phone Home Free Act of 2003

Official title: A bill to provide a monthly allotment of free telephone calling time to members of the United States armed forces stationed outside the United States who are d… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to provide a monthly allotment of free telephone calling time to members of the United States armed forces stationed outside the United States who are directly supporting military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Introduced: April 1, 2003 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security AfghanistanArmed forces abroadFamiliesIraq
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Iraq compilationMiddle East and North AfricaMilitary dependentsMilitary payScience, Technology, CommunicationsSouth AsiaTelecommunication ratesTelephone
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 8, 2003
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Apr 8, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
Apr 2, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Apr 2, 2003
Received in the House.
Apr 2, 2003
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Apr 1, 2003
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S4620-4621)
Apr 1, 2003
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR S4620-4621)
Apr 1, 2003
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4615-4621)
Mar 27, 2003
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 56.
Mar 26, 2003
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4441)
Mar 26, 2003
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 434 – To make minor changes in the plan to provide a monthly allotment of free telephone calling time to members of… Agreed to Apr 1, 2003
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 Latest action April 8, 2003

Executive Comment Requested from DOD.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Troops Phone Home Free Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide prepaid phone cards, or the equivalent telephone service benefit, to enable military personnel stationed outside the United States who are directly supporting military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan to call family and friends in the United States at no cost. Limits such benefit to $40 per month per person. Terminates the program 60 days after the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Directs the Secretary to work with telecommunications providers to facilitate the deployment of additional telephones for such use as quickly as practicable.

 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · Apr 1, 2003
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Mar 26, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 718: Troops Phone Home Free Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-718/
MLA
"S. 718: Troops Phone Home Free Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-718/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 718, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-718/.
Markdown link
[S. 718: Troops Phone Home Free Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-718/)
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