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HR 1288 113th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Cemeteries and funerals Government information and archives Marine and inland water transportation Military personnel and dependents National Guard and reserves Personnel records Transportation employees Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs Veterans' medical care Veterans' organizations and recognition Veterans' pensions and compensation

World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act

Introduced: March 20, 2013 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 28, 2013
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 8, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Apr 2, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Mar 20, 2013
Introduced in House
Mar 20, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept additional documentation for verifying that an individual performed honorable service as a coastwise merchant seaman during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires such documentation to include Social Security Administration (SSA) records and validated testimony in the case of the absence of Coast Guard shipping or discharge forms, ship logbooks, documents, or other official employment records.

Requires the Secretary, when determining whether to recognize service allegedly performed during such period, to recognize masters of seagoing vessels or other command officers who were authorized to document an individual for purposes of hiring for or discharging from the merchant marine.

Considers any service so recognized as active-duty service for purposes of veterans' burial benefits. Makes such veterans eligible for any appropriate military medals, ribbons, and decorations. Requires the Secretary to verify that an individual performed such service under honorable conditions without regard to their sex, age, or disability during the service period.

What's happening now June 28, 2013

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1361 Identical bill World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 58
All 58 Democratic 22 Republican 4
O'Rourke, Beto
· Jul 31, 2013
Farenthold, Blake
· Jul 25, 2013
Herrera Beutler, Jaime
· Jul 18, 2013
Franks, Trent
· Jul 11, 2013
Tsongas, Niki
· Jul 11, 2013
 D
Huffman, Jared
California · Jun 28, 2013
 D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · Jun 20, 2013
ROHRABACHER, DANA
· Jun 20, 2013
Bishop, Timothy
· Jun 11, 2013
 D
Takano, Mark
California · May 21, 2013
 D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · May 17, 2013
 D
Horsford, Steven
Nevada · May 17, 2013
Shea-Porter, Carol
· May 17, 2013
 D
Ruiz, Raul
California · May 8, 2013
 R
Issa, Darrell
California · Apr 23, 2013
 D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Apr 18, 2013
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Apr 17, 2013
Forbes, J.
· Apr 17, 2013
LATHAM, TOM
· Apr 17, 2013
 R
McCaul, Michael T.
Texas · Apr 10, 2013
WOLF, FRANK
· Apr 10, 2013
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Apr 9, 2013
FATTAH, CHAKA
· Apr 9, 2013
GREEN, GENE
· Apr 9, 2013
Nunes, Devin
· Apr 9, 2013
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Apr 9, 2013
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Apr 9, 2013
 D
Tonko, Paul
New York · Apr 9, 2013
 D
Wilson, Frederica S.
Florida · Apr 9, 2013
COBLE, HOWARD
· Mar 21, 2013
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Mar 21, 2013
WATT, MELVIN
· Mar 21, 2013
Barrow, John
· Mar 20, 2013
BRADY, ROBERT
· Mar 20, 2013
 D
Courtney, Joe
Connecticut · Mar 20, 2013
CUMMINGS, ELIJAH
· Mar 20, 2013
 D
Himes, James A.
Connecticut · Mar 20, 2013
Holding, George
· Mar 20, 2013
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Mar 20, 2013
JONES, WALTER
· Mar 20, 2013
 D
Keating, William R.
Massachusetts · Mar 20, 2013
KING, PETER
· Mar 20, 2013
 R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · Mar 20, 2013
Lipinski, Daniel
· Mar 20, 2013
LOBIONDO, FRANK
· Mar 20, 2013
Loebsack, David
· Mar 20, 2013
MCCARTHY, CAROLYN
· Mar 20, 2013
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Mar 20, 2013
McHenry, Patrick
· Mar 20, 2013
MCINTYRE, MIKE
· Mar 20, 2013
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Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1288: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1288/
MLA
"H.R. 1288: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1288/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1288, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1288/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1288: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1288/)
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