HR 39119th CongressIn Committee

Original Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2025

Introduced: Jan 3, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-Texas)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would create a new Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund within the broader Department of Veterans Affairs framework to provide a one‑time payment of $25,000 to certain U.S. WWII-era merchant mariners. Eligible individuals include those who served as crew on merchant ships (including the Army Transport Service and Naval Transport Service) between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, on vessels operated under government contracts or ownership and serving with the Armed Forces, and who have not received benefits under the GI Bill. The fund is funded from the general treasury and is limited by a specified appropriation for FY2026, with payments made in the order applications are received until the fund is exhausted. The act requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue regulations, accept proof such as DD-214, and report annually to Congress on program operations and funding needs for the following years. In short, the bill seeks to recognize and compensate a specific group of WWII merchant mariners who did not receive prior GI Bill benefits, via a new, capped one-time payment program administered by the VA, with a defined application window and ongoing reporting requirements.

Key Points

1Establishment of the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund: Creates a new fund in the general treasury to provide payments to eligible WWII merchant mariners, with the VA (Secretary) administering the program.
2Eligibility criteria:
3- One-year application window from enactment to submit proof and assurances.
4- Must not have received benefits under the GI Bill.
5- Must have engaged in qualified service between Dec 7, 1941 and Dec 31, 1946 as a U.S. merchant seaman on government-operated vessels (War Shipping Administration/Office of Defense Transportation or their agents), under contract or government ownership, and serving the armed forces.
6- Proof may include acceptance of a DD-214 form as evidence of qualified service.
7Payment amount and sequencing: Each eligible individual receives a one-time payment of $25,000. Payments are made in the order the Secretary receives applications, limited by the fund’s available appropriations.
8Funding and availability: Authorized appropriations of $125,000,000 for FY2026, with the fund remaining available until expended. Payments depend on the availability of appropriated funds and do not have a perpetual annual funding guarantee.
9Regulations and oversight: The Secretary must prescribe regulations implementing the fund, in addition to issuing regulations required under 38 U.S.C. 532(f) within 180 days of enactment. The act also requires annual reporting to Congress on applications, beneficiaries, amounts paid, administration, and funding estimates for the following years.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- U.S. WWII merchant mariners who served between 1941 and 1946 (including Army Transport Service and Naval Transport Service) and did not receive GI Bill benefits. This is the direct beneficiary group and central to the policy aim.Secondary group/area affected:- The Department of Veterans Affairs (administrative body) and, more broadly, the U.S. Treasury/General Fund through the new compensation fund. The bill would add grant-style administrative responsibilities, application processing, and regulatory development for VA, as well as a defined burden on federal fiscal planning.Additional impacts:- Fiscal and administrative: The availability of up to $125 million for FY2026 to fund up to 5,000 payments (at $25,000 each) if fully subscribed, with payments awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out.- Legal/clarity considerations: Establishes a new entitlement framework with a specific eligibility window and proof standards, potentially overlapping with other veteran benefits but explicitly excluding those who have received GI Bill benefits.- Data/oversight: Requires annual congressional reporting on program activity and funding needs, promoting transparency and enabling future policy decisions.38 U.S.C. Subchapter II: A portion of the U.S. Code governing veterans’ benefits, used here as the vehicle for creating the new fund and related authorities.DD-214: A standard U.S. military discharge document; the bill allows it to serve as proof of qualified service for merchant mariner eligibility.War Shipping Administration / Office of Defense Transportation: Federal entities involved in organizing and operating ships for the war effort; the eligibility criteria tie merchant mariners to vessels under these authorities during WWII.

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