# 114-hr-1288: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act

114-hr-1288, World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1] (D-NC); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1288
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-1288
- Congress: 114
- Title: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
- Introduced: 2015-03-04
- Sponsor: Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1] (D-NC)
- Cosponsors: 167
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security 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 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.

## Cosponsors (167)

- Rep. Hanna, Richard L. [R-NY-22] (R-NY), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pittenger, Robert [R-NC-9] (R-NC), 2015-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- WALTER JONES (R-NC), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA), 2015-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11] (R-NC), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- JIM MCDERMOTT (D-WA), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- CHARLES RANGEL (D-NY), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large] (D-GU), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- FRANK LOBIONDO (R-NJ), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- DANA ROHRABACHER (R-CA), 2015-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- PETER KING (R-NY), 2015-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2015-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- MICHAEL HONDA (D-CA), 2015-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4] (R-VA), 2015-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2015-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2015-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- ROBERT BRADY (D-PA), 2015-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2015-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE-1] (R-NE), 2015-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA), 2015-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Holding, George [R-NC-2] (R-NC), 2015-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA), 2015-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9] (R-NC), 2015-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3] (R-WA), 2015-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] (R-NC), 2015-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2015-06-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2015-06-02T00:00:00.000Z
- STEVE ISRAEL (D-NY), 2015-06-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2015-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2015-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2015-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1] (R-NY), 2015-06-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2015-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1] (D-MN), 2015-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15] (R-FL), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walker, Mark [R-NC-6] (R-NC), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gowdy, Trey [R-SC-4] (R-SC), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- COLLIN PETERSON (D-MN), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- CORRINE BROWN (D-FL), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] (R-AK), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27] (R-TX), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takai, Mark [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4] (R-KY), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2015-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2015-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2015-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blum, Rod [R-IA-1] (R-IA), 2015-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ellmers, Renee L. [R-NC-2] (R-NC), 2015-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8] (R-AZ), 2015-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hunter, Duncan D. [R-CA-50] (R-CA), 2015-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-GA), 2015-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- NITA LOWEY (D-NY), 2015-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2015-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2015-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY), 2015-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-18] (D-PA), 2015-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- RICHARD NOLAN (D-MN), 2015-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Curbelo, Carlos [R-FL-26] (R-FL), 2015-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- JOSE SERRANO (D-NY), 2015-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3] (R-GA), 2015-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- GENE GREEN (D-TX), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] (R-MO), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ashford, Brad [D-NE-2] (D-NE), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- JOHN SHIMKUS (R-IL), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] (D-OH), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] (R-NE), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1] (D-MA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] (R-NV), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clawson, Curt [R-FL-19] (R-FL), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] (R-IL), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29] (D-CA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] (R-WA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (R-NY), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4] (D-NY), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] (R-IA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] (D-MI), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] (R-OH), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Esty, Elizabeth H. [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- CHAKA FATTAH (D-PA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- LUIS GUTIERREZ (D-IL), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] (D-CT), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] (D-OH), 2015-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Messer, Luke [R-IN-6] (R-IN), 2015-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2015-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2015-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-3] (R-LA), 2015-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] (R-CO), 2015-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8] (R-FL), 2015-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2015-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rigell, E. Scott [R-VA-2] (R-VA), 2015-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [R-PA-8] (R-PA), 2015-10-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2015-10-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2015-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jenkins, Lynn [R-KS-2] (R-KS), 2015-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dent, Charles W. [R-PA-15] (R-PA), 2015-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller, Candice S. [R-MI-10] (R-MI), 2015-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Paulsen, Erik [R-MN-3] (R-MN), 2015-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2015-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3] (D-WI), 2015-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2015-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- ROBERT GOODLATTE (R-VA), 2015-10-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL-6] (R-IL), 2015-11-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] (R-OH), 2015-11-03T00:00:00.000Z
- LORETTA SANCHEZ (D-CA), 2015-11-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2015-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2015-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (D-CA), 2015-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2015-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2] (D-IA), 2015-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2015-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2015-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] (R-OH), 2015-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2015-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] (R-TX), 2015-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ), 2015-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- JOHN LEWIS (D-GA), 2015-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Murphy, Patrick [D-FL-18] (D-FL), 2015-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2015-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2015-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2015-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5] (R-KY), 2015-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2015-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2015-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA), 2015-12-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2015-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2015-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2015-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9] (R-VA), 2015-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- LOUISE SLAUGHTER (D-NY), 2016-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11] (R-GA), 2016-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2016-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2016-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] (D-CA), 2016-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2016-02-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Duffy, Sean P. [R-WI-7] (R-WI), 2016-02-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2016-02-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2016-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2016-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (R-IL), 2016-02-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Guinta, Frank C. [R-NH-1] (R-NH), 2016-03-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gibson, Christopher P. [R-NY-19] (R-NY), 2016-04-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-3268: PAST Act
- 114-hr-1786: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act
- 114-hr-3381: Childhood Cancer STAR Act
- 114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act
- 114-hr-2737: Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015

## Sources
- [114-hr-1288 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1288)

## Related
- [114-hr-3268: PAST Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3268)
- [114-hr-1786: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1786)
- [114-hr-3381: Childhood Cancer STAR Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3381)
- [114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2992)
- [114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1475)
- [114-hr-2737: Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2737)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1288 (as of 2025-11-18).