Original Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2025

This bill would create a Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund in the U.S. Treasury, run by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. People who served as crew members on certain U.S. merchant marine vessels supporting the Armed Forces between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, could apply within one year of the law taking effect. Eligible applicants who did not receive benefits under the 1944 G.I. Bill would get a one-time payment of $25,000, paid in the order applications are received. The bill would authorize $125 million for the fund in fiscal year 2026 and require yearly reporting to Congress on how the fund operates.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Al Green Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors