[Congressional Bills 110th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 447 Introduced in House (IH)] 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 447 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that World War II merchant mariners who were awarded the Mariners Medal shall be provided eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs health care on the same basis as veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 12, 2007 Mr. Fortenberry introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that World War II merchant mariners who were awarded the Mariners Medal shall be provided eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs health care on the same basis as veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. WORLD WAR II MERCHANT MARINERS AWARDED THE MARINERS MEDAL TO BE PROVIDED PRIORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE ON SAME BASIS AS VETERANS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. (a) Health Care Priority.--Sections 1705(a)(3) and 1710(a)(2)(D) of title 38, United States Code, are amended by inserting ``or the Mariners Medal'' after ``the Purple Heart''. (b) Mariners Medal Defined.--Section 1701 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(11) The term `Mariners Medal' means the medal authorized to be awarded pursuant to section 3 of the Act of May 10, 1943, entitled `An Act to provide for the issuance of devices in recognition of the services of merchant sailors' (Public Law 52 of the 78th Congress), to any person, who while serving on any vessel in the American merchant marine during the World War II period, was wounded, suffered physical injury, or suffered through dangerous exposure as a result of an act of an enemy of the United States.''. <all>