Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018

To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend certain morale, welfare, and recreation privileges to certain veterans and their caregivers, to authorize the appropriation of funds for the purpose of improving the electronic physical access control system used by military commissaries and exchanges, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) In 2017, the Secretary of Defense determined that the addition of new patron categories to the commissary and exchange systems would support the growth of a robust customer base and help ensure the ability of both systems to provide benefits to members of the Armed Forces and their families. (2) The Secretary previously opposed extending commissary and exchange privileges to large patron groups such as disabled veterans. (3) In January 2017, the Secretary of Defense approved limited online exchange shopping privileges for all veterans, effective November 11, 2017. (4) The Secretary determined that current patrons of exchanges did not perceive the extension of such privileges as diluting the benefit for members of the Armed Forces. (5) The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration, awarded to members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded or died in combat, fighting for the United States. Since the modern incarnation of the award was established in 1932, approximately 1,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have been awarded the Purple Heart. 3. Commissary stores and MWR facilities privileges for certain veterans and veteran caregivers (a) Extension of privileges Chapter 54 1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: certain veterans and caregivers for veterans (a) Eligibility of veterans awarded the Purple Heart A veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. (b) Eligibility of veterans who are Medal of Honor recipients A veteran who is a Medal of Honor recipient shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. (c) Eligibility of veterans who are former prisoners of war A veteran who is a former prisoner of war shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. (d) Eligibility of veterans with service-Connected disabilities A veteran with a service-connected disability shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. (e) Eligibility of caregivers for veterans A caregiver or family caregiver shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term MWR facilities (A) MWR retail facilities, as that term is defined in section 1063(e) of this title; and (B) military lodging operated by the Department of Defense for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of the armed forces. (2) The term Medal of Honor recipient (3) The terms veteran former prisoner of war service-connected (4) The terms caregiver family caregiver . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 54 1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: certain veterans and caregivers for veterans. . (c) Effective date Section 1065 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect at the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. Authorization of appropriation for updating ePACS for military commissaries There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $500,000 to the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of updating the electronic physical access control system used by military commissaries and exchanges so that the system may recognize and accept veteran health identification cards. 5. Sense of Congress regarding individuals awarded the Purple Heart It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, should maintain a list of all individuals awarded the Purple Heart.

Summary: Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 This bill extends access to Department of Defense commissaries and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) facilities to Purple Heart recipients, veterans with a service-connected disability, Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, and veteran caregivers. (Commissaries are grocery/department stores on military installations that sell food and some household items. MWR facilities offer a range of services on bases including libraries, outdoor recreation, dining, golf courses, and sports and fitness centers.)