HR 2189 RFS
Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–202; 38 U.S.C. 106 
note) as having performed active duty service for the 
purposes described in paragraph (3)(A), the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall accept the fol-
lowing: 
(A) In the case of an individual who served 
on a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such 
recognition for whom no applicable Coast 
Guard shipping or discharge form, ship logbook, 
merchant mariner’s document or Z-card, or 
other official employment record is available, 
the Secretary shall provide such recognition on 
the basis of applicable Social Security Adminis-
tration records submitted for or by the indi-
vidual, together with validated testimony given 
by the individual or the primary next of kin of 
the individual that the individual performed 
such service during the period beginning on De-
cember 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 
1946. 
(B) In the case of an individual who served 
on a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such 
recognition for whom the applicable Coast 
Guard shipping or discharge form, ship logbook, 
merchant mariner’s document or Z-card, or 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:32 Oct 29, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00069
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2189.RFS
H2189
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2189 RFS
other official employment record has been de-
stroyed or otherwise become unavailable by rea-
son of any action committed by a person re-
sponsible for the control and maintenance of 
such form, logbook, or record, the Secretary 
shall accept other official documentation dem-
onstrating that the individual performed such 
service during period beginning on December 7, 
1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. 
(C) For the purpose of determining wheth-
er to recognize service allegedly performed dur-
ing the period beginning on December 7, 1941, 
and ending on December 31, 1946, the Sec-
retary shall recognize masters of seagoing ves-
sels or other officers in command of similarly 
organized groups as agents of the United States 
who were authorized to document any indi-
vidual for purposes of hiring the individual to 
perform service in the merchant marine or dis-
charging an individual from such service. 
(2) TREATMENT
OF
OTHER
DOCUMENTA-
TION.—Other documentation accepted by the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security pursuant to paragraph 
(1)(B) shall satisfy all requirements for eligibility of 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:32 Oct 29, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00070
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2189.RFS
H2189
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2189 RFS
service during the period beginning on December 7, 
1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. 
(3) BENEFITS ALLOWED.— 
(A) BURIAL
BENEFITS
ELIGIBILITY.— 
Service of an individual that is considered ac-
tive duty pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be 
considered as active duty service with respect to 
providing burial benefits under chapters 23 and 
24 of title 38, United States Code, to the indi-
vidual. 
(B) MEDALS, 
RIBBONS, 
AND
DECORA-
TIONS.—An individual whose service is recog-
nized as active duty pursuant to paragraph (1) 
may be awarded an appropriate medal, ribbon, 
or other military decoration based on such serv-
ice. 
(C) STATUS OF VETERAN.—An individual 
whose service is recognized as active duty pur-
suant to paragraph (1) shall be honored as a 
veteran but shall not be entitled by reason of 
such recognized service to any benefit that is 
not described in this subsection. 
(4) DETERMINATION OF COASTWISE MERCHANT 
SEAMAN.—The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall verify that an individual performed service 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:32 Oct 29, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2189.RFS
H2189
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2189 RFS
under honorable conditions that satisfies the require-
ments of a coastwise merchant seaman pursuant to 
this section without regard to the sex, age, or dis-
ability of the individual during the period in which 
the individual served as such a coastwise merchant 
seaman. 
(5) DEFINITION OF PRIMARY NEXT OF KIN.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘primary next of kin’’ with 
respect to an individual seeking recognition for serv-
ice under this section means the closest living rel-
ative of the individual who was alive during the pe-
riod of such service. 
(6) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take 
effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 303. DESIGNATION OF AMERICAN WORLD WAR II CIT-
IES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall designate at least one city in the United States each 
year as an ‘‘American World War II City’’. 
(b) CRITERIA
FOR DESIGNATION.—After the des-
ignation made under subsection (c), the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall make each 
designation under subsection (a) based on the following 
criteria: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:32 Oct 29, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2189.RFS
H2189
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2189 RFS
(1) Contributions by a city to the war effort 
during World War II, including those related to de-
fense manufacturing, bond drives, service in the 
Armed Forces, and the presence of military facilities 
within the city. 
(2) Efforts by a city to preserve the history of 
the city’s contributions during World War II, includ-
ing through the establishment of preservation orga-
nizations or museums, restoration of World War II 
facilities, and recognition of World War II veterans. 
(c) FIRST AMERICAN WORLD WAR II CITY.—The 
city of Wilmington, North Carolina, is designated as an 
‘‘American World War II City’’. 
SEC. 304. OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY. 
(a) TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE.—Chapter 1 of title 
36, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 145. Veterans Day 
‘‘The President shall issue each year a proclamation 
calling on the people of the United States to observe two 
minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service 
and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the Na-
tion, beginning at— 
‘‘(1) 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time; 
‘‘(2) 2:11 p.m. eastern standard time; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:32 Oct 29, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2189.RFS
H2189
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS