I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3419 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the Operation Hero 
Miles program to include the authority to accept the donation of travel 
benefits in the form of hotel points or awards for free or reduced- 
cost accommodations. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 14, 2011 
Mr. RUPPERSBERGER (for himself, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and 
Mr. HARRIS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the Oper-
ation Hero Miles program to include the authority to 
accept the donation of travel benefits in the form of 
hotel points or awards for free or reduced-cost accom-
modations. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hotels for Heroes 
Act’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:18 Nov 16, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3419.IH
H3419
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF OPERATION HERO MILES. 
(a) EXPANDED DEFINITION OF TRAVEL BENEFIT.— 
Subsection (b) of section 2613 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) TRAVEL BENEFIT DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘travel benefit’ means— 
‘‘(1) frequent traveler miles, credits for tickets, 
or tickets for air or surface transportation issued by 
an air carrier or a surface carrier, respectively, that 
serves the public; and 
‘‘(2) points or awards for free or reduced-cost 
accommodations issued by an inn, hotel, or other 
commercial establishment that provides lodging to 
transient guests.’’. 
(b) CONDITION ON AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT DONA-
TION.—Subsection (c) of such section is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the air or surface carrier’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the business entity referred to in sub-
section (b)’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘the surface carrier’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the business entity’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘the carrier’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
business entity’’. 
(c) USE.—Subsection (d) of such section is amend-
ed— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:18 Nov 16, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3419.IH
H3419
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph 
(1); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (2) and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) providing humanitarian support to mem-
bers and eligible beneficiaries receiving care through 
the military health care system; and 
‘‘(4) providing support to allow participation of 
members and their families in Department of De-
fense sponsored and authorized programs.’’. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION.—Subsection (e)(3) of such 
section is amended by striking ‘‘the air carrier or surface 
carrier’’ and inserting ‘‘the business entity referred to in 
subsection (b)’’. 
(e) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:18 Nov 16, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3419.IH
H3419
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘§ 2613. Acceptance of frequent traveler miles, cred-
its, points, and tickets: use to facilitate 
rest and recuperation travel of deployed 
members and their families, support 
members and other beneficiaries of the 
military health care system, and support 
participation in authorized programs’’. 
(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 155 of such title is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 
2613 and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘2613. Acceptance of frequent traveler miles, credits, points, and tickets: use 
to facilitate rest and recuperation travel of deployed members 
and their families, support members and other beneficiaries of 
the military health care system, and support participation in 
authorized programs.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:18 Nov 16, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3419.IH
H3419
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS