I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1288 
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept additional documenta-
tion when considering the application for veterans status of an individual 
who performed service as a coastwise merchant seaman during World 
War II, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 4, 2015 
Mr. BUTTERFIELD (for himself and Mr. JONES) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept 
additional documentation when considering the applica-
tion for veterans status of an individual who performed 
service as a coastwise merchant seaman during World 
War II, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘World War II Mer-
chant Mariner Service Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The Merchant Marine Act, 1936 established 
the United States Maritime Commission, and stated 
as a matter of policy that the United States should 
have a merchant marine that is ‘‘capable of serving 
as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or 
national emergency’’. 
(2) The Social Security Act Amendments of 
1939 (Public Law 76–379) expanded the definition 
of employment to include service ‘‘on or in connec-
tion with an American vessel under contract of serv-
ice which is entered into within the United States or 
during the performance of which the vessel touches 
at a port in the United States, if the employee is 
employed on and in connection with such vessel’’. 
(3) The Joint Resolution to repeal sections 2, 
3, and 6 of the Neutrality Act of 1939, and for 
other purposes (Public Law 77–294; 55 Stat. 764) 
repealed section 6 of the Neutrality Act of 1939 (re-
lated to the arming of United States vessels) and 
authorized the President during the national emer-
gency to arm or permit to arm any United States 
vessel. 
(4) On February 7, 1942, President Franklin 
D. Roosevelt, through Executive Order Number 
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9054, established the War Shipping Administration 
that was charged with building or purchasing, and 
operating the civilian shipping vessels needed for the 
war effort. 
(5) During World War II, United States mer-
chant mariners transported goods and materials 
through ‘‘contested waters’’ to the various combat 
theaters. 
(6) At the conclusion of World War II, United 
States merchant mariners were responsible for 
transporting several million members of the United 
States Armed Forces back to the United States. 
(7) The GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 
(Public Law 95–202) provided that the Secretary of 
Defense could determine that service for the Armed 
Forces by organized groups of civilians, or contrac-
tors, be considered ‘‘active service’’ for benefits ad-
ministered by the Veterans Administration. 
(8) Department of Defense Directive 1000.20 
directed that the determination be made by the Sec-
retary of the Air Force, and established the Civilian/ 
Military Service Review Board and Advisory Panel. 
(9) In 1987, three merchant mariners along 
with the AFL–CIO sued Edward C. Aldridge, Sec-
retary of the Air Force, challenging the denial of 
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