To authorize the Maritime Administrator to use certain appropriated funds to purchase duplicate medals authorized under Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.104 | Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill authorizes the Maritime Administrator of the Department of Transportation to purchase duplicate medals for U.S. merchant mariners who engaged in qualified service during World War II. To be eligible, a merchant mariner must submit an application to the Maritime Administrator. The bill sets forth what constitutes qualified service, including time frame of service and licensing requirements.

To authorize the Maritime Administrator to use certain appropriated 
 funds to purchase duplicate medals authorized under Merchant Mariners 
  of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation, acting through 
the Administrator, may use funds appropriated for the fiscal year in 
which the date of the enactment of this Act occurs, or funds 
appropriated for any prior fiscal year, for the Maritime Administration 
to purchase duplicate medals authorized under the Merchant Mariners of 
World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-125) 
and provide such medals to eligible individuals who engaged in 
qualified service who submit an application under subsection (b) and 
were United States merchant mariners of World War II.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a medal described in 
subsection (a), an eligible individual who engaged in qualified service 
shall submit to the Administrator an application containing such 
information and assurances as the Administrator may require.
    (c) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Maritime Administrator.
            (2) Eligible individual who engaged in qualified service.--
        The term ``eligible individual who engaged in qualified 
        service'' means an individual who, between December 7, 1941, 
        and December 31, 1946--
                    (A) was a member of the United States merchant 
                marine, including the Army Transport Service and the 
                Navy Transport Service, serving as a crewmember of a 
                vessel that was--
                            (i) operated by the War Shipping 
                        Administration, the Office of Defense 
                        Transportation, or an agent of such 
                        departments;
                            (ii) operated in waters other than inland 
                        waters, the Great Lakes, and other lakes, bays, 
                        or harbors of the United States;
                            (iii) under contract or charter to, or 
                        property of, the Government of the United 
                        States; and
                            (iv) serving in the Armed Forces; and
                    (B) while so serving, was licensed or otherwise 
                documented for service as a crewmember of such a vessel 
                by an officer or employee of the United States 
                authorized to license or document the person for such 
                service.
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