H.R. 1188

Currently, active duty military members and retirees of the uniformed services and the reserves may travel free on Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft when space is available. This benefit is allowed when it does not interfere with military missions and is a recognition of military careers filled with rigorous duty.

But present policies do not extend this benefit to our disabled veterans. What more rigorous duty can be imagined than to become disabled in the service of our country? Why has the DOD chosen not to recognize the brave men and women who sacrificed their health and well-being while serving in uniform? This DOD policy is wrong, and adding disabled veterans would not interfere with benefits for active-duty personnel. Current military is always given priority, and nothing would change that. What this bill would do is to allow seats that would otherwise go unused to be occupied by men and women who have been disabled in their service to their nation.

109th U.S. Congress (2005-2006)
H.R. 1188: Disabled Veterans Right

to Commissaries and Space Available Travel Act

To amend title 10, United States Code, to support disabled veterans by extending military commissary and exchange store privileges to such veterans and their dependents and by authorizing space-available travel on military aircraft for such veterans and their dependents.

Bill Summary

To amend title 10, United States Code, to support disabled veterans by extending military commissary and exchange store privileges to such veterans and their dependents and by authorizing space-available travel on military aircraft for such veterans and their dependents.

The following summary is provided by the Congressional Research Service, which is a government entity that serves Congress and is run by the Library of Congress.

3/9/2005 Introduced

Disabled Veterans Right to--Commissaries and Space Available Travel Act - Requires veterans with disabilities rated at 30 percent or more (and their dependents) to be permitted to use commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as members of the Armed Forces eligible for retired or retainer pay.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide transportation on Department of Defense aircraft on a space-available basis for any veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or more (and their dependents) on the same basis as members entitled to retired or retainer pay.

Status: Introduced

This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills go first to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise bills before they go to general debate.

The majority of bills

never make it out of committee!!!

Introduced: Mar 9, 2005

Sponsor: Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]

Cosponsors:

Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D-HI]
Rep. Thomas Allen [D-ME]
Rep. Robert Andrews [D-NJ]
Rep. Joe Baca [D-CA]
Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI]
Rep. Sanford Bishop [D-GA]
Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY]
Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D-GU]
Rep. Julia Carson [D-IN]
Rep. Donna Christensen [D-VI]
Rep. Joseph Crowley [D-NY]
Rep. Elijah Cummings [D-MD]
Rep. Susan Davis [D-CA]
Rep. Peter DeFazio [D-OR]
Rep. Michael Doyle [D-PA]
Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D-IL]
Rep. Eni Faleomavaega [D-AS]
Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA]
Rep. Barton Gordon [D-TN]
Rep. Al Green [D-TX]
Rep. Raymond Green [D-TX]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]
Rep. Katherine Harris [R-FL]
Rep. Tim Holden [D-PA]
Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]
Rep. Darlene Hooley [D-OR]
Rep. Bob Inglis [R-SC]
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D-TX]
Rep. Stephanie Jones [D-OH]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]
Rep. John Lewis [D-GA]
Rep. James Marshall [D-GA]
Rep. Jim Matheson [D-UT]
Rep. Cynthia McKinney [D-GA]
Rep. Michael Michaud [D-ME]
Rep. Bradley Miller [D-NC]
Rep. Jeff Miller [R-FL]
Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]
Rep. John Olver [D-MA]
Rep. Major Owens [D-NY]
Rep. Donald Payne [D-NJ]
Rep. Collin Peterson [D-MN]
Rep. Todd Platts [R-PA]
Rep. Charles Rangel [D-NY]
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger [D-MD]
Rep. Timothy Ryan [D-OH]
Rep. John Salazar [D-CO]
Rep. Bernard Sanders [I-VT]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]
Rep. Robert Scott [D-VA]
Rep. Robert Simmons [R-CT]
Rep. Mark Souder [R-IN]
Rep. Ted Strickland [D-OH]
Rep. Mark Udall [D-CO]
Rep. Tom Udall [D-NM]
Rep. Albert Wynn [D-MD]
Cosponsorship information sometimes is out of date.

Last Action: Jun 7, 2005: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1150)