Editing G.I. Bill (section)

===Merchant marine===
Congress did not include the [[United States Merchant Marine|merchant marine]] veterans in the original G.I. Bill, even though they were considered military personnel in times of war in accordance with the [[Merchant Marine Act of 1936]]. As President Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill in June 1944 he said, "I trust Congress will soon provide similar opportunities to members of the merchant marine who have risked their lives time and time again during war for the welfare of their country." Now{{when|date=April 2025}} that the youngest World War II veterans are in their 90s, efforts have been made to recognize the merchant mariners' contributions by giving some benefits to the remaining survivors. In 2007, three different bills to address this issue were introduced in Congress, of which one only passed in the House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usmm.org/urgent.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131131445/http://www.usmm.org/urgent.html|url-status=dead|title=Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007|archive-date=January 31, 2012}}</ref> The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007 establishes Merchant Mariner equality compensation payments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a monthly benefit of $1,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, was a documented member of the U.S. Merchant Marine (including Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service).  This bill was introduced to the House by Rep. Bob Filner (D-California) in 2007 and passed the House but not the Senate so did not become law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/23|title=H.R.23 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007|first=Bob|last=Filner|date=September 5, 2007|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> Another attempt to notice Merchant Marines in the G.I. Bill was the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights Act of 2007, introduced by Sen. Hillary Clinton, Entitles basic educational assistance to Armed Forces or reserves who, after September 11, 2001: (1) are deployed overseas; or (2) serve for an aggregate of at least two years or, before such period, are discharged due to a service-connected disability, hardship, or certain medical conditions. Entitles such individuals to 36 months of educational assistance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/1409|title=S.1409 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): 21st Century GI Bill of Rights Act of 2007|first=Hillary Rodham|last=Clinton|date=May 16, 2007|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Florida)  got the house to pass easier access to the GI Bill by "verifying honorable service as a coast-wise merchant seaman between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977." It passed the House and went no further.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2189|title=H.R.2189 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): To improve the processing of disability claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.|first=Jeff|last=Miller|date=October 29, 2013|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>