Original Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill would create a new federal fund to give a one-time $25,000 payment to certain WWII-era U.S. merchant mariners.
• To qualify, a person must have served on specific government-run or government-contracted ships from Dec. 7, 1941, to Dec. 31, 1946, and must apply within 1 year of the law taking effect.
• People who already got benefits under the 1944 GI Bill would not be eligible for this payment.
• The bill sets aside up to $125 million in 2026, which could cover about 5,000 payments ($125,000,000 ÷ $25,000). If more people qualify, Congress might need to add money.
• The Veterans Affairs Department would write the rules within 180 days and report to Congress each year on how many people applied, how many got paid, and how much money is still needed.