[Pages S3626-S3627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2622. Mr. SCHATZ (for himself and Mr. Boozman) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5515, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle D of title VI, add the following:

     SEC. 633. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN MORALE, WELFARE, AND 
                   RECREATION PRIVILEGES TO CERTAIN VETERANS AND 
                   THEIR CAREGIVERS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In 2017, the Secretary of Defense determined that the 
     addition of new patron categories to the commissary and 
     exchange systems would support the growth of a robust 
     customer base and help ensure the ability of both systems to 
     provide benefits to members of the Armed Forces and their 
     families.
       (2) The Secretary previously opposed extending commissary 
     and exchange privileges to large patron groups such as 
     disabled veterans.

[[Page S3627]]

       (3) In January 2017, the Secretary of Defense approved 
     limited online exchange shopping privileges for all veterans, 
     effective November 11, 2017.
       (4) The Secretary determined that current patrons of 
     exchanges did not perceive the extension of such privileges 
     as diluting the benefit for members of the Armed Forces.
       (5) The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration, 
     awarded to members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded 
     or died in combat, fighting for the United States. Since the 
     modern incarnation of the award was established in 1932, 
     approximately 1,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have been 
     awarded the Purple Heart.
       (b) Commissary Stores and MWR Facilities Privileges for 
     Certain Veterans and Veteran Caregivers.--
       (1) Extension of privileges.--Chapter 54 of title 10, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: 
       certain veterans and caregivers for veterans

       ``(a) Eligibility of Veterans Who Are Medal of Honor 
     Recipients.--A veteran who is a Medal of Honor recipient 
     shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR 
     facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces 
     entitled to retired or retainer pay.
       ``(b) Eligibility of Veterans Awarded the Purple Heart.--A 
     veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart shall be permitted 
     to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis 
     as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or 
     retainer pay.
       ``(c) Eligibility of Veterans Who Are Former Prisoners of 
     War.--A veteran who is a former prisoner of war shall be 
     permitted to use commissary stores and MWR facilities on the 
     same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to 
     retired or retainer pay.
       ``(d) Eligibility of Veterans With Service-connected 
     Disabilities.--A veteran with a service-connected disability 
     shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR 
     facilities on the same basis as a member of the armed forces 
     entitled to retired or retainer pay.
       ``(e) Eligibility of Caregivers for Veterans.--A caregiver 
     or family caregiver shall be permitted to use commissary 
     stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of 
     the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.
       ``(f) User Fee Authority.--(1) The Secretary of Defense 
     shall prescribe regulations that impose a user fee on 
     individuals who are eligible solely under this section to 
     purchase merchandise at a commissary store or MWR retail 
     facility.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall set the user fee under this 
     subsection at a rate that the Secretary determines will 
     offset any increase in expenses arising from this section 
     borne by the Department of the Treasury on behalf of 
     commissary stores associated with the use of credit or debit 
     cards for customer purchases, including expenses related to 
     card network use and related transaction processing fees.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall deposit funds collected pursuant 
     to a user fee under this subsection in the General Fund of 
     the Treasury.
       ``(4) Any fee under this subsection is in addition to the 
     uniform surcharge under section 2484(d) of this title.
       ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `MWR facilities' includes--
       ``(A) MWR retail facilities, as that term is defined in 
     section 1063(e) of this title; and
       ``(B) military lodging operated by the Department of 
     Defense for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of 
     the armed forces.
       ``(2) The term `Medal of Honor recipient' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 1074h(c) of this title.
       ``(3) The terms `veteran', `former prisoner of war', and 
     `service-connected' have the meanings given those terms in 
     section 101 of title 38.
       ``(4) The terms `caregiver' and `family caregiver' have the 
     meanings given those terms in section in section 1720G(d) of 
     title 38.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 54 of such title is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new item:

``1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: certain veterans 
              and caregivers for veterans.''.

       (3) Effective date.--Section 1065 of title 10, United 
     States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall take effect at 
     the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations for Updating EPACS for 
     Military Commissaries.--There is hereby authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of 
     Defense, $500,000 for updating the electronic physical access 
     control system used by military commissaries and exchanges so 
     that the system may recognize and accept veteran health 
     identification cards.
       (d) Sense of Congress on Individuals Awarded the Purple 
     Heart.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of 
     Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, should maintain a list of all individuals awarded 
     the Purple Heart.
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