A bipartisan bill sponsored on Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) would waive the fee for the issuance of a passport for a family member of a U.S. Armed Forces service member who is in a hospital or medical facility abroad.
“The last thing military families need is added stress and expense when going to visit their loved one in a time of illness or injury,” Rep. Carey said. “As a veteran myself, I understand that families serve, too. We’re proud to lead this bipartisan bill to support our military families when they’re needed most.”
The No Passport Fees for Heroes’ Families Act, H.R. 8778, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), would waive passport fees for a husband, wife, domestic partner, child, parent, grandparent, brother, or sister who want to visit a combat-injured service member in an overseas hospital or other medical facility, according to the text of the bill.
“When a parent, spouse, or sibling receives the dreaded phone call that their loved one has been injured in combat, that family member should not have to worry about the extra cost of obtaining a passport to be by their side,” said Rep. Spanberger. “I’m proud to once again help lead this bipartisan legislation to give our military families a small measure of peace of mind at an incredibly difficult time and to help our heroic combat-injured service members receive the comfort and reassurance of a loved one.”
H.R. 8778 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.