U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI) on May 20 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would waive passport fees for families who want to travel to visit an injured U.S. Armed Forces service member in a hospital or medical facility abroad.
“Our nation’s servicemen and women – as well as their families – sacrifice greatly for us and it’s important we support them in their greatest moments of need,” the congressman said on May 22.
Rep. Mitchell introduced the No Passport Fees for Heroes’ Families Act, H.R. 2847, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to extend a provision in the current Passport Act of June 4, 1920, which waives passport fees for family members attending an overseas funeral or memorial service for a fallen American service member.
Rep. Mitchell was inspired to offer the bill after learning about a woman in his home-state district who wanted to visit her husband in Germany, a master sergeant in the Michigan Air National Guard who earlier this year suffered two strokes while deployed in Afghanistan. She needed a passport and immediate transportation overseas, which the congressman helped make happen, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
“The No Passport Fees for Heroes’ Families Act will remove a barrier that keeps family members of injured servicemen and women from being able to visit their loved one who was seriously injured while deployed overseas,” said Rep. Mitchell.
H.R. 2847 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“This bipartisan bill is one way we can show our collective appreciation to our nation’s service members and military families and I urge its swift consideration in the House,” the lawmaker added.