H.R. 1756House113th Congress (2013-2015)In Committee

Deployed Troops Support Act of 2013

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Readiness Subcommittee

May 6, 2013

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 25, 2013

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

April 25, 2013

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Readiness Subcommittee

May 6, 2013

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1756 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Bill PoseyR-FL-8 · Jun 17, 2013

Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, the Deployed Troops Support Act, which has been accepted as an Amendment to H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act…

Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, the Deployed Troops Support Act, which has been accepted as an Amendment to H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.

I would like to thank House Armed Services Committee Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for their support in helping this important Amendment to move forward. I would also like to thank the cosponsors of H.R. 1756, the Deployed Troops Support Act for their support: Frederica Wilson of Florida, Dennis Ross of Florida, Louis Gohmert of Texas, William Enyart of Illinois, Christopher Gibson of New York, Kerry Bentivolio of Mississippi, Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Larry Bucshon of Indiana, and Derek Kilmer of Washington.

Mr. Chairman, when our soldiers are deployed to defend our Nation, many patriotic Americans show their support for our brave men and women in uniform by putting together care packages. This Amendment simply allows the Department of Defense to transport, on a space available basis, goods supplied by nonprofit organizations to members of the Armed Services who are deployed overseas.

This Amendment gives veterans' nonprofits and other private charitable organizations that support our troops the same consideration that organizations are already given for transporting humanitarian goods to foreign nationals overseas. In this Amendment, we extend the same courtesy for our own troops that we have granted to foreigners under the ``Denton Program'' since 1985.

We also ensure that the Secretary has the authority to determine that there is a legitimate need for the goods being shipped, that supplies are suitable for distribution, and that adequate arrangements have been made for distribution.

This legislative idea was brought to my attention by veterans in my congressional district, specifically AVET Project in Brevard County. I especially commend Garren and Kim Cone and the members of AVET for their service to our Nation and their support for our soldiers. Again, thanks to everyone involved for helping to advance this common sense Amendment.

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued April 25, 2013

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1756

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 25, 2013

Mr. Posey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Defense to transport to any country, without charge, supplies that have been furnished by a nonprofit organization and that are intended for distribution to members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Deployed Troops Support Act of 2013.

Transportation of supplies to members of the Armed Forces from nonprofit organizations

(a)

In general

Chapter 20 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 402 the following new section:

403.

Transportation of supplies from nonprofit organizations

(a)

Authorization of transportation

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense may transport to any country, without charge, supplies that have been furnished by a nonprofit organization and that are intended for distribution to members of the armed forces. Such supplies may be transported only on a space available basis.

(b)

Limitations

(1)

The Secretary may not transport supplies under subsection (a) unless the Secretary determines that—

(A)

the transportation of the supplies is consistent with the policies of the United States;

(B)

the supplies are suitable for distribution to members of the armed forces and are in usable condition;

(C)

there is a legitimate need for the supplies by the members of the armed forces for whom they are intended; and

(D)

adequate arrangements have been made for the distribution and use of the supplies.

(2)

Procedures

The Secretary shall establish procedures for making the determinations required under paragraph (1). Such procedures shall include inspection of supplies before acceptance for transport.

(3)

Preparation

It shall be the responsibility of the nonprofit organization requesting the transport of supplies under this section to ensure that the supplies are suitable for transport.

(c)

Distribution

Supplies transported under this section may be distributed by the United States Government or a nonprofit organization.

(d)

Definition of nonprofit organization

In this section, the term nonprofit organization means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 402 the following new item:

403. Transportation of supplies from nonprofit organizations.