,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cbja ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ab1 #bjah ,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself and ,mr4 ,boozman7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 to extend certain morale1 welfare1 and recreation privileges to certain veterans and their caregivers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,purple ,heart and ,disabled ,veterans ,equal ,access ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,extension of certain morale1 welfare1 and recreation privileges to certain veterans and their caregivers 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,in #bjag1 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 families4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary previously opposed extending commissary and exchange privileges to large patron groups such as disabled veterans4 7#c7 ,in ,january #bjag1 the ,secretary of ,defense approved limited online exchange shopping privileges for all veterans1 effective ,november #aa1 #bjag4 7#d7 ,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 ,forces4 7#e7 ,the ,purple ,heart is the oldest military decoration1 awarded to members of the ,armed ,forces who have been wounded or died in combat1 fighting for the ,united ,states4 ,since the modern incarnation of the award was established in #aicb1 approximately #a1hjj1jjj members of the ,armed ,forces have been awarded the ,purple ,heart4 7b7 ,commissary stores and ,,mwr facilities privileges for certain veterans and veteran caregivers 7#a7 ,extension of privileges ,chapter #ed of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #ajfe4 ,use of commissary stores and ,,mwr facilities3 certain veterans and caregivers for veterans 7a7 ,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 pay4 7b7 ,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 pay4 7c7 ,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 pay4 7d7 ,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 pay4 7e7 ,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 pay4 7f7 ,user fee authority 7#a7 ,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 facility4 7#b7 ,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 purchases1 including expenses related to card network use and related transaction processing fees4 7#c7 ,the ,secretary shall deposit funds collected pursuant to a user fee under this subsection in the ,general ,fund of the ,treasury4 7#d7 ,any fee under this subsection is in addition to the uniform surcharge under section #bdhd7;d7 of this title4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term ,,mwr facilities includes-- 7,a7 ,,mwr retail facilities1 as that term is defined in section #ajfc7;e7 of this title2 and 7,b7 military lodging operated by the ,department of ,defense for the morale1 welfare1 and recreation of members of the armed forces4 7#b7 ,the term ,medal of ,honor recipient has the meaning given that term in section #ajgd;h7c7 of this title4 7#c7 ,the terms veteran1 former prisoner of war1 and service-connected have the meanings given those terms in section #aja of title #ch4 7#d7 ,the terms caregiver and family caregiver have the meanings given those terms in section #agbj;,g7d7 of title #ch4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #ed of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #ajfe4 ,use of commissary stores and ,,mwr facilities3 certain veterans and caregivers for veterans4 4 7#c7 ,effective date ,section #ajfe of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by paragraph 7#a71 shall take effect at the end of the #ij-;day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations for updating ,,epacs for military commissaries ,there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year #bjai for the ,department of ,defense1 #ejj1jjj 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 cards4 7d7 ,sense of ,congress on individuals awarded the ,purple ,heart ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,secretary of ,defense1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 should maintain a list of all individuals awarded the ,purple ,heart4