(Washington, D.C.)–Congressmen Jim Langevin and Patrick Kennedy today voted in favor of legislation that ends the unfair practice of charging wounded service members for their meals while hospitalized from combat related injuries.  The bill overwhelmingly passed the House 399 to 0. 

 The legislation, H.R. 2998, would exempt wounded service members from hospital food charges.  Under current law, hospitalized service members in military facilities are required to pay for their meals while in the hospital. The current daily rate for these charges is $8.10. 

 "This is something that should have been done a long time ago and I'm proud to have co-sponsored this bill with Jim Langevin.  We ask so much of our soldiers.  The least we can do is provide their food during their hospitalization after they have been injured in the line of duty.  Our soldiers and veterans deserve our utmost respect for their sacrifice," said Kennedy.

 “Our men and women in uniform voluntarily place their nation before themselves,” said Congressman Jim Langevin, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.  “The antiquated policy of charging our combat-wounded troops for food while hospitalized is wrong and disrespectful to those in harm’s way.  I am pleased the House has passed this legislation to right a serious wrong that has unfairly burdened our service people for far too long.”

Congress initiated the system of charging for subsistence costs for hospitalized officers in 1958 and amended it in 1981 to include enlisted service members.  The recently enacted Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2004 prohibited the charge, but only for FY 2004.  This bill permanently prohibits service members injured in combat or training from being billed for food while hospitalized.

-30-