Congress Sends GIs’ Mail Bill to White House
The House on Monday approved legislation waiving postal laws and authorizing free mail home for U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf deployment.
On a vote of 368-0, members approved a bill passed Friday in the Senate and sent it to President Bush for his signature.
Postmaster General Anthony M. Frank announced last week that under postal regulations, he would see to it that the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines get to send mail free. In fact, the practice started Thursday.
But Congress decided it wanted to act as a sign of support for the men and women serving in Operation Desert Shield.
Rep. Frank McCloskey (D-Ind.) said the free mail would cost the government between $1 million and $6 million in lost revenue. But he said the waiver “is the least we can do to ensure that the morale of our personnel in overseas operations remains high.”
Free mail, available to U.S. troops in combat areas as far back as World War I, will apply only to letters or audio tapes sent to the United States.
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