(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018’’.

(b) COMMISSARY STORES AND MWR FACILITIES PRIVILEGES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AND VETERAN CAREGIVERS.—

(1) EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES.—Chapter 54 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

‘‘§ 1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: certain veterans and caregivers for veterans

‘‘(a) 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 pay.

‘‘(b) 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 pay.

‘‘(c) 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 pay. ‘‘(d) 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 pay.

‘‘(e) 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 pay.'‘(f) USER FEE AUTHORITY.—(1) 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 facility.

10 USC 1065.

10 USC 101 note.

Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018.

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‘‘(2) 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 purchases, including expenses related to card network use and related transaction processing fees.

‘‘(3) The Secretary shall deposit funds collected pursuant to a user fee under this subsection in the General Fund of the Treasury.

‘‘(4) Any fee under this subsection is in addition to the uniform surcharge under section 2484(d) of this title.

‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

‘‘(1) The term ‘MWR facilities’ includes—

‘‘(A) MWR retail facilities, as that term is defined in section 1063(e) of this title; and

‘‘(B) military lodging operated by the Department of Defense for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of the armed forces.

‘‘(2) The term ‘Medal of Honor recipient’ has the meaning given that term in section 1074h(c) of this title.

‘‘(3) The terms ‘veteran’, ‘former prisoner of war’, and ‘service-connected’ have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 38.

‘‘(4) The terms ‘caregiver’ and ‘family caregiver’ have the meanings given those terms in section in section 1720G(d) of title 38.’’.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 54 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

‘‘1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: certain veterans and caregivers for veterans.’’.

(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 1065 of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall take effect on

January 1, 2020.

(4) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than October 1, 2019, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the plan of the Secretary to implement section 1065 of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).

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