STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE -- Rep. Vito Fossella's amendment to provide military families free mail privileges to send letter and care packages to active-duty service members in Iraq and Afghanistan passed the House yesterday.

The amendment, approved via voice vote -- where the presiding officer states the question, then asks those in favor and against to say "yea" and "nay" -- also provides for free mail privileges for service members hospitalized because of injury or disease.

Fossella's legislation provides a voucher every two months to a family of any soldier on the ground or participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom to cover the full cost of postage for one package up to 10 pounds or one letter up to 13 ounces.

"Our servicemen and women are making enormous sacrifices fighting the war on terrorism and defending freedom and liberty," said Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn). "They face great challenges under trying circumstances, and often without the benefit of basic necessities like blankets or toothpaste. It falls upon their families back home to get them these supplies and to cover the cost of shipping them overseas."

Fossella said he drafted the amendment in response to military families who often complain about how costly it is to send care packages to their loved ones overseas.

He said families routinely spend $1,500 annually on postage.

The Department of Defense will transfer funds to the Postal Service in advance of each calendar quarter to meet the estimated costs.

The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Association of Uniformed Services supported the legislation.

© 2007 Staten Island Advance © 2007 SILive.com All Rights Reserved.    

WOW - what kind of a dent is that supposed to make in the "$1500 annually on postage"?  That is a joke!  They will spend more on the red tape to impliment that than the military will get.  It sounds like it "might" amount to a $200 - $300 or so discount annually per person.

Gran

I was disappointed with the amount took, but at least it's something for the poorer families.  Once it's in place, maybe we can lobby for more.  I'll be writing Rep. Fosella to see if there's anything we can do to help.  At least he tried, no one else is.

I'm not sure what is wrong, but the HR#1439 reads as being a voucher for ONCE a month; package weighing up to 15 pounds;and the 13 ounce letter/correspondence.  Maybe it got changed in the final days, but it still reads that way on my search.

I'm aiming for a lot more than this.  Almost everyone I talked to about the impact the postage increase was going to have on shipments to soldiers said that we ought to be able to mail stuff to soldiers for free.  I'm not aiming quite that high, but...way higher than this.  A monthly voucher, indeed.  What are they thinking?

I think any mail to a military address should be free - or at the very least - have a major discount, 50% or more.  It shouldn't matter if you're related - it's going to a soldier.

I guess I'm not optimistic about persuading anyone to make it free.  After all, look what an effort it took just to get these vouchers.  But I going to come up with what I hope is a "reasonable" plan and then beat mercilessly on the USPS and Congress about it.

Let me know what I can do to help u, When I think of how much more I could do for these soldiers with the postage reduced is mind boggeling!!

Lisa

One way I'm going to try to send more and pay less postage is partner with my daughter who is in Germany with her soldier husband and has an APO address.  APO to APO/FPO is FREE.  It won't be quite as personal for me, but I figure I can help more troops and she can be involved too.  I just have to exhust my "inventory" first!  I'm just going to send her money and she'll do the shopping and packing. 

ipowell, how great that your daughter can send stuff for freeA  But I love shopping for soldiers and packing up the treats/  I think would still have to do at least some shopipng and mailing anyway.

I will miss that too..and the possible personal contacts.  But, heck, I think I can help more.  I have a personal contact now and I'll definately keep him/them.  And who knows, I may be addicted enough, I can't give it up!

I don't mean to look a gift horse in the mouth, cause every little bit helps, thats $9.00 that could go to purchase more things to send or maybe even cover postage on another package.  But, how many only send 1 package every 2 months?  If you send multiple packages out, the limit of 1 package is almost an insult. 

And just so that I'm not misunderstanding this....this offer is restricted to "family members of soldiers on the ground or participating in OIF/OEF"?  So that means if you don't have any family in the armed forces  this offer doesn't apply at all?  If someone could clear this up for me I'd appreciate it.  Thanks!

Sister Barbara     

The way I am understanding it is that it is *only* families of military that are *only* in Iraq and Afghanistan, and *only* once every two months - not very generous.  As I said, the paperwork will be more costly than the benefits provided.  Maybe that's the reason they can't do more - *red tape*.  My Hubby's dad who was a Navy vet from WW1 said there was only two ways to do something - the right way and the government's way.

Gran

I have a small Ebay store and in my Shipping terms I clearly state:

 

ALL APO or FPO or anything going to the troops purchased from my store is shipped FREE OF CHARGE.

 

I figure it's the least *I* can do and I'm guessing the Govt. has a LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY THAN I DO! LOL 

The only bright spot I can see in that proposal as it is stated is that the tiny little percentage of single parents who are supporting children at home who would really like to stay in contact with their older children in war zones and couldn't afford it otherwise might be able to be in closer contact with them.  I suspect there are just a few who can't afford the postage even for letters when they barely scrape by as it is, much less for packages.  I know that the National Guard people must be in a bad situation with the long deployments that they weren't prepared for, so it might knock a small dent in their monthly expenses.

Gran