Hartzler, Norcross introduce legislation to benefit young service members

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), alongside Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J), introduced the Hotels for Heroes Act which would amend the Servicemember Civil Relief Act to require a public lodging establishment to waive any minimum age requirement for a member of the Armed Forces who presents a valid military ID and seeks to obtain lodging accommodation while under military orders or authorized military leave.
“Our military heroes – regardless of their age – should be able to rest their head without worry of safety or eligibility. I am proud to introduce the Hotels for Heroes Act which ensures our youngest service members can sleep safely. Hartzler said. “It’s clear that these men and women have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation. The least we can do is ensure they have a safe place to sleep.”
“As someone who used to drive long distances across the state to reach construction sites, I know firsthand what it’s like to need to pull off the road for some much-needed shuteye,” Norcross said. “By waiving the minimum age requirement at hotels for members of the Armed Forces, we are ensuring that our military heroes can pull over at a hotel and get rest when safety requires it.”
Hotels typically set their own minimum age requirement to protect their businesses from liability. Age requirement policies can vary from hotel to hotel, with some requiring an individual to be 21 years or older. While many hotel managers will waive these requirements for members of the Armed Forces, not all do. This can create a dangerous situation for our youngest service members who are forced to drive hours without rest when on authorized military leave.