This proposed legislation could make it easier for troops to receive care packages
SUMMARY
While deployed, there's always a bit of joy that buzzes around the squad when a care package arrives. Troops gather around their squad leader as they disperse the sweets, trinkets, and amenities given by the charitable folks back home. It's not uncommon for battle-hardened warfighters to genuinely crack an enormous smile when they receive something that reminds them of home.
Recently, certain regulations consolidated the shipping rates for packages being sent to an Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) or Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) mailing address — which only put added financial strain on those kind-willed folks sending packages. The costs can also really add up for charities who send mass quantities of care packages. Ultiltaemy, this means fewer care packages being sent to the troops still fighting overseas today.
There is a glimmer of hope. U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross of New Jersey's First District recently introduced the "Care Packages for Our Heroes Act of 2019," or H.R. 400, that aims to greatly reduce the costs and spread more cheer among the troops.
The secret to make a bunch of grown badasses smile like children? Girl Scout cookies...
(Photo by Steven L. Shepard, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs)
All shipping rates for packages that crossed different shipping zones drastically increased January, 2018. While a package going to Michigan from California saw an increase of .60, any package sent from Smalltown, USA, to troops stationed in the Middle East had to pay nearly double.
Logistically speaking, the care package left the hands of postal employees long before they were dispersed at mail call. Any package sent would arrive at a postal gateway before being given to military personnel to complete its journey to a remote destination. The added costs are mostly meaningless seeing as the package is delivered by US military personnel once it leaves the US.
Congressman Tom MacArthur of New Jersey's Third District tried last year to reverse these increases with a similar bit of legislation — Care Packages for Our Heroes Act of 2018, or H.R.6231. He aimed to curtail the costs and make it much cheaper to send troops a care package. This legislation would have listed any package to (or from) an APO/FPO/DPO address as Zone 1/2, making the weight of the package a non-factor in shipping costs so long as the contents fit inside a flat-rate box. This bill, unfortunately, did not succeed and MacArthur was unsuccessful in his reelection campaign.
The cost to send care packages remains unreasonably high, and organizations like the Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey have had to reduce the number of packages sent purely because of the financial red tape.
Because our troops are still out there, and they need your support.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Meredith Brown)
Now the torch to raise the morale of troops has been passed to fellow New Jersey Congressman Donald Norcross, a chair on the 115th Congressional Committee of Armed Services.
He's proposed "Care Packages for Our Heroes Act of 2019," which aims to cut the red tape and make the price of sending a care package comparable to the cost of sending a letter.
This bill will positively affect the lives of the countless troops still in harm's way. Please contact your representative and let them know that you support "Care Packages for Our Heroes Act of 2019", or H.R. 400.
