Thanks to a proposal by Congresswoman Kathy Castor that was passed by the full House today, our brave troops will be able to get help receiving mail from their friends and family back home. It’s a simple way, Castor said, to show appreciation for our men and women serving our country in uniform.

“Keeping in touch with relatives during a tour of duty is so important to our troops, and receiving letters and care packages in the mail can really boost their morale,” Castor said. “Now friends and family will be able to send those letters and care packages overseas without worrying about the cost of postage.”

Service members deployed in combat zones will receive a mail voucher every month, which they can use, give to their family or provide to anyone of their choosing, including nonprofit organizations that send care packages to troops overseas.

Castor introduced H.R. 707, the Home Front To Heroes Postal Benefits Act, which received tremendous support from her colleagues in Congress: 238 members of the 435-member House signed up to be co-sponsors. The bill was incorporated in its entirety in the Defense Authorization Act as an amendment Castor introduced with Congressman Gus Bilirakis. House Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton and Armed Services Committee member Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter were instrumental in supporting the effort.

Congresswoman Castor represents MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, headquarters of CENTCOM and SOCOM, and our community is home to many active and retired military and their families. Supporting our troops has always been a priority for the congresswoman.

“This bill will go a long way in boosting the morale of our troops and their families,” Castor said. “Giving our service men and women mail vouchers is something simple we can do that will have a profound impact.”