Political Notes: Hotels for Heroes helps military get a place to stay

EDITOR'S NOTE: Political Notes is a weekly compilation of political news items.

Military members will be able to stay in hotels for free as part of a new Hotels for Heroes program.

Congress passed a law last week, co-sponsored by Maryland Democrats U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and Sen. Ben Cardin, that allows people to donate hotel reward points to members of the military. The bill, which will benefit troops receiving care through the military health system and their families, was included in the National Defense Authorization Act that passed by a vote of 283 - 136 in the House and 86-13 in the Senate.

"The love and support of family is often the best medicine to help a wounded warrior recover from his or her injuries," Ruppersberger said in a statement. "Military families are already facing enormous challenges and should not ever have to worry about how they will afford travel expenses."

Hotels for Heroes is an expansion of the national Hero Miles program that provides free round-trip airfare to wounded warriors recovering at military medical centers, as well as to friends and family visiting them. Flights under the program, created by Ruppersberger in 2003, are made possible through frequent flyer mile donations made by airline passengers.

The program is administered by the Fisher House, a nonprofit organization that opens its homes to military families visiting loved ones at hospitals across the country. Fisher House recently announced it had issued 25,000 tickets over the years.

33rd Dems

The 33rd District Democratic Club won't meet this month.

The group's next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at Perry's Restaurant, 1210 Annapolis Road, Odenton. The speaker will be U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, representative of the 4th Congressional District.

The club will also hold elections at the meeting. For more information, visit www.33dems.org.

Bongino endorsement

A Severna Park man running for U.S. Senate has garnered another local endorsement.

Sen. Ed Reilly, R-Crofton, has endorsed former U.S. Secret Service agent Dan Bongino.

Reilly, the state Senate's minority whip, said Bongino can relate to the "average Marylander."

"Dan understands the difficult choices we face in this weak economy," Reilly said in a statement. "His candidacy gives us a chance to turn the page and send someone to Washington who has actually lived a life similar to those he'd be elected to represent."

Bongino, 36, served in the Secret Service for more than a decade in the Presidential Protection Division. An entrepreneur, Bongino has graduate degrees in business administration and psychology.

Kipke fundraiser

The Friends of Nic Kipke will host a fundraiser from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Jan. 4 at The Greene Turtle, 20 Magothy Beach Road, Pasadena.

Tickets are $100 each or $125 per couple. Sponsorships are also available: $250 for two tickets and a bronze sponsorship, $500 for four tickets and a silver sponsorship, and $1,000 for six tickets and a gold sponsorship.

To get tickets, send checks payable to the Friends of Nic Kipke at P.O. Box 862, Pasadena, MD, 21123. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.kipke.com.

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Compiled by Staff Writer Allison Bourg. To submit an item to be included in Political Notes, email polinotes@capgaznews.com.

Source: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2011/12_22-12/GOV

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