WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger are launching a program allowing Americans to donate hotel reward points to wounded warriors and their families.

The Maryland Democrats scheduled a news conference Monday at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington to discuss the “Hotels for Heroes” program.

They say six hotel chains are participating. The program is aimed at reducing travel costs for wounded veterans receiving military health care and for their visitors.

Cardin and Ruppersberger wrote the bipartisan legislation that created the program. It will be administered by the nonprofit Fisher House Foundation, which provides free or low-cost lodging for veterans and their families near military medical centers.

“Hotels for Heroes” is an expansion of a program enabling people to donate frequent-flier miles to military families.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)