Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act

Bill Number: H.R. 2701
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-12-09: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 292.
Last Updated: 2026-07-11T02:38:25Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act directs the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to create a program aimed at identifying and correcting errors in the grave markers of American-Jewish servicemembers buried in U.S. military cemeteries overseas. These errors involve markers (such as Latin Crosses) that do not reflect their Jewish heritage. The Act also includes a minor technical extension related to veterans' pension payments.

Key Provisions

Findings Section: Congress recognizes that approximately 900 Jewish servicemembers from World War I and World War II were inadvertently buried under non-Jewish markers in overseas U.S. cemeteries. It emphasizes the vital contributions of these servicemembers, the need to honor their heritage accurately, and the ABMC's responsibility to correct such historical mistakes.
Program Establishment (Section 3):
The ABMC must establish the "Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program" to identify "covered members" (deceased Jewish Armed Forces members buried overseas under markers indicating a non-Jewish faith) and contact their survivors or descendants.
The program runs for the first five fiscal years after enactment.
The ABMC will contract annually with a qualified nonprofit organization (tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3)) to execute the program, providing $500,000 per year for one-year terms.
Priority for contracts goes to nonprofits with proven expertise in identification and heritage restoration efforts.
Pension Extension (Section 4): Amends 38 U.S.C. § 5503(d)(7) to extend a deadline for limits on certain pension payments from November 30, 2031, to January 31, 2032 (a two-month extension).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

New Program Creation: Introduces a dedicated five-year initiative under the ABMC, which previously had no specific mandate for systematically identifying and correcting religious misrepresentations on overseas grave markers. This adds operational and funding requirements to the ABMC's responsibilities.
Pension Amendment: Makes a minor adjustment to an existing veterans' benefits law by briefly extending a cutoff date for pension payment limitations, potentially allowing slightly more time for administrative processing of benefits.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: The ABMC will incur new administrative duties, including contracting and oversight, funded through annual $500,000 allocations (totaling up to $2.5 million over five years). This could enhance the agency's role in historical preservation but may strain resources if not budgeted adequately. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) might see indirect effects from the pension extension, allowing for minor delays in benefit adjustments.
On Citizens: Families and descendants of affected Jewish servicemembers gain an opportunity to request corrections to grave markers, promoting personal and cultural recognition. Broader public awareness of historical errors could foster greater respect for veterans' diverse backgrounds.
On International Relations: As cemeteries are located in foreign countries (e.g., in Europe), corrections may involve coordination with host nations, potentially strengthening U.S. ties through shared commemoration of World War I and II sacrifices. No major disruptions to international agreements are anticipated.

Main Stakeholders Affected

American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC): Primary implementer, responsible for program setup and nonprofit contracting.
Families and Descendants of Jewish Servicemembers: Direct beneficiaries who can be contacted for verification and marker corrections.
Nonprofit Organizations: Eligible to receive contracts for research, identification, and outreach, particularly those specializing in Jewish heritage or military history.
U.S. Military and Veterans' Community: Benefits from improved accuracy in honoring fallen servicemembers, upholding the government's commitment to religious and cultural respect.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Indirectly affected by the pension extension, which pertains to limits on dependency and indemnity compensation payments.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal Implications: The Act reinforces the ABMC's statutory authority (under 36 U.S.C. Chapter 407) to maintain overseas cemeteries, adding specificity for religious accuracy without altering core operations. The pension extension is a technical fix with no substantive change to benefits eligibility.
Constitutional Implications: Supports First Amendment principles by ensuring government-maintained memorials respect religious freedom and do not impose inaccurate representations of faith. No conflicts with establishment clause concerns, as the focus is corrective rather than promotional.
Political Implications: Highlights bipartisan interest in veterans' honors and historical rectification, potentially appealing to Jewish-American communities and veterans' advocacy groups. The inclusion of an unrelated pension rider suggests procedural bundling common in legislation, but it does not introduce controversy. Overall, the Act promotes equity in commemoration without significant fiscal or partisan debate.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

Cosponsors (41)

Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Goldman, Craig [R-TX-12], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

Recent Actions

2025-12-09: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 292.
2025-09-16: Received in the Senate.
2025-09-15: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-09-15: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4294)
2025-09-15: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4294: 1)
2025-09-15: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2701.
2025-09-15: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4294)
2025-09-15: Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2025-09-09: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 214.
2025-09-09: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-258.
2025-09-09: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-258.
2025-07-23: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
2025-07-23: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-07-03: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged
2025-06-24: Subcommittee Hearings Held

Bill Versions

Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act — issued 2025-09-15 — PDF (6 pages)
Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act — issued 2025-04-07 — PDF (4 pages)
Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (6 pages)
Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act — issued 2025-09-09 — PDF (8 pages)