Us Congress House Bill HB2701

Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/7/25
• Refer: 4/7/25

Caption

Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act

Impact

If enacted, the legislation mandates the establishment of the 'Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program', aimed at identifying Jewish servicemembers buried overseas and rectifying the inaccuracies in their burial markers. The program will operate for the first ten fiscal years following the Bill's passage and aims to contact the descendants of those affected. It is intended to ensure that the sacrifices made by Jewish servicemembers are acknowledged and commemorated appropriately.

Summary

House Bill 2701, titled the 'Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act', seeks to address the historical misrepresentation of American-Jewish servicemembers buried in U.S. military cemeteries overseas. It highlights the estimated 900 American-Jewish personnel who, after their service in World War I and World War II, were mistakenly interred under Latin Crosses which did not reflect their actual religious affiliations. The Bill underscores the need to honor and properly recognize these servicemembers by establishing a program under the American Battle Monuments Commission to correct these errors.

Contention

The Bill has been introduced with support from several representatives and is expected to generate discussions regarding the responsibility of the federal government to acknowledge and honor the diverse heritage of its servicemembers. While proponents argue that the Bill is a necessary step toward rectifying historical injustices, there may be discussions around funding, as an annual budget of $500,000 has been authorized for the program's implementation. Ensuring the proper recognition of all servicemembers raises broader questions about how military history is recorded and remembered.

Congress_id

119-HR-2701

Introduced_date

2025-04-07