S. 1318: Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act

The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act is a legislative proposal aimed at addressing recognition issues for Jewish servicemembers within U.S. military cemeteries overseas. Here is a breakdown of what the bill seeks to accomplish:

Purpose

The main objective of the bill is to establish a program that identifies American-Jewish servicemembers who were buried in U.S. military cemeteries outside of the country and whose graves are marked with symbols, such as Latin crosses, that do not correctly reflect their Jewish heritage. This is particularly focused on those servicemembers who died during World War I and World War II.

Findings

• It estimates that around 900 Jewish servicemembers were mistakenly buried under Latin crosses due to various factors, with many of these mistakes being unintentional.
• In 2022, over 2 million people visited U.S. military cemeteries abroad, highlighting their significance.
• Jewish servicemembers played crucial roles in the victories of the Allied forces during the World Wars.
• There is a recognized demand for accurate representation of their heritage and recognition of their sacrifices.
• The U.S. government is seen to have a responsibility to honor all servicemembers appropriately, correcting prior errors in their identification.

Program Establishment

The bill mandates the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to create a program called the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program. This program will focus on:

• Identifying covered members, which are defined as deceased Jewish members of the Armed Forces buried in U.S. military cemeteries overseas, marked incorrectly.
• Contacting the survivors and descendants of these servicemembers to notify them of the findings and engage them in the restoration process.

Duration and Funding

The program will be active for a period of ten years after the bill's enactment. During this time, the ABMC is authorized to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations to assist in carrying out the program's objectives. Specifically:

• Each contract with a nonprofit organization will be for a single year, with an annual funding amount of $500,000.
• The ABMC will prioritize contracts with organizations that have proven experience and capability in similar undertakings.
• Funding for the program is allocated at a rate of $500,000 per fiscal year for the duration of the program.

Definitions

To clarify specific terms used in the bill:

• Covered Member: A deceased member of the Armed Forces who was Jewish and was buried under a marker that does not indicate their Jewish identity, specifically outside the U.S.
• Nonprofit Organization: Refers to organizations that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are exempt from taxation.

Relevant Companies

None found.