Congress moves to honor 74 sailors erased from Vietnam memorial
S. 3131 — USS Frank E. Evans Act · Filed by Adam Schiff (D-CA) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Nov 6, 2025 · Hearing held
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What it does
This bill directs the Secretary of Defense to add the names of 74 crew members of the USS Frank E. Evans who died on June 3, 1969, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. within one year of enactment. The Secretary must consult with the Interior Department, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and other authorities about placement and spacing, and the normal Commemorative Works Act approval process does not apply to this action.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole function is to direct inclusion of previously omitted names on an existing war memorial. It is a straightforward commemorative measure correcting a historical record.
What the text implies
- The waiver of the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. Chapter 89) bypasses the standard public review and approval process for changes to federal memorials, though the specific justification here is to expedite recognition of a documented historical omission rather than to enable unrelated changes.
- The one-year deadline creates urgency for the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with Interior and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund on physical placement, which may require temporary closure or modification of the Wall during implementation.
Who it affects
The bill corrects a historical omission by ensuring 74 fallen service members receive recognition on the nation's primary Vietnam War memorial. Veterans, their families, and the public benefit from accurate historical commemoration and proper honoring of the war dead.