US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US Federal Senate Bill SB3131

Introduced
11/6/25  

Caption

USS Frank E. Evans Act

Impact

By enacting this bill, there will be a shift in how memorialization is approached for military personnel who are not traditionally recognized in such national tributes. The inclusion will provide closure to families and communities who have been waiting for years to honor their loved ones appropriately. Furthermore, it may set a precedent for recognizing other military personnel who have similarly been overlooked in memorials or historic records. This act aims to rectify a long-standing omission and create a fuller account of the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War.

Summary

SB3131, known as the USS Frank E. Evans Act, aims to authorize the inclusion of the names of the 74 crew members who lost their lives on June 3, 1969, aboard the USS Frank E. Evans on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. This legislative effort is significant as it seeks to ensure that these names, which have long been omitted, receive the recognition they deserve as part of the memorial honoring all who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense facilitate this inclusion within one year of enactment, indicating a sense of urgency and commitment to honoring these fallen servicemen.

Conclusion

Overall, the USS Frank E. Evans Act embodies a significant endeavor to honor the memory of absent servicemen who have not received due recognition. As moves to amend national memorials typically require extensive deliberation, this initiative reflects a necessary sensitivity towards honoring military service in an inclusive manner, ensuring that no sacrifice is forgotten.

Contention

While support for SB3131 appears broad, potential points of contention may arise concerning logistics and the appropriateness of modifying memorials. As the Secretary of Defense is required to consult with various entities, such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, there may be discussions regarding how these additional names will be added without compromising existing memorial aspects. The bill also specifically states that the Commemorative Works Act will not apply to this inclusion, which may raise questions about regulatory procedures typically followed in memorial changes.

Companion Bills

US HB5945

Same As USS Frank E. Evans Act

Previously Filed As

US HB5945

USS Frank E. Evans Act

US HCR3005

A concurrent resolution urging the 119th Congress to provide for the inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall the names of the lost crew members of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans.

US SB78

Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 67586, located over the South Branch of Bear Run on State Route 1053 in Banks Township, Indiana County, as the PFC John Tabacsko Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8377, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over Bear Rock Run in Lilly Borough, Cambria County, as the Corporal James D. Sloan Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8387, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over Patty's Run in Gallitzin Township, Cambria County, as the USMCR Mary A. Lidwell Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of State Route 3037 from the intersection with Waltz Mill Flats Road to Segment 0170/Offset 0950 in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County, as the PFC Earl "Butch" Long Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 25406, carrying Pennsylvania Route 346 over Willow Creek in Corydon Township, McKean County, as the Private First Class Bruce A. Cobb Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 22726, carrying Pennsylvania Route 934 over Swatara Creek in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County, as the WO1 John Stephen Chrin Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 44210, carrying State Route 2001 over Kreutz Creek in Windsor Township, York County, as the Private Myles Ness Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 56130, carrying Pennsylvania Route 562 over Manatawny Creek in Amity Township, Berks County, as the PFC Travis C. Zimmerman Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of State Route 2051 from the intersection with Elizabeth Street (segment 0020/offset 1600) to the Decatur Township Line (segment 0030/offset 0000) in Osceola Mills Borough, Clearfield County, as the IC3 James S. Dunlap Memorial Highway; designating the bridge identified as Bridge Key 48006, carrying State Route 3007 over Carson Run in Knox Township, Clearfield County, as the Sgt. Ronald Bloom Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 164, Cove Mountain Road, from the intersection with Frederick Road in Taylor Township to the intersection with Agway Road in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, as the Representative Jerry A. Stern Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Keys 5599/5600, carrying Interstate 99 over PA Route 36 in Logan Township, Blair County, as the Jack E. and Sheldon L. Chambers Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 31496, carrying Pennsylvania Route 985 over North Branch Quemahoning Creek in Jenner Township, Somerset County, as the PFC Paul A. Gilbert Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 4262, carrying State Route 2016 over Shaffer Creek in East Providence Township, Bedford County, as the PFC Charles O. Snyder Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 1723, carrying State Route 3017 over Peters Creek in the Borough of Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County, as the Janice Butko Cmar Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 37601, carrying Pennsylvania Route 462 over a tributary of Kreutz Creek in Hellam Township, York County, as the Roger Lee Fraker Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 18630, carrying Pennsylvania Route 305 over the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River in Alexandria Borough, Huntingdon County, as the Craig Walker Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 12334, carrying State Route 2012 over McElhattan Creek in Wayne Township, Clinton County, as the Master Sergeant Robert F. Johnson Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 33747, carrying US Route 322 over Sugar Creek in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County, as the Earle Chandler Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 69027, carrying Worthington Mill Road over Neshaminy Creek in Wrightstown Township, Bucks County, as the Colonel Daniel L. Rubini Memorial Bridge; designating the portion of U.S. Route 15 in Monroe Township and Shamokin Dam Borough, Snyder County, from its interchange with existing U.S. Routes 11/15 and U.S. Route 522 north of Selinsgrove to its interchange with existing U.S. Route 15 and Pennsylvania Route 147 south of Winfield as the Joseph McGranaghan Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8430, carrying Pennsylvania Route 160 over the North Branch Little Conemaugh River in the borough of Wilmore, Cambria County, as the Potchak Brothers Memorial Bridge; designating the portion of Interstate 180 from the Lycoming-Northumberland County line to the interchange with existing U.S. Route 15 and U.S. Route 220 in Lycoming County as the Kenneth C. Larson, Jr., Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5664, on that portion of Old Pennsylvania Route 220 North over the Beaverdam Branch of the Juniata River in Allegheny Township, Blair County, as the Baker Brothers Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 44229, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 22, 3rd Avenue, over Blair Gap Run in Duncansville Borough, Blair County, as the Sergeant Robert E. Davis Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5784, on that portion of State Route 3013, Dunnings Highway, over Beaverdam Creek in Greenfield Township, Blair County, as the Arthur R. Walter, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 47600, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 220, East Pleasant Valley Boulevard, over Little Juniata River in Antis Township, Blair County, as the Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lee Swayne Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68408, on that portion of Wopsononock Avenue over Spring Run in the City of Altoona, Blair County, as the Private First Class James A. Behe Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 45589, located on that portion of Spring Road over the Conodoguinet Creek in North Middleton Township, Cumberland County, the Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 183, also known as Bernville Road, from the intersection with Mt. Pleasant Road in Penn Township, Berks County, southbound to the bridge over Licking Creek in Penn Township with identification number 0601830180000 as the Staff Sergeant Norman W. Reifsnyder Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 7027, carrying Pennsylvania Route 413 over U.S. Route 1 in Middletown Township, Bucks County, as the Corporal John F. Muffler Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8510, carrying PA Route 271 over Pergrin Run in the borough of Nanty Glo, Cambria County, as the PFC William P. O'Farrell Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8457, carrying U.S. Route 219 over PA Route 869 in Adams Township, Cambria County, as the Seaman First Class John M. McGinty Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 352 also known as Middletown Road, from the intersection with State Route 4008, also known as Gradyville Road, in Edgmont Township, Delaware County, to the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 452, also known as North Pennell Road, in Middletown Township, Delaware County, as the Chief Joseph J. Montgomery, Jr. Memorial Highway; designating a portion of State Route 1006, also known as Ferry Road, from the intersection with Limekiln Road to the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 313, also known as Swamp Road, in Doylestown Township, Bucks County, as the Judge R. Barry McAndrews Memorial Highway; designating the entire portion of Pennsylvania Route 232 within the Borough of Rockledge, Montgomery County, as the PFC Helmut Boehm Memorial Highway; designating the portion of Pennsylvania Route 51 from Segment 0280/Offset 0000 to Segment 0300/Offset 0570 in Whitehall Borough, Allegheny County, as the Hon. Raymond T. Book Memorial Highway; designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 28737, carrying 13th Street over Bushkill Creek in the City of Easton, Northampton County, as the Honorable James F. Prendergast Memorial Bridge; designating the western roundabout on State Route 1001 at the intersection of New Britain Road and South Easton Road in Doylestown Township, Bucks County, as the Blue Star Family Tribute Roundabout; designating the eastern roundabout on State Route 1001 at the intersection of New Britain Road and Sauerman Road in Doylestown Township, Bucks County, as the Gold Star Family Tribute Roundabout; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 56035, carrying U.S. Route 422 over State Route 2005 and Cherry Run in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County, as the George W. McAuley, Jr. Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 27695, carrying State Route 3006, also known as Whitehall Road, over Kepner Creek in East Norriton Township, Montgomery County, as the E. Pearl Smith Memorial Bridge; and making a repeal.

US H4529

Frank Ladson sympathy

US HB5089

Highways: memorial; portions of M-60; rename as memorial highways. Amends sec. 106 of 2001 PA 142 (MCL 250.1106).

US SJR1031

A RESOLUTION to honor the fourteen fallen veterans of Happy Valley High School.

US HB1377

Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act

US HR1136

Commending retired U.S. Navy Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. for his service in the Vietnam War.

US SB2369

Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act

US HB1451

Evansville professional sports development area.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.