Opinion:  Patricia Johnson

Every once in a while I’ll read something and simply shake my head in disbelief.  H.R. 2701 basically falls into that category.  Before I continue, it’s necessary to explain my thoughts on death.  I don’t want anyone to think I’m anti-semitic because I’m not, I’m simply anti-death.

In my mind, when someone passes away they go to Heaven and their Guardian Angels take over from that point.  While they are here on earth their family members, hopefully, take care of their needs.  Within a 2-year period of time I had 13 members of my immediate family and/or friends pass away so I’ve had enough ‘death’ to last the rest of my life.  

I try to remember my loved ones, as they were; not lying in a casket with people standing around saying how good they look. I mean, seriously, how good can you look if you’re dead?

But back to the subject at hand.  H.R. 2701 Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act was introduced in the House on April 7, 2025 by Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  Representative Wasserman Schultz is a Democrat representing the 25th District in Florida.

Her bill passed the U.S. House on September 15, 2025 with 41 cosponsors; 21 Republicans and 20 Democrats.  The fact more Republicans signed onto this bill than Democrats is what originally prompted my interest in it.

On September 16, 2025 it was received in the U.S. Senate.  On December 9, 2025 the bill was read twice in the Senate and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders; Calendar No. 292.

When this bill passed the U.S. House, the rules were suspended and there was no roll call vote to indicate the names of the individuals that voted for this bill to pass during a voice vote.  Just the numbers; 21 Republicans and 20 Democrats.

The bill indicates there are approximately 900 U.S. Jewish-American soldiers killed in World War I and World War II buried in overseas American military cemeteries with a Latin Cross on their tombstone, instead of a Star of David (Emblem 3) or other appropriate marker offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

The purpose of this bill is to provide the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) with the funding necessary to hire outside nonprofit experts to research which Jewish American service members are buried with incorrect markers on their graves.

An excerpt from the bill:

The cost of this undertaking is estimated at approximately $3 million dollars.  ABMC will hire an outside nonprofit contractor to be paid $500,000.00 once a year for a period of five fiscal years (from date of enactment) to identify and contact the survivors and descendants of deceased Jewish American servicemembers buried with incorrect headstones.

I thought WWII ended in 1945, almost 80 years ago, wouldn’t the survivors of these Veterans have already complained loudly about the erroneous markers?

ABMC has already been doing something along these lines, working with nonprofit organization Operation Benjamin as their website indicates the following from 2020:

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), in coordination with Operation Benjamin, today replaced the Latin Cross headstones marking the graves of five Jewish US soldiers buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial with Star of David headstones.

These actions correct errors that had persisted for nearly 75 years until they were discovered by Operation Benjamin, a U.S. based organization whose mission is to ensure that Jewish American soldiers, who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, are buried under headstones that correctly reflect their faith.

I have mixed feelings about this bill.  On one hand, I think every servicemember that’s served, wounded and/or died for this country during wartime should receive every honor and benefit that could possibly be accorded to them, but at what cost?  What would the deceased Veterans want?  Would they want new markers or would they want the Veterans in Nursing Homes to be paid their full Pension?

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated this would have a total cost of $3 million (the actual cost of $2,500,000.00 is rounded up).  That cost is going to be offset by an extension to the reduction in pension payments to Veterans that are in Medicaid paid Veterans Affairs nursing homes for the two-month period beginning November 30, 2031 to January 31, 2032.   That’s a total of 63 days. 

The Veterans will be paid a total of $90 per month.

The total amount the two months will save the Department of Veterans Affairs is $20 million dollars, or $10 million per month, but this bill also affects Medicaid.  Because the reduction affects the Veteran’s total income, the Medicaid calculation changes and Medicaid is forced to pay more for each Veteran that’s in a Veterans Affairs nursing home.

Medicaid costs will increase by $6 million for each month for a total cost of $12 million dollars.  Deducting the $12 million from the $20 million leaves a savings to the Federal Government of $8 Million dollars and an Increase to State Medicaid payments of $12 million dollars.

What boggles my mind on this bill is the fact the total five-year cost of $2,500,000.00 would be covered during one month, it wouldn’t take two.

We have a Veterans Affairs Nursing home within driving distance from our home and the Veterans in that facility have access to many different areas where they are able to spend money.  Specialty coffee drinks, a cafeteria, numerous vending machines, a gift shop, home-made items brought into the facility from various providers, newspapers, magazines, and every type of food available that you can order to be delivered.

What will $90 a month purchase for these men and women?

Write pr call your member(s) of Congress and tell them to give the Veterans in VA Nursing homes back their full pension.  If the Veteran doesn’t thank you, your State will for their Medicaid Savings!

© 2026 Patricia Johnson