[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S3205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4178. Mr. SCHUMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2017 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 590. INCLUSION ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL OF 
                   THE NAMES OF THE 74 MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE 
                   U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS WHO PERISHED ON JUNE 3, 
                   1969.

       (a) Finding.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On June 3, 1969, 74 sailors aboard the U.S.S. Frank E. 
     Evans perished when their vessel was struck in the South 
     China Sea during a Southeast Asia Treaty Organization 
     exercise. The U.S.S. Frank E. Evans had been providing fire 
     for combat operations in Vietnam prior to the exercise that 
     resulted in this catastrophic accident and was scheduled to 
     return upon completion of the exercise.
       (2) The families of the lost 74 have been fighting for 
     decades for their loved ones to receive the recognition they 
     deserve. Exceptions have been granted to inscribe names on 
     the Vietnam Memorial Wall for other members of the Armed 
     Forces who were killed outside of the designated combat zone, 
     including in 1983 when President Reagan ordered that 68 
     Marines who died on a flight outside of the combat zone be 
     added to the Wall. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus also 
     expressed support for the inclusion of the 74 names of those 
     lost on the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans in June 1969.
       (3) Those crewmembers aboard were essential to United 
     States military efforts in Vietnam, and their presence in the 
     South China Sea was directly related to their combat 
     deployment. This heroism and sacrifice should not go 
     unrecognized because of an arbitrary line on a map, as their 
     combat-related service deserves comparable acknowledgment. 
     The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is a symbolic beacon of 
     reflection and healing for generations. It is a sanctuary of 
     honor for our members of the Armed Forces and family alike.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide 
     the Required Review of Vietnam Era Ships detailing the 
     findings of the ship logs and operational analysis of the 
     U.S.S. Frank E. Evans.
       (c) Approval of Inclusion.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Defense shall, in coordination with the Secretary of the 
     Interior, approve the inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans 
     Memorial Wall of the names of the 74 sailors of the U.S.S. 
     Frank E. Evans who perished on June 3, 1969.
                                 ______