WASHINGTON D.C. Today U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced the Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act that would grant the victims of the Fort Hood attack and the families of the deceased victims the same legal status as if the attack had occurred in a combat zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan.
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) James Inhofe (R-OK) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) joined Senator Hutchison in introducing this legislation which is similar to H.R. 4088 a House bill introduced on Tuesday by U.S. Representative John Carter (R-TX-31).
The soldiers who were gunned down at Fort Hood were targeted by a terrorist because they were soldiers about to be deployed to combat operations overseas. On that terrible day Fort Hood became a battlefield in the War on Terror and those killed and those wounded by this cowardly act of terrorism deserve to be recognized for their service in this war. And the families of the soldiers killed at Ft. Hood should not be denied benefits because their loved ones met the enemy here on our soil. I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation and give just honor to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice" Senator Hutchison said.
Whether it be in Central Iraq or Central Texas when Americans serving our country come under terrorist attack they should be eligible for the same level of benefits and the same recognition. This legislation would ensure the victims of the Fort Hood massacre and their families are entitled to the very same benefits that are afforded to Americans who have been injured in overseas combat zones and the families of those who have been killed there. It would also provide recognition of the tremendous physical sacrifices made by these brave Americans by making them eligible for honors such as the Purple Heart medal. The federal government has a solemn obligation to provide for the men and women who serve selflessly in the defense of freedom and the American way of life as well as their families. I am hopeful that the Senate will take up and expeditiously pass this important legislation which is the very least we can do for the victims of the Fort Hood tragedy" Senator Cornyn said. I commend Congressman Carter for his initiative on this and his efforts to ensure these Americans are well taken care of and fittingly honored in the aftermath of this senseless violence."
Our men and women in uniform and their families sacrifice so much for this country each and every day" Senator Inhofe a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee said. It is only right that we in turn take care of them. So far what we know about this shooting indicates that it may have been carried out as more than an act of violence but instead an act of war. Those suffering at Fort Hood deserve to have the same benefits as if this attack had happened in Iraq or Afghanistan. I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this measure and I hope the Senate takes swift action" Senator Inhofe said.
Every day it grows more clear that the shooting at Fort Hood was the worst terrorist attack on America since September 11 2001" said Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT). This bill will take a first step toward adequately honoring and providing for the victims of this horrific attack and their families who remain in our prayers."
The Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act would grant the following status to any member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense who was killed or wounded in the attack that occurred at Fort Hood Texas on November 5 2009:
1) Military service members would be deemed to have been killed or wounded in a combat zone as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States; and
2) Civilian employees of the Department of Defense would be deemed to have been killed or wounded in a terrorist attack and while serving alongside the Armed Forces in a contingency operation.
The legislation makes the following findings:
· Fort Hood Texas has played a highly prominent role in the Global War on Terror deploying more members of the Armed Forces into overseas theaters of combat since September 11 2001 than any other United States military installation.
· The members of the Armed Forces and community of Fort Hood have answered the call to service with honor and distinction and the post has paid a steep price suffering more combat casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom than any other United States military installation.
· In the wake of the brutal September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States the Federal Government set a historical precedent when it awarded the victims of those attacks who were members of the Armed Forces with the Purple Heart medal and the victims of those attacks who were civilian employees of the Department of Defense with the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom
· In the aftermath of the attack that occurred at Fort Hood Texas on November 5 2009 this precedent should be followed.
Lastly the bill expresses the Sense of Congress on the following points:
· Any member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense who was killed or wounded in the attack that occurred at Fort Hood Texas on November 5 2009 and the family members of those victims should receive the same treatment and benefits as the victims and families of the victims of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States
· These Americans have made tremendous sacrifices and the United States should provide them with the maximum level of benefits available identical to the level of benefits available to those who have been killed or wounded in an overseas combat zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan; and
· The Department of Defense should duly honor the Americans who were killed or injured in the attack at Fort Hood with awards that serve to recognize their physical sacrifices including the Purple Heart Medal for members of the Armed Forces and the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom for civilian employees of the Department of Defense.
WASHINGTON D.C. Today U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced the Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act that would grant the victims of the Fort Hood attack and the families of the deceased victims the same legal status as if the attack had occurred in a combat zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan.
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) James Inhofe (R-OK) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) joined Senator Hutchison in introducing this legislation which is similar to H.R. 4088 a House bill introduced on Tuesday by U.S. Representative John Carter (R-TX-31).
The soldiers who were gunned down at Fort Hood were targeted by a terrorist because they were soldiers about to be deployed to combat operations overseas. On that terrible day Fort Hood became a battlefield in the War on Terror and those killed and those wounded by this cowardly act of terrorism deserve to be recognized for their service in this war. And the families of the soldiers killed at Ft. Hood should not be denied benefits because their loved ones met the enemy here on our soil. I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation and give just honor to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice" Senator Hutchison said.
Whether it be in Central Iraq or Central Texas when Americans serving our country come under terrorist attack they should be eligible for the same level of benefits and the same recognition. This legislation would ensure the victims of the Fort Hood massacre and their families are entitled to the very same benefits that are afforded to Americans who have been injured in overseas combat zones and the families of those who have been killed there. It would also provide recognition of the tremendous physical sacrifices made by these brave Americans by making them eligible for honors such as the Purple Heart medal. The federal government has a solemn obligation to provide for the men and women who serve selflessly in the defense of freedom and the American way of life as well as their families. I am hopeful that the Senate will take up and expeditiously pass this important legislation which is the very least we can do for the victims of the Fort Hood tragedy" Senator Cornyn said. I commend Congressman Carter for his initiative on this and his efforts to ensure these Americans are well taken care of and fittingly honored in the aftermath of this senseless violence."
Our men and women in uniform and their families sacrifice so much for this country each and every day" Senator Inhofe a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee said. It is only right that we in turn take care of them. So far what we know about this shooting indicates that it may have been carried out as more than an act of violence but instead an act of war. Those suffering at Fort Hood deserve to have the same benefits as if this attack had happened in Iraq or Afghanistan. I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this measure and I hope the Senate takes swift action" Senator Inhofe said.
Every day it grows more clear that the shooting at Fort Hood was the worst terrorist attack on America since September 11 2001" said Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT). This bill will take a first step toward adequately honoring and providing for the victims of this horrific attack and their families who remain in our prayers."
The Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act would grant the following status to any member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense who was killed or wounded in the attack that occurred at Fort Hood Texas on November 5 2009:
1) Military service members would be deemed to have been killed or wounded in a combat zone as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States; and
2) Civilian employees of the Department of Defense would be deemed to have been killed or wounded in a terrorist attack and while serving alongside the Armed Forces in a contingency operation.
The legislation makes the following findings:
· Fort Hood Texas has played a highly prominent role in the Global War on Terror deploying more members of the Armed Forces into overseas theaters of combat since September 11 2001 than any other United States military installation.
· The members of the Armed Forces and community of Fort Hood have answered the call to service with honor and distinction and the post has paid a steep price suffering more combat casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom than any other United States military installation.
· In the wake of the brutal September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States the Federal Government set a historical precedent when it awarded the victims of those attacks who were members of the Armed Forces with the Purple Heart medal and the victims of those attacks who were civilian employees of the Department of Defense with the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom
· In the aftermath of the attack that occurred at Fort Hood Texas on November 5 2009 this precedent should be followed.
Lastly the bill expresses the Sense of Congress on the following points:
· Any member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense who was killed or wounded in the attack that occurred at Fort Hood Texas on November 5 2009 and the family members of those victims should receive the same treatment and benefits as the victims and families of the victims of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States
· These Americans have made tremendous sacrifices and the United States should provide them with the maximum level of benefits available identical to the level of benefits available to those who have been killed or wounded in an overseas combat zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan; and
· The Department of Defense should duly honor the Americans who were killed or injured in the attack at Fort Hood with awards that serve to recognize their physical sacrifices including the Purple Heart Medal for members of the Armed Forces and the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom for civilian employees of the Department of Defense.
