Sen. Cruz: Honoring Courage and Bravery in the Defense of Freedom at Fort Hood
U.S. Army to award the Purple Heart and its civilian counterpart, the Medal for the Defense of Freedom to victims of 2009 terror attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today released the following statement on the eve of the U.S. Army’s ceremony at Fort Hood to award the Purple Heart and the Medal for the Defense of Freedom to those who were injured or killed in the Fort Hood terrorist attack of November 5, 2009. Sen. Cruz successfully amended the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was signed by President Obama to enable victims of the attack to receive the medals and associated benefits.
“On November 5, 2009, a brutal terror attack was carried out at Fort Hood. The lives of 14 people were taken, one of them an unborn child, and 31 were injured. Today, we are grateful that the U.S. Army has chosen to bestow the Purple Heart, and its civilian counterpart, the Medal for the Defense of Freedom, on these heroes,” said Sen. Cruz.
“This attack was a clear act of radical Islamic terrorism, conducted on American soil – the original decision to designate it ‘workplace violence’ and deny these honors was a betrayal of the sacrifice of each of the victims. It is well past time for them to receive these awards and I thank the Secretary of the Army for reaching this determination. We can never undo the events of that day, but we can properly honor the courageous patriots who protect our nation and remain forever grateful for them.”
Sen. Cruz has been resolute in the effort to extend Purple Heart eligibility to the victims of the attack, introducing or supporting legislation in each of the NDAA bills that have been debated during his tenure in the U.S. Senate. In December 2014, Sen. Cruz released a video in support of the victims, calling for the truth about the terror attack to be told.
A roundup of some of the coverage of the effort to award the Purple Heart to the Fort Hood terror victims is below:
CNN: Fort Hood victims to be awarded Purple Hearts
“The decision was made possible by an amendment to the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), which expanded eligibility for the Purple Heart to include troops killed in an attack where ‘the individual or entity was in communication with the foreign terrorist organization before the attack,’ and where ‘the attack was inspired or motivated by the foreign terrorist organization.’... ‘It's long past time to call the Fort Hood attack what it was: radical Islamic terrorism,’ Cruz said in a statement in December, after the NDAA was passed. ‘And, this recognition for Fort Hood terrorist victims is overdue. The victims and their families deserve our prayers and support, and this legislation rightly honors them for defending our nation in the face of a heinous act of terror.’”
Washington Examiner: Fort Hood victims set to receive Purple Hearts, combat status
“Congress is set to make victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shootings eligible for Purple Hearts and combat injury benefits after the Obama administration has denied them the status for the past five years…. The measure, which is expected to pass Congress next week, also would end a five-year effort by Texas GOP Reps. John Carter, Michael Conaway and Roger Williams to give the victims the status, the Military Times first reported. Texas GOP Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn introduced the bill in the Senate.”
Newsmax: Ted Cruz: Award Purple Heart to Fort Hood Terror Victims
“Sen. Ted Cruz made a case for Fort Hood shooting victims to receive the Purple Heart in a video released Monday…. ‘It wasn't workplace violence. It was an act of terror against American heroes, and we need to speak the truth,’ Cruz, a Texas Republican, says in the video...
‘It is abundantly clear this was an act of radical Islamic terrorism,’ Cruz says. ‘The only explanation for the administration's persistent denial of that is politics.’... Cruz introduced legislation this year that would reclassify the shooting as a terror attack. The legislation, part of the National Defense Authorization Act, made it through Congress last week and now heads to President Barack Obama's desk for enactment.”
Townhall.com: Sen. Cruz Makes Video Calling for Ft. Hood Victims to Receive Purple Hearts
“Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) believes the act was terrorism, and released a video today explaining why this is so, and how he has proposed a bill that would reclassify the attack as an act of terror.”
Washington Free Beacon: Ted Cruz Video Makes Compelling Case For Awarding Purple Heart to Fort Hood Terror Victims
“Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) released a video Monday urging President Obama to sign legislation that would recognize the 2009 Ft. Hood shooting as an act of terrorism and not ‘workplace violence.’... The video ends with a short statement: ‘These heroes are only a presidential signature away from receiving the Purple Heart.’”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) supported the legislation to extend Purple Heart eligibility in the U.S. Senate, and companion legislation was sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. John Carter (R-TX31) and Roger Williams (R-TX25).
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