Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act of 2014 -- Continued

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORNYN. It is good to see the senior Senator from Vermont back and in good health. I know he has been struggling a little bit with this crazy weather we are having, and we are glad to see him back.

On November 5, 2009, a radical jihadist, by the name of Nidal Hasan, who happened to also be a major in the U.S. Army, opened fire at Fort Hood, TX, claiming the lives of 12 U.S. soldiers, one civilian, one unborn child, and wounded more than 30 other people. It was a shocking tragedy and event.

Shortly after the attack, it became clear that Hasan was motivated by the same poisonous ideology that spurred the attacks on September 11, 2001; in other words, this was an act of domestic terrorism. Yet due to the narrow and outdated definition of ``international terrorism,'' the Fort Hood victims have not been awarded the same medals and recognition as other military victims of terrorism.

Furthermore, the Obama administration took the position of claiming that the 2009 Fort Hood victims were not eligible for Purple Hearts because this was workplace violence--believe it or not. They further said they didn't think Hasan was acting under the explicit direction of a foreign terrorist group, so they were not qualified for these Purple Hearts and this recognition.

When our men and women in uniform come under hostile fire from a terrorist, they and their families should receive the full honors and full recognition and benefits that accompany such courageous service. That is why I have authored legislation in the Senate making these victims of the November 2009 attack at Fort Hood eligible to receive the Purple Heart or the civilian equivalent.

Last week I was pleased that the House of Representatives passed the Defense authorization bill, which includes the legislation I authored awarding Purple Hearts to victims of this terrorist attack.

I wish to thank my good friends Congressmen Williams and Carter for their steadfast dedication to seeing this to conclusion and to fruition.

While long overdue, this is welcome news to the wounded, the families of the fallen, and the entire Fort Hood community, because even after 5 years, the wounds from this horrific attack are still there, especially for the families of people such as Michael Cahill, a civilian physician's assistant and retired soldier, and Army CPT John Gaffaney, both of whom charged the shooter and sacrificed their lives to save others around them.

The close-knit community at Fort Hood has endured great loss in recent years, and I am pleased we are now just one step closer to delivering this important piece of justice to the victims and their families. It is my hope that once the Defense authorization bill clears this Chamber, that the President will act quickly in signing this legislation into law because any further delay is a continuing injustice to all of the victims from that day and indeed all of the good people at Fort Hood.

I yield the floor.

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