Ryan Zinke Introduces Congressional Gold Medal Bill to Honor American Heroes Murdered in Benghazi Terrorist Attack

Press Release

Last night on "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced new legislation to bestow Congressional Gold Medals to the four fallen heroes of the September 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi. U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith and two retired U.S. Navy SEALs working as CIA security contractors, Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty, were killed in the attack. During his 23-year tenure with the U.S. Navy SEALs, Zinke led the BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs) training where Woods was under his command and was a friend to Woods and Doherty.

"On September 11, 2012 America lost four patriots, and in the Navy SEALs we lost two brothers. This tribute is long overdue," said Rep. Zinke. "Honoring Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods with Congressional Gold Medals should not be about politics; it's about paying respect and homage to American patriots who served our nation honorably in some of our darkest hours. I am grateful for their service to our nation and will work with Senator Markey to build a large and bipartisan base of support for this bill."

Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is introducing the companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. Original cosponsors of the House bill include Susan Davis (D-CA), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Chris Stewart (R-UT) and David Rouzer (R-NC).

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