Congressman Carter and the House of Representatives today voted to bring the victims and families of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting closer to justice by passing legislation to make the victims of the Fort Hood attack eligible for the Purple Heart, accompanying benefits, and closure. The House passed the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 325-98.

“I am proud of the work the House of Representatives has accomplished today to help the victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting,” said Congressman John Carter, elected representative of Fort Hood. “This provision would not have passed without the support of Congressmen Roger Williams (R-TX25), Mike Conaway (R-TX11), Mac Thornberry (R-TX13) and the rest of the Texas Delegation. The House is finally forcing the Obama Administration to acknowledge their mistake and give these soldiers the proper recognition they deserve as victims of this act of terror.”

Yesterday afternoon FBI director James Comey admitted to Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) that the 2009 Fort Hood shooting was inspired by Al Qaeda.  Director Comey is the first high ranking Obama Administration official to admit what Carter and many others have been saying for years - that the shooting was an act of terror.

“I appreciate Director Comey’s honesty in admitting that the Fort Hood attack was inspired by Al Qaeda; however, this acquiescence is too little too late. The Obama Administration has denied the victims of the Fort Hood shooting justice and peace for too long. They are now obligated to do more for these brave Americans. I urge the Obama Administration and the Senate to pass the Fort Hood amendment in the NDAA and to speedily sign it into law so that true justice can be served to the victims,” said Congressman Carter.

The amendment Congressman Conaway offered to the House NDAA during committee markup would adjust the Purple Heart criteria so that our servicemembers and civilians, who experience an attack inspired by international terrorism, receive the appropriate award and recognition. The amendment awards the Purple Heart to service members who are victims of an attack that was inspired or motivated by a U.S. State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization. The provision would be retroactively effective as of September 11, 2001.

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has been instrumental in the fight for Fort Hood and earlier last year introduced a Senate companion to Congressmen Carter and William’s The Honoring the Fort Hood Heroes Act. Congressman Carter is hopeful that Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) will be able to enter identical language into the Senate NDAA and pass the language in both chambers ensuring that it will be signed into law.