Obama Administration fails victims of Fort Hood attack AGAIN

Congressman John Carter (R-TX31), Fort Hood’s champion, is demanding action and calling on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and the Department of Defense (DoD) to follow through with a Congressional order. The 2014 National Defense Authorization Act mandates that Congress receive a report of the review of the Purple Heart award for the victims of the 2009 terrorist attack on Fort Hood no later than 180 days after the law was enacted. In March 2014, the DoD announced that report would be delayed another year, just two months before the Purple Heart report was due.

Secretary Hagel and the DoD have stated the decision for a one-year delay would enable the review of the Purple Heart award to be included in a larger review of military awards.

Upon hearing the news of the delay, Rep. Carter, along with Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX25), who also represents Fort Hood, sent a letter to Secretary Hagel demanding the report be submitted to Congress on time. Carter also noted that Sec. Hagel lacks legal authority to disregard the deadline.

“We were very disappointed to see you have chosen not to obey the law and have decided to defer the report for a year. Mr. Secretary, this is unacceptable,” said Congressman Carter in the letter. “Moreover, you lack the authority to disregard the statutory deadline and decide on your own what date and form is more appropriate to deliver this report. Almost five years after the attack, we find it absurd that the Department of Defense needs yet another additional year to clarify if the victims are eligible for the Purple Heart.  These men and women proudly wore the United States Army uniform and placed their trust in the Army and the Department. Five years after this tragic event the Department of Defense has failed them.”

The letter to Secretary Hagel and the DoD was co-authored by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX25.)