(ROUND ROCK, TEXAS) – Casualties of the Fort Hood shooting and their famlies should be able to receive charitable donations; the impact of political correctness on the failure to prevent the deadly attack must be recognized and remediated in future Department of Defense policies; and those wounded and killed should be awarded benefits as combat casualties, according to House Republican Conference Secretary John Carter, who represents the Fort Hood area in Congress.

Carter, who is also Co-Chairman of the House Army Caucus, says the Department of Defense must go further than the 26 policy changes initiated this week by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

“We must still address political correctness, the benefit status of soldiers and civilian casualties of the shooting, and the ability of the casualties and their families to receive charitable contributions,” says Carter.

Carter today renewed his call for enhancement of whistleblower protections within DOD to encourage service members to report early warning signs of radical Islamic activities without fear of adverse personnel actions for being politically incorrect.

The former Texas judge says DOD must also address making the Fort Hood casualties eligible for the same benefits extended to 9-11 Pentagon casualties, including eligibility to receive the Purple Heart.

In addition, Carter has called for casualties and their families to be able to receive charitable contributions. Current DOD regulations restrict the ability of soldiers and their families to receive donations, and Carter is working with DOD and House and Senate leaders to revise those rules as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Carter introduced the Military Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, HR 4267, and the Fort Hood Victims and Families Protection Act, HR 4791, earlier this year and has requested the language for both measures also be included in the National Defense Authorization Act.