3^rd Anniversary of Fort Hood Attack Finds Casualties Still Lacking Combat Status

(ROUND ROCK, TX) – Three years after an attack on Fort Hood, Texas left 13 adults and one unborn child dead and 32 wounded, the casualties and their families are still being denied proper benefits by the Obama Administration for political reasons, according to Congressman John Carter, who represents the Fort Hood area in the House.

“On the eve of this historic election, let us hope and pray that the outcome will lead to these Americans being granted the status and benefits they deserve,” says Carter.  “Perhaps with this vote behind us, the coming lame duck session of Congress will force the recognition that the Administration could grant today with no legislative action necessary.”  

Carter, Co-Chairman of the House Army Caucus, has authored multiple bills to address the November 5, 2012 attack, but key legislation to deem all those wounded or killed as combat casualties remains blocked by the Administration and the Democrat-controlled Senate.  The former Texas judge holds that the survivors and the families of those who lost their lives on November 5, 2009 deserve the same recognition, status, and benefits of the casualties at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.  

Carter introduced legislation to grant combat casualty status in the 111th Congress shortly after the 2009 attack when it became clear the Administration was reluctant to admit a terror attack had succeeded on a major military installation on U.S. soil.   Carter reintroduced the bill in the 112th Congress as H.R.625, the Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act.

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