Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) have signed on as cosponsors to bipartisan bill S.2756 which would award Congressional Gold Medals to the 13 American service members who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 26th.
The 13 service members killed in the August 26th attack include Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, and Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.
Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.
In a statement regarding the bill, Senator Marsha Blackburn said, “We owe a debt of gratitude to the 13 courageous men and women who gave their lives in Afghanistan to save those they had never met. These servicemembers embodied true American heroism in the face of persistent evil. Honoring these heroes, including Tennessee native Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, with Congressional Gold Medals is the least we can do to express our deep appreciation for their service and sacrifice.”
The original sponsor of the bill is Montana Senator Steve Daines (R-MT).
Along with Blackburn and Hagerty, the other cosponsors of the bill include Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Edward Markey (D-MA), Mitt, Romney (R-UT), Timothy Kaine (D-VA), James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Shelley Capito (R-WV), Ben Cardin (D-MD) , Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Michael Bennet (D-CO), James Risch (R-ID), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jacklyn Rosen (D-NV), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Todd Young (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Hoeven (R-ND), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Mark Warner (D-VA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), John Thune (R-SD), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Sen. Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
