Sens. Daines, Warren introduce bill to award congressional gold medals to 13 fallen service members

September 15, 2021 carleyshaffer1 US 0

A memorial is seen outside of Edison Middle School for Navy Corpsman Maxton “Max” W. Soviak in Berlin Heights, Ohio ahead of a vigil for the fallen Navy Corpsman on August 29, 2021. (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images)

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UPDATED 6:02 PM PT – Wednesday, September 15, 2021

A pair of senators are proposing legislation to award the 13 service members killed in the Kabul terrorist attack with Congressional Gold Medals. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced a bill on Wednesday, to give the fallen service members Congress’ highest honor in a bipartisan effort backed by 30 of their colleagues.

In separate statements, Daines and Warren both hailed the service members for their duty and sacrifice for the nation.

“Thirteen brave men and women gave the last full measure to protect Americans and our Afghan allies at a critical moment in our nation’s history. They are American heroes,” said Daines in a press release. Daines added that “it’s fitting that Congress commemorates their sacrifice in this moment with the Congressional Gold Medal,” referencing the end of the 20-years of combat in Afghanistan.

A transfer case with the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee, are carried off of a military aircraft as US President Joe Biden attends the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, August, 29, 2021, one of the 13 members of the US military killed in Afghanistan last week. - President Joe Biden prepared Sunday at a US military base to receive the remains of the 13 American service members killed in an attack in Kabul, a solemn ritual that comes amid fierce criticism of his handling of the Afghanistan crisis. Biden and his wife, Jill, both wearing black and with black face masks, first met far from the cameras with relatives of the dead in a special family center at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.The base, on the US East Coast about two hours from Washington, is synonymous with the painful return of service members who have fallen in combat. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

A transfer case with the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee, are carried off of a military aircraft as Joe Biden attends the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, August, 29, 2021, one of the 13 members of the US military killed in Afghanistan last week. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

“These individuals demonstrated incredible courage throughout their careers, and we owe it to them to pass legislation to recognize their heroic service with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Warren. Meanwhile, a bill to honor the service members with Congressional Gold Medals has already been introduced in the House and has more than 150 cosponsors.