The House of Representatives voted unanimously to approve a Congressional Gold Medal for the U.S. service members who lost their lives in the bombing at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan over the summer.
The House press gallery tweeted on Monday, “The House passed H.R. 5142 – To award posthumously a congressional gold medal to service members who perished on Aug 26, 2021 during evacuation of US citizens and Afghan allies on a voice vote.”
The House passed H.R. 5142 – To award posthumously a congressional gold medal to service members who perished on Aug 26, 2021 during evacuation of US citizens & Afghan allies on a voice vote. https://t.co/m8NFXnH64E
— House Press Gallery (@HouseDailyPress) October 25, 2021
The legislation states, “The American servicemembers went above and beyond the call of duty to protect citizens of the United States and our allies to ensure they are brought to safety in an extremely dangerous situation as the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan.”
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), sponsor of the bill, told ABC News, “Their sacrifice for our country and its allies will never be forgotten and I’m encouraged by the overwhelming bipartisan support for this legislation, which has 325 cosponsors. I urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill so we can properly honor these fallen servicemembers.”
The bill identified the 13 service members who were killed, Maxton Soviak, Kareem Nikoui, David Espinoza, Rylee McCollum, Jared Schmitz, Hunter Lopez, Taylor Hoover, Daegan William-Tyeler Page, Nicole Gee, Humberto Sanchez, Dylan Merola, Johanny Rosario Pichardo, and Ryan Knauss.
Several lawmakers took to Twitter to celebrate the vote.
I recently cosponsored HR 5142, which posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 US service members who lost their lives evacuating Americans in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. I'm proud that HR 5142 passed the House last night. We can never repay their debt.
— Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) October 26, 2021
Proud to vote YES on @RepLisaMcClain's bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 American service members killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 26th, including Utah's very own Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover.
— Rep. Burgess Owens (@RepBurgessOwens) October 25, 2021
We will never forget the service and sacrifice of these heroes.
The bill I cosponsored to give our 13 service members killed in Afghanistan a Congressional Gold Medal has passed the House. We must always honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. https://t.co/Df2tWNsq0W
— Bryan Steil (@RepBryanSteil) October 26, 2021
The House just voted to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. service members we lost in Afghanistan. I was proud to cosponsor this effort and vote yes on this bill that honors our fallen heroes.
— Rep. Michelle Steel (@RepSteel) October 25, 2021
We will never forget their sacrifice. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/ZTQcXJRzXv
I am proud to join my colleagues in support of legislation to honor the 13 brave service members killed at the Hamid Karzai International Airport with the Congressional Gold Medal.
— Rep. Carol Miller (@RepCarolMiller) October 26, 2021
These American heroes will never be forgotten. https://t.co/lFQQw3qWEw
The bombing came as the United States worked to evacuate Americans as well as Afghan allies following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
President Joe Biden said while delivering remarks from the White House, “We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.”
The attacks reportedly killed at least 60 Afghans.