WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) announced 73 additional cosponsors to her legislation that would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. military servicemembers who were killed in Afghanistan last week. McClain introduced this legislation on Tuesday with 158 cosponsors and it now has 231 cosponsors.
The legislation will award the Congressional Gold Medal to Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Hospitalman Maxton Soviak and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.
“I’m proud to spearhead this bill alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I’m inspired by the eagerness of my friends in Congress to honor these 13 brave men and women who were taken from their loved ones far too soon,” said Rep. McClain. “Their sacrifice for their country and its allies will never be forgotten, and I hope the House quickly passes this bipartisan effort.”
“The events that have transpired over the last several weeks have been nothing short of tragic. As our country mourns the loss of these brave men and women in uniform, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in Congress to honor their lives and commemorate their courage,” said Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
“Last week, our nation tragically lost 13 brave patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others,” said Congressman Don Young. “We must ensure that future generations of Americans never forget the names of these heroes and the courage they showed during the evacuation of Kabul. This week, 13 new Gold Star Families are grieving. They have been devastated by immense loss, and I want them to know that the country stands with them as they mourn their loved ones who were taken too soon. We owe them a debt that can never truly be repaid. With deep gratitude and respect, I am humbled to help introduce legislation to posthumously award these fallen men and women the Congressional Gold Medal. A medal is the very least we can do to honor the fallen. It is my great hope that in the years ahead, we continue to remember their bravery; they truly were some of the best America has to offer. Please join me in continuing to pray for their families.”
“The 13 brave men and women who gave their lives to help evacuate and protect Americans and our Afghan allies are real heroes. Period,” said Rep. Upton. “The Congressional Gold Medal is a small token of our gratitude for their service and sacrifice in the face of unthinkable danger. God bless them and their families.”
“These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice to help Americans, our Afghan allies, and innocent women and children escape grave danger. These thirteen warriors are true American heroes and with these gold medals we aim to honor their service, heroism, and sacrifice,” said Rep. John Carter.
“We need to honor our military men and women who sacrificed their lives to rescue fellow Americans from Afghanistan. Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of all our servicemembers, should never be forgotten,” said Rep. Mooney.
“I wept over the loss of these 13 service members and the heartbreak their families and loves are experience,” said Congressman Webster. “We owe our military a debt we can never repay, honoring the courage and selfless sacrifice these men and women made is the right thing to do. May we never forget and also learn from their dedicated service.”
“God bless the Gold Star families of these heroic Service Members, who selflessly were working to help others to a place of freedom and safety. The Congressional Gold Medal will permanently honor their bravery and sacrifice, and be a message of deep gratitude from the nation to their loved ones,” said Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen.
“Last week, we tragically lost 13 service members in Afghanistan. They were sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and most importantly, they were heroes,” said Rep. Espaillat. “We must forever remember their sacrifices, and I’m proud to join my colleagues today in this effort to honor these brave men and women.”
“The 13 U.S. service members who were tragically killed in the terrorist attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul represent the best of us,” said Rep. Scanlon. “They went headfirst into harm’s way to protect innocent lives and made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation. We owe these men and women an enormous debt of gratitude for their courageous service — the Congressional Gold Medal is one small way to express that gratitude. My heart aches for the families of our fallen service members, and I hope they can take some solace in knowing that their loved ones will forever be remembered as heroes, particularly by the families whose lives they saved with their selfless service.”
“The 13 servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan are true American heroes. They paid the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives on behalf of our country—and we are forever grateful. It is an honor and a privilege to join this bipartisan effort to honor their legacies by awarding each of the fallen a Congressional Gold Medal,” said Rep. Fischbach.
“These 13 U.S. service members gave their lives while working to protect Americans and our allies. While we can never repay the debt we owe them, it is my hope that this Congressional Gold Medal shows we will never forget their courage or their sacrifice,” said Rep. Joyce.
“The U.S. servicemembers who gave their lives to assist our nation’s evacuation efforts in Afghanistan deserve the highest honors. They are heroes who should be remembered for their bravery and service and honored with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Rep. Vargas.
“I am proud to cosponsor this legislation because we must not forget the sacrifices of the 13 fallen service members needlessly lost in Kabul,” Rep. Rosendale said. “These warriors were truly the best of us and it is right for our country to honor them. May God bless our fallen soldiers and the families affected.”
“The 13 young servicemembers who sacrificed their lives while protecting Americans and Afghans represent the very best of us,” said Rep. Wild. “Our country shares in their loved ones’ grief, and we will never forget their bravery and service.”
“Our nation mourns for the thirteen heroes who lost their lives in a horrific, senseless act of terror in Kabul,” said Congressman Hagedorn. “We must honor these men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while trying to bring Americans back home to freedom. My prayers continue to go out to their families and loved ones. Their bravery, service, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
“Today I’m proud to cosponsor Rep. Lisa McClain’s bill to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. servicemembers who were killed in Kabul last week. This was truly a devastating loss for our nation,” said Rep. Katko. “The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor bestowed by Congress and should rightfully be awarded to the fallen servicemembers. These young men and women bravely sacrificed their lives helping thousands of American citizens and our Afghan allies safely escape from a country overrun by the Taliban. My wife Robin and I continue to pray for the families and loved ones of the fallen."
“In the final days of the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan, 13 servicemembers put their lives on the line — and paid the ultimate sacrifice — as they helped American citizens and our Afghan allies evacuate the country,” said Rep. Spanberger. “By awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to these courageous and selfless Americans, we can honor their sacrifice, stand with their loved ones, and ensure that the memory of the fallen shall always live on.”
“13 brave American heroes gave the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country. I am proud to join my colleagues to support legislation that posthumously awards these servicemembers the Congressional Gold Medal to honor their bravery, service, and sacrifice,” said Rep. Bill Johnson. “The word ‘hero’ is often used too casually, but in this case hero is the only word that describes our fallen warriors.”
“It is absolutely heartbreaking that these 13 service members were unnecessarily left in harm’s way by the thoughtlessly executed evacuation. For the Commander in Chief to place their lives in the care of the ruthless haters who were the creators of 9-11 is worse than tragic. I regret that all of the warriors who gave their lives in the battle against terrorism after 9-11 are not also being honored. They are all American heroes worthy of our honor and praise. I extend my deepest gratitude and sympathy to every loved one of our American heroes who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” said Rep. Gohmert.
“I am heartbroken for the loved ones of the brave 13 U.S. service members who lost their lives protecting Americans and our allies. We as a nation owe these men and women and all those who have paid the ultimate price our deepest gratitude. While we can never do enough to honor those who gave the full debt for our freedoms, I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues to posthumously award these 13 heroes the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Rep. Brady.
“These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice to help coordinate evacuation efforts of our fellow citizens and Afghan allies,” said Rep. Waltz. “These heroes answered the call of duty to uphold our values and help our friend. We owe it to them and their families to pay tribute to their lives.”
“The men and women who bravely sacrificed their lives on August 26, 2021, leave a legacy of heroism. They answered the call to defend freedom in the face of true evil, saving over 100,000 lives in just a few weeks. Each life saved because of their sacrifice is a testament to the courage of all American servicemembers. It is an honor to posthumously present these thirteen heroes with the Congressional Gold Medal. On behalf of a grateful nation, we praise their sacrifice and pray for their families,” said Rep. Westerman.
Congressman Van Taylor stated, “While this is a debt we can never repay, we will never forget the bravery of these thirteen heroes who gave their lives in service to our nation. I’m humbled to support awarding these valiant servicemembers with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their sacrifice and patriotism.”
“These 13 courageous soldiers put their lives on the line to fight for their country and protect our American citizens and Afghan allies,” said Congressman Van Drew. “The Congressional Gold Medal will honor these patriots for their bravery and sacrifices - they will be remembered as true heroes. My deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of the fallen servicemembers.”
"Today and everyday we honor the 13 fallen service members for their sacrifice and the courage they exemplified in Afghanistan.” Congressman Al Green said. “It is imperative we continue to support our troops and allies throughout these trying times. We are the land of the free because of the brave."
“Thirteen young heroes died in the line of duty to protect their country, their fellow Americans, and U.S. allies. These men and women of warrior courage responded to the call of duty and saved lives despite the danger present,” stated Congressman Sessions. “We are forever indebted to our military. We will never forget their sacrifice and commit to honor them, and their families, each and every day.”
“The events that transpired in Afghanistan have been horrific and heartbreaking. It is with great sorrow that we mourn the loss of 13 American heroes, and we pray for the gold star families of these fallen service members. As a Congress and as a nation, we must remember and honor their service and sacrifice,” said Rep. Estes.
“These 13 brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice in service to America during a moment in our nation’s history that will be heavily investigated. They will never be forgotten. We will uphold our promises to them and their families. They will be forever remembered as American Patriots,” said Rep. Clay Higgins.
“These servicemembers went to Afghanistan and made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting Americans and our allies,” said Rep. Swalwell. “They went into the storm. They are heroes. I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to recognize the extraordinary service, valor, and sacrifice of these 13 servicemembers with the Congressional Gold Medal.”
“May we never forget Texas native Lance Corporal David Espinoza and the 12 other service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation by helping to evacuate our citizens and allies from danger,” Congressman Cuellar said. “We must honor these heroic Americans and their families by posthumously securing the Congressional Gold Medal. These service members answered the call and put their fellow man and woman above themselves. I am incredibly honored to support this legislation in memory of their sacrifice in Afghanistan.”
This bill is cosponsored by Reps. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rick Allen (R-GA), Mark Amodei (R-NV), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jim Banks (R-IN), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Jerry Carl (R-AL), Andre Carson (D-IN), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ben Cline (R-VA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Rick Crawford (R-AR), John Curtis (R-UT), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Mike Garcia (R-CA), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Anthony Gonzales (R-OH), Bob Good (R-VA), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Michael Guest (R-MS), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Yvette Herrell (R-NM), Jody Hice (R-GA), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Chris Jacobs (R-NY), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Dave Joyce (R-OH), William Keating (D-MA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Young Kim (R-CA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), David Kustoff (R-TN), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Robert Latta (R-OH), Al Lawson (D-FL), Blain Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Elaine Luria (D-VA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Brian Mast (R-FL), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Tom McClintock (R-CA), David McKinley (R-WV), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Carol Miller (R-WV), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Blake Moore (R-UT), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Chris Pappas (D-NH), August Pfluger (R-TX), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), David Rouzer (R-NC), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Adrian Smith (R-NB), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Gregory Steube (R-FL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Mike Turner (R-OH), David Valadao (R-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Randy Weber (R-TX), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Roger Williams (R-TX), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Robert Wittman (R-VA), Don Young (R-AK), Andy Harris (R-MD), Liz Cheney (R-WY), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jason Smith (R-MO), Ralph Norman (R-SC), GT Thompson (R-PA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Mike Levin (D-CA), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Garret Graves (R-LA), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon (R-PR), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Van Taylor (R-TX), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Greg Pence(R-IN), Barry Moore (R-AL), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Fred Upton (R-MI), Tedd Budd (R-NC), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Lucy McBath (R-GA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Jared Golden (D-ME), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Billy Long (R-MO), Cynthia Axne (D-IA), Austin Scott (R-GA), Susan Wild (D-PA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Scott Perry (R-PA), John Carter (R-TX), Michelle Steel (R-CA), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Neal Dunn (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), William Timmons (R-SC), Kevin Brady (R-TX), Matthew Rosendale (R-MT), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), John Katko (R-NY), Fred Keller (R-PA), Dan Webster (R-FL), Danny Davis (D-IL), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Hal Rogers (R-KY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dean Phillips (D-MN), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), John Joyce (D-PA), David Trone (D-MD), Ron Estes (R-KS), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), French Hill (R-AR), Dina Titus (D-NV), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Michael Cloud (R-LA), James Comer (R-KY), Ami Bera (D-CA), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).
For the bill text, click here.
