1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Justice for Fort Hood and Little Rock Heroes Act”.
Justice for Fort Hood and Little Rock Heroes Act
A BILL
To treat members of the Armed Forces who were killed or wounded in the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood, Texas, or the June 1, 2009, attack at Little Rock, Arkansas, as if the members were awarded the Purple Heart, to clarify the eligibility of such members for combat-related special compensation, and for other purposes.
2. Treatment of members of the Armed Forces who were killed or wounded in the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood, Texas, or the June 1, 2009, attack at Little Rock, Arkansas
Treatment— For purposes of all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies, an individual who, while a member of the Armed Forces, was killed or wounded in a covered attack shall be treated as if the individual has been awarded a Purple Heart as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
Combat-Related special compensation— An individual who, while a member of the Armed Forces, was wounded in a covered attack shall be treated as an “eligible combat-related disabled uniformed services retiree” under subsection (c) of section 1413a of title 10, United States Code, for purposes of determining the eligibility of the individual for combat-related special compensation paid under such section.
Exception— Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to an individual whose death or wound as described in such subsection is the result of the willful misconduct of the individual.
Sense of Congress— Congress encourages each State and local government to treat an individual described in subsection (a) as eligible for any benefits provided by the State or local government to individuals by reason of the individual being killed or wounded while serving in the line of duty as a member of the Armed Forces.
Covered attack defined— In this section, the term “covered attack” means the following:
The attack that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009.
The attack that occurred at a recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas, on June 1, 2009.