The Honoring the Fort Hood Heroes Act would require the Secretary of the Army to award Purple Hearts to soldiers killed or wounded in the attack, as well as requiring the Secretary of Defense to award civilians killed or wounded to the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom.

Once those recognitions were bestowed upon victims, they would be eligible for benefits including combat-related compensation, special pay for subjection to hostile fire or imminent danger and combat-related injury rehabilitation pay as well as several other benefits usually provided to service members who are injured or families of soldiers who are killed.

U.S. Representatives John Carter and Roger Williams of Texas are expected to file a similar bill in the House.

Last month, Major Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death for carrying out the November 5, 2009 attack on Fort Hood that left 13 dead and over 30 others wounded. The attack is currently classified as an incidence of workplace violence.

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