Congressional Recap: Purple Hearts Awarded To Two From Arkansas

Lawmakers headed back to the nation’s capital Monday, facing a full agenda from domestic and foreign policy to honoring a soldier killed and another one wounded in a shooting at the Little Rock Army Recruiting Office.

LONG, EZEAGWULA TO RECEIVE PURPLE HEARTS
Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, announced that two service members attacked outside an Army recruiting center in Little Rock will receive the Purple Heart.

Private William Long of Conway was killed in the shooting, while Private Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville was injured in the shooting in June 2009.

“I am pleased that Private Long and Private Ezeagwula will receive the Purple Heart they rightfully deserve. They were targeted for the service, devotion and dedication to our country in a war where the frontlines against terrorism extend within our nation. Awarding Privates Long and Ezeagwula the Purple Heart for their service and sacrifice is simply the right thing to do,” Boozman said.

“The Army’s announcement today to award the Purple Heart to Privates Long and Ezeagwula concludes a nearly six year pursuit of justice and recognition for the families and victims of the 2009 terrorist attack at the Little Rock military recruiting station. This announcement is long overdue and finally gives these brave men the heroic level of recognition they deserve. I am truly appreciative of the efforts of our entire Congressional delegation who worked hard to make this happen; especially my predecessor in Congress and our current Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin whose tireless efforts ensured the sacrifice of these young men was fully recognized and honored,” Hill said.

The Army’s determination was the result of a provision—written by Boozman—in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) [Public Law 113-291] which authorizes the award of Purple Heart to service members killed or wounded in an attack that specifically targets a service member because of their status as a member of the nation’s Armed Forces or is carried out by a foreign terrorist organization.

That provision, Section 571 of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, clarifies that an attack carried out by an individual will be considered an attack by a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) if the individual or entity was in communication with a FTO before the attack, and if the attack was inspired or motivated by a FTO.

The actions and statements by Abdulhakim Muhammad, the man who pled guilty to charges of capital murder and attempted capital murder for the shooting at a Little Rock military recruiting station, met these criteria, the lawmakers said.

In December 2014, Boozman, Cotton and former Second District Representative Tim Griffin sent a letter urging Secretary of the Army John McHugh to award the Purple Heart to Private Ezeagwula and the family of Private Long.

Making the case that the criteria had been met, Boozman, Cotton and Griffin wrote: “Throughout his (2011) trial, Muhammad repeatedly admitted that he was a soldier in the cause of war—or jihad—against the United States and that he targeted Privates William Andrew Long and Quinton Ezeagwula because they wore the uniform of the U.S. Army. Additionally, in 2007, Muhammad traveled to Yemen where, as he admitted, he consorted with known members of Al Qaeda including discussing attacks on American military personnel.”

SOUTH ARKANSAS COUNTIES RECEIVE $3.2 MILLION GRANT
On Monday, Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., as well as Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, announced that Families and Children Together, Inc., would receive a $3.2 million grant.

The money will be used to provide comprehensive early childhood and preschool services to children and families in Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Ouachita and Union counties.

Boozman, Cotton and Westerman each said the grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide an opportunity for children.

“This investment in education will provide South Arkansas children with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. Fostering education at an early age is important to promoting an interest in lifelong learning and helping these young minds prepare for the future,” Boozman said.

“Early education plays a pivotal role in a child’s overall literacy development and readiness for school. This grant will help ensure success for South Arkansas children,” Cotton said.

“A solid education is essential to success in an increasingly competitive job market. Congratulations to the children of Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Ouachita, and Union Counties,” Westerman said

CUBA TERRORISM, TRADE DRAW ATTENTION
A decision to remove Cuba from the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism drew the ire of Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Tuesday.

Cotton, a member of the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, said the decision was wrong.

“President Obama’s decision to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism is just the latest and most egregious in a long line of concessions he has made to the Castro brothers. But rather than strengthen our hand, these concessions have only tightened the Castros’ repressive, communist grip on Cuba,” Cotton said. “Our enemies around the world are watching President Obama and wondering if they’ll be the next beneficiary of American appeasement. And the American people today are asking: how long will Iran remain on the list of state sponsors of terrorism?”

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to hold a hearing Tuesday (April 21) in the nation’s capital on the issue of trade with the communist nation.

COTTON HONORS LINCOLN
Wednesday was the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., gave a speech on the Senate floor, honoring Lincoln and his work on behalf of the nation during the Civil War.

“A year and a half earlier, dedicating the cemetery at Gettysburg, Lincoln had said that ‘history would little note nor long remember’ what he said. Here he was wrong, or at least falsely modest, for the Gettysburg Address is among the most beautiful and memorable speeches in history. He called upon us to ‘be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us’: ‘that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth,’” Cotton said. “His words call upon us still to take ‘increased devotion’ from those at Gettysburg and every war since who gave ‘the last full measure of devotion.’ Soon he would be among those honored dead, the final and most poignant casualty in the same war, and his death is another reason for us to renew our devotion to our great country.”

Cotton said the Gettysburg Address helped to define Lincoln’s place in history.

“We should think, then, about Lincoln’s message, which is like the message of the nation. On the question of equality, Lincoln was as precise as a mathematician and as lyrical as a poet.”

UAFS STUDENT RECEIVES JOHN PAUL HAMMERSCHMIDT FELLOWSHIP
Andrew Haught, a student at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, was selected Wednesday to serve as the 2015 John Paul Hammerschmidt Fellow, Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, said.

The fellowship was created in 2013 in conjunction with UAFS and is named for Hammerschmidt, a longtime United States Representative who passed away April 1.

It is geared towards highly motivated college students with an interest in public service and will allow Third District students to experience the legislative process firsthand in Congressman Womack’s Washington, D.C. office.

John Paul Hammerschmidt Fellows earn college credit for completing a strict curriculum that emphasizes hands-on activities that highlight the inner workings of the U.S. House of Representatives, including conducting extensive legislative research, attending hearings, and monitoring activity on the House floor, as well as assisting with constituent communications and general office matters.