Congress will keep working this weekend keeping alive the chance they’ll pass a measure honoring the men who died in the Benghazi terrorist attack.
By passing a two-day stopgap budget, debate will continue on another coronavirus stimulus package — and possibly bipartisan legislation to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to J. Christopher Stevens, Glen A. Doherty, Tyrone Woods and Sean Smith in “recognition of their service to and defense of the United States of America.”
Stevens, Doherty, Woods and Smith were killed in the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012. Stevens was the U.S. ambassador to Libya; Doherty was a Massachusetts native.
The gold medals cannot be awarded if the House fails to back the legislation. The U.S. Senate already did this week, as the Herald reported.
“We are thrilled that the Senate was able to pass the bill (S. 2054) which will posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Glen Doherty, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Ambassador Chris Stevens,” Kate Doherty Quigley, Glen’s sister, told the Herald Friday.
She added: “We thank Senator (Ed) Markey, Senator (Marco) Rubio and so many others who worked tirelessly on this bipartisan legislation. We remain hopeful that the companion bill in the House of Representatives (H.R. 587) will also pass during the current legislative session which is quickly coming to a close. We are humbled and grateful for all that Representative (Stephen) Lynch and so many others in the U.S. House are doing to make this dream a reality.”
Glen Doherty, 42, of Winchester, was a former Navy SEAL. His sister said the medal would — finally — cement his legacy and that of his fellow Americans as heroes and patriots.
A veteran of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Doherty at the time of his death was working for the government to protect U.S. diplomatic personnel and property.
The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive.
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