Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, walks past protesters calling for the passage of Gov. Bill Haslam's Medicaid expansion proposal as McNally walks to the Capitol on the opening day of the second session of the 109th General Assembly Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) NASHVILLE -- A bill that expands eligibility for the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal to five service members killed in the 2015 Chattanooga attack as well as future victims of terrorist "inspired" or "directed" assaults is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.
House members voted 92-0 in favor of the measure, which previously passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote.
Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, told colleagues the bill arose out of last July's shooting spree in which 24-year-old Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez assaulted the U.S. Naval Reserve Center in Chattanooga, fatally shooting five Marine and Navy reservists.
Months following the attack, the FBI said Abdulazeez had been "inspired" by terrorist group propaganda. His family said he had been suffering from mental problems. Abdulazeez died in a hail of Chattanooga Police gunfire in a confrontation.
The bill makes these two changes in the qualifications for a Fallen Heroes Medal, which is awarded on behalf of service members on active duty who are killed in action.
- * It now "may be awarded on behalf of the people of this state to an individual serving on active duty who has been killed in an attack that specifically targets military service members or is carried out by an individual inspired or directed by a foreign terrorist organization."
- * It deletes current language which restricts the medals to service members "who are legal residents of this state" and substitutes instead the phrase "who are legal residents of this state or stationed in this state."
Several of the service members did not live in Tennessee.
The 2011 Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal is awarded by the governor or the governor's designee to the immediate survivor of the recipient.
Until now it could be awarded to individuals serving on active duty killed in action who were:
- * Engaged in an action against an enemy of the U.S.
- * Engaged in military support operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
- * Serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party.
- * Serving in a combat zone as designated by presidential order.
A recipient's name will be entered on the case of the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal.
Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, sponsored the Senate companion bill.