The Senate passed a House-led bipartisan effort to award, posthumously, Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, the Iraq War veteran famously honored by Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva, the Medal of Honor.
“BREAKING: The Senate just passed my bipartisan bill w/@RepMichaelWaltz to pave the way for #AlwynCashe to receive the Medal of Honor,” Rep. Stephanie Murphy wrote on Twitter. “It already passed the House & will now be sent to POTUS to be signed into law. Thank you to our Senate allies & all advocates who fought for this.”
BREAKING: The Senate just passed my bipartisan bill w/@RepMichaelWaltz to pave the way for #AlwynCashe to receive the Medal of Honor. It already passed the House & will now be sent to POTUS to be signed into law. Thank you to our Senate allies & all advocates who fought for this.
— Rep. Stephanie Murphy (@RepStephMurphy) November 10, 2020
Cashe died in 2005 after rescuing six soldiers from a burning vehicle that had been struck by a roadside bomb in Iraq. While he was posthumously awarded a Silver Star Medal for his actions, many believed his heroics were worthy of the nation’s highest military award: the Medal of Honor.
His case for that award took center stage when Villanueva honored Cashe by putting his name on his helmet before the team’s season opener this year, making him the only player at the time not to honor Antwon Rose Jr. in the team’s campaign for social justice.
The Senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent, paving the way for President Trump to award the medal to Cashe. Cashe would be the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
“Alwyn Cashe’s incredible bravery on the battlefield in service of his fellow Americans is worthy of the Medal of Honor,” said Sen. Tom Cotton in a statement. “Now, Mr. Cashe’s ultimate sacrifice can be formally recognized by the president and appreciated by our grateful nation.”
Murphy, a Democrat, was joined by Republican Rep. Michael Waltz in co-sponsoring the House bill. Waltz praised Cashe in a statement after the passage of the bill.
“I’m incredibly proud to see both sides of the aisle, in the House and the Senate, come together to honor Cashe’s legacy and award him the Medal of Honor,” Waltz said.
