SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART TO MEMBERS KILLED OR WOUNDED IN ACTION BY FRIENDLY FIRE.

SEC. 1085. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART TO MEMBERS KILLED OR WOUNDED IN ACTION BY FRIENDLY FIRE. (a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Purple Heart should be awarded to members of the Armed Forces killed or wounded by friendly fire while actively engaged with the enemy. (2) Historically, the military services have responded with tentativeness and reluctance when considering the award of the Purple Heart to members of the Armed Forces killed or wounded by friendly fire while actively engaged with the enemy, including engagements during the Persian Gulf War. (3) The Congress recognizes that the Secretaries of the military departments contend that, as a matter of policy, the Purple Heart has been awarded as described in paragraph (1), including during the Persian Gulf War. (b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress— (1) that the Secretaries of the military departments should ensure that in the future the Purple Heart is awarded without hesitation to members of the Armed Forces killed or wounded by friendly fire while actively engaged with the enemy; and (2) that the Secretaries of the military departments should award the Purple Heart in each case of a member of the Armed Forces killed or wounded on or after December 7, 1941, by friendly fire while actively engaged with the enemy which is known to the Secretary or for which an application is made to the Secretary in such a manner as the Secretary requires.