Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to John Cheng (???), a Taiwanese-American physician who was killed last month while confronting an active shooter at a California church.
Representatives Katie Porter (D-CA) and Michelle Steel (R-CA), whose districts both lie in the Orange County area where the shooting occurred, introduced a bill earlier this month to bestow the U.S.’ highest civilian award on Cheng, whom they described as “a hero who died protecting others.”
Cheng, 52, was accompanying his mother on May 15 at a gathering of members of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, when it was attacked by a gunman motivated by anger over Taiwan’s independence movement.
According to witnesses, Cheng was shot after charging the gunman and trying to disarm him, allowing other congregants to restrain the man and likely saving the lives of the other 40 people in the building.
In addition to Cheng’s death, five other people were injured in the attack, while the gunman — 68-year-old Taiwanese-American David Wenwei Chou (???) — has been charged with crimes including premeditated murder.
In a June 22 news release announcing the legislation, Porter praised Cheng as a “hero” who “undoubtedly saved lives when he charged the gunman attacking his mother’s church.”
Steel, meanwhile, said that “with his bravery, [Cheng] saved dozens of other lives and prevented an even bigger tragedy from occurring.”
“I’m proud to support this effort to award him with a Congressional Gold Medal so that his courage will never be forgotten,” she said.
The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.
Along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it is considered the highest civilian award in the U.S.
While the House does not have specific rules regarding the procedures for gold medal bills, it typically requires two-thirds of its members to sign onto a resolution before it can be considered in committee.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel