A resolution honoring the service and sacrifice of United States Army Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and United States Army Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, who were killed in action in Palmyra, Syria, in a targeted assault against United States service members on December 13, 2025.
Sponsors
Joni Ernst
R-IA | Primary Sponsor
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Ernst (for herself and Mr. Grassley) submitted the following …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This Senate Resolution formally honors two Iowa Army National Guard sergeants - William Nathaniel "Nate" Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar - who were killed in a terrorist attack while serving overseas. It also condemns the attack and recognizes the bravery of those who responded.
Who Benefits and How
The families of Sergeant Howard and Sergeant Torres-Tovar receive official recognition and sympathy from the United States Senate, along with an enrolled copy of the resolution. The Iowa Army National Guard and all National Guard members are publicly honored for their service and sacrifice.
Who Bears the Burden and How
This is a ceremonial resolution with no regulatory requirements, spending, or policy changes. There are no economic burdens created by this resolution. The Secretary of the Senate has a minor administrative duty to transmit copies to the families.
Key Provisions
- Honors the memory and sacrifice of Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar
- Extends sympathy and support to the families of the fallen soldiers
- Condemns the terrorist attack that killed the service members
- Recognizes the bravery of National Guard members and allied personnel who responded to the attack
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit copies of the resolution to both families
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
A Senate Resolution honoring the memory, service, and sacrifice of United States Army Sergeants William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa Army National Guard members killed in a terrorist attack, while condemning the attack and expressing gratitude to those who responded.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Express Senate sentiment and formal recognition of fallen service members through an official resolution"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Families of Sergeant Howard and Sergeant Torres-Tovar
- Iowa Army National Guard
- All National Guard members
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Senate
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology