Medal of Sacrifice Act
Medal of Sacrifice Act
Plain Language Summary
# Medal of Sacrifice Act Summary **What It Does:** The Medal of Sacrifice Act would create a new federal medal to honor law enforcement officers and first responders—including police, firefighters, and emergency personnel—who are killed while performing their duties. The bill directs the President to establish a commission that would design the medal, determine how it's awarded, and oversee the process for presenting it to families of deceased officers and responders. **Who It Affects:** The medal would be available to eligible federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers and first responders who die in the line of duty.
However, the bill includes an eligibility restriction: officers or responders found to have committed "official acts of wrongdoing"—such as acting outside their authority or violating official policies—would generally be ineligible for the medal. **Current Status:** The bill has passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting action in the Senate. It represents a bipartisan effort to create a formal recognition for those who lose their lives in public service, though the specific eligibility criteria and medal design have yet to be finalized by the commission that would be created if the bill becomes law.
CRS Official Summary
Medal of Sacrifice Act of 2025This bill directs the President to issue a medal of sacrifice for eligible law enforcement officers and first responders who are killed in the line of duty.The bill also directs the President to establish a commission on the medal of sacrifice and appoint its members. The bill sets forth responsibilities of the commission, including to advise on the design of the medal and determine how the medal will be presented.Under the bill, eligible law enforcement officers and first responders include federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement officers or first responders who are not subject to an official act of wrongdoing (e.g., a determination that the officer or first responder acted outside the scope of their duties or in a manner that was not in accordance with official policies or procedures).A law enforcement officer or first responder who is subject to an official act of wrongdoing is generally not eligible for the medal of sacrifice. However, in the case of such an officer or first responder, the bill requires the commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the officer or first responder's cause of death and issue a final determination on their eligibility.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.