Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) that 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 became law on May 28 with President Donald Trump’s signature.
“Today, the highest office in our land has sworn to families of fallen officers or first responders: your loved one’s name will be honored and remembered by the President of the United States and a grateful nation,” said Rep. Mast, who joined Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of the Medal of Sacrifice Act, H.R. 3497.
“I’ll keep working to see that the men and women who stand between us and danger know that this country will never forget what they gave,” the congressman added.
The new law creates a presidential honor given posthumously to eligible law enforcement officers and first responders, including federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement officers or first responders who are not subject to an official act of wrongdoing, such as 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, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.
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 law now 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, the summary says.
Additionally, the law directs the president to establish a commission on the medal of sacrifice, appoint its members, and set forth responsibilities of the commission.
The gold vermeil medal features the U.S. coat of arms, three oak leaves representing strength, resilience, and the families of the fallen, and is inscribed with the word “SACRIFICE.” It is paired with a blue ribbon for law enforcement officers and a red ribbon for first responders.
The bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 2 and received unanimous approval by the U.S. Senate on May 11, is companion legislation to the same-named S. 3765 led by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).