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Committee approves bill creating presidential medal for fallen law enforcement and first responders
Summary
The committee adopted amendments and voted to report H.R. 3497, the Medal of Sacrifice Act, which authorizes a presidential medal for law enforcement and first responders killed in the line of duty and establishes a commission to determine eligibility, with an amendment to include tribal and territorial officers.
Committee members considered H.R. 3497, referred to in the transcript as the Medal of Sacrifice Act (also transcribed as "Bridal of Sacrifice" in several places), which would authorize the president to award a medal to law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty and create a 12-member commission to determine eligibility.
Sponsor and co-sponsors: Multiple members—including Representative Mast (referenced in the record), Representative Lee (Florida), and other co-sponsors—supported the bill. Members cited 2024 statistics on line-of-duty fatalities for law enforcement and firefighters and urged the committee to move the measure forward as a bipartisan recognition of service.
Amendments and adoption: A member from Kansas proposed an amendment to explicitly include tribal and territorial law enforcement and to clarify the commission’s role advising the president about eligibility. Sponsors said they had consulted and agreed the changes were appropriate; the amendment was adopted and incorporated into the bill. The committee then voted to report the bill favorably to the House.
Context and next steps: Supporters framed the bill as a bipartisan tribute to fallen public-safety personnel and said it would not replace other memorials. The committee ordered H.R. 3497 reported favorably and authorized staff to make technical and conforming changes; members may submit views to the record.
