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HR3497FEDERALsigned
Enacted

The Medal of Sacrifice Act of 2025

Original title: Medal of Sacrifice Act

May 19, 2025

law enforcementfirst respondersmedalsfederal awardspublic safety

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Current status: signed.

Last action
Became Public Law No: 119-94.May 28, 2026

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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The Frame

What this does

The law creates a new federal honor for fallen first responders and establishes a commission to determine eligibility, including the power to disqualify individuals based on official findings of wrongdoing.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Law enforcement officers and first responders

They are the eligible recipients of the new federal medal.

Families of fallen officers

They are the recipients of the honor bestowed upon their family members.

What changed

Current stage: signed.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This law establishes a new federal medal to honor law enforcement officers and first responders who die in the line of duty. It creates a presidential commission to oversee the medal's design, eligibility criteria, and final award decisions.

Key Facts

  • The President is authorized to issue a Medal of Sacrifice to law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty.
  • Officers or responders with an 'official finding of wrongdoing' are ineligible for the medal.
  • A 12-member Commission will be appointed by the President within 150 days of May 28, 2026.
  • Commission members serve 5-year terms and are limited to two terms.
  • Commission members serve without pay.
  • The Commission is responsible for medal design, promotion, presentation, and final eligibility determinations.
  • The Commission will award the first medals to Deputy Ralph 'Butch' Waller, Deputy Ignacio 'Dan' Diaz, and Deputy Luis Paez.
  • The Commission will dissolve once all assigned responsibilities are completed.
  • The medal is made of Silver Ag925 with 24k Gold Vermeil, weighing approximately 63 grams and measuring 2.25 inches in diameter.
  • The medal design includes the motto 'Integritas' and features 47 mullets (stars) and three lions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Medal of Sacrifice?
Local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officers and first responders who were killed in the line of duty, provided there is no .
What happens if an officer was under investigation for wrongdoing?
The Commission will investigate the circumstances of the death and make a final determination on eligibility based on agency findings.
Will members of the Commission be paid?
No, members of the Commission serve without compensation.

Why It Matters

The law creates a new federal honor for fallen first responders and establishes a commission to determine eligibility, including the power to disqualify individuals based on official findings of wrongdoing.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Formalization of Eligibility Standards

The act explicitly links the awarding of a federal honor to an internal agency investigation process, creating a formal mechanism for disqualification based on conduct.

Commission on Medal of Sacrifice for Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders

Connected Entities

organizationTiffany & Co“Designer of the Great Seal features used on the medal.”Map →
personIgnacio "Dan" Diaz“Deputy awarded the initial Medal of Sacrifice.”Map →
personLuis Paez“Deputy awarded the initial Medal of Sacrifice.”Map →
personPresident of the United States“Responsible for issuing the medal and appointing the commission.”Map →
organizationCommission on Medal of Sacrifice for Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders“Body created to manage medal design, promotion, and eligibility determinations.”Map →
personRalph "Butch" Waller“Deputy awarded the initial Medal of Sacrifice.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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