# Plain Language Summary: Medal of Sacrifice Act

This bill creates a new medal that the President can award to law enforcement officers and first responders who die while doing their jobs. It's essentially a formal way to honor and recognize the sacrifice of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and similar workers who lose their lives in the line of duty. The medal would be a physical award that families of fallen officers could receive as recognition of their loved one's service and sacrifice.

To receive this medal, an officer or first responder must have been killed while performing their official duties. However, there's an important exception: if an investigation finds that the person acted outside their job duties or violated their agency's policies at the time of their death, they would not be eligible for the medal. If there's any question about whether someone's death involved wrongdoing, a special commission would investigate and make the final decision about eligibility. This means the medal is specifically reserved for those who died while properly performing their responsibilities.

The bill establishes a 12-member commission made up of law enforcement officers, first responders, and people who work with law enforcement organizations. This commission would design the medal, decide how it gets presented, and handle any eligibility questions that come up. The commission members would serve five-year terms and wouldn't be paid for their work. The bill also specifies that three particular deputies—Ralph "Butch" Waller, Ignacio "Dan" Diaz, and Luis Paez—would automatically receive this medal. The medal itself would be made of silver and gold, about the size of a large coin, and would have the fallen officer's name engraved on the back.

Medal of Sacrifice Act

Mast, Brian J.

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.