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119-s-3765119th Congress

Medal of Sacrifice Act

Sponsored By: Senator Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]

Introduced

Summary

A federal Medal of Sacrifice would honor law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. It would also create a Presidential Commission to design the medal, set eligibility, and decide disputed cases tied to official findings of wrongdoing.

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  • Families and survivors would receive formal federal recognition of their loss. The Commission would initially award the medal to three named deputies.
  • Any local, state, tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officer or first responder killed in the line of duty would be eligible, except where an official finding says the officer acted outside duties. In those cases the Commission would investigate and make the final eligibility decision.
  • The President would appoint a 12-member Commission made up of law enforcement, first responders, and organizational representatives. Members would serve five-year terms, may serve up to two terms, are unpaid, and would advise on the medal's design, promotion, presentation, and disputed eligibility.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Federal Medal for Fallen Responders

If enacted, this bill would create a federal Medal of Sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. The President would appoint a 12-member Commission within 150 days to advise on design, promote the medal, set presentation rules, and decide eligibility when an official finding of wrongdoing exists. Members would be law enforcement, first responders, or related organization representatives, serve five-year terms (up to two terms), be unpaid, and be appointed to fill vacancies by the President. People killed in the line of duty at local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal levels would be eligible, but a formal finding that the person acted outside their duties would bar eligibility unless the Commission overturns that finding after investigation. The bill would name three initial awardees (Deputy Ralph "Butch" Waller, Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz, and Deputy Luis Paez) and would specify the medal's exact design and manufacture (modified quatrefoil, "SACRIFICE" inscription, sandblasted reverse with names, Azure or Gules ribbon, Silver Ag925 with 24k gold vermeil, ~63 grams, 2.25 inches diameter, 2.5 micron plating). The Commission would end when the President determines its duties are complete.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/3/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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