Title 34, NavyRelease 119-110

§50301 Definitions

Title 34 › Subtitle V — Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Personnel › CHAPTER 503 — LAW ENFORCEMENT CONGRESSIONAL BADGE OF BRAVERY › § 50301

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used here about badges, boards, offices, and officers. Federal agency head is the person in charge of any federal entity that employs federal law enforcement officers. Federal Board is the panel that handles the federal congressional badge of bravery, and Federal Board members are its appointed members. Federal Law Enforcement Badge is the federal congressional badge of bravery. Federal law enforcement officer is a federal employee who can make arrests, is allowed by their agency to carry a firearm, and mainly enforces laws or protects officials; this also includes Amtrak Police and Federal Reserve officers. Office is the Congressional Badge of Bravery Office. State and Local Board and State and Local Board members are the similar board and its members for state/local awards. State and Local Law Enforcement Badge is the state/local badge. State or local agency head is the leader of any state or local entity that employs those officers. State or local law enforcement officer has the same arrest, firearm, and duty rules as the federal officer.

Full Legal Text

Title 34, §50301

Navy, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter:
(1)Federal agency head
The term “Federal agency head” means the head of any executive, legislative, or judicial branch Government entity that employs Federal law enforcement officers.
(2)Federal Board
The term “Federal Board” means the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board established under section 50313(a) of this title.
(3)Federal Board members
The term “Federal Board members” means the members of the Federal Board appointed under section 50313(c) of this title.
(4)Federal Law Enforcement Badge
The term “Federal Law Enforcement Badge” means the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery described in section 50311 of this title.
(5)Federal law enforcement officer
The term “Federal law enforcement officer”—
(A)means a Federal employee—
(i)who has statutory authority to make arrests or apprehensions;
(ii)who is authorized by the agency of the employee to carry firearms; and
(iii)whose duties are primarily—
(I)engagement in or supervision of the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law; or
(II)the protection of Federal, State, local, or foreign government officials against threats to personal safety; and
(B)includes a law enforcement officer employed by the Amtrak Police Department or Federal Reserve.
(6)Office
The term “Office” means the Congressional Badge of Bravery Office established under section 50331(a) of this title.
(7)State and Local Board
The term “State and Local Board” means the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board established under section 50323(a) of this title.
(8)State and Local Board members
The term “State and Local Board members” means the members of the State and Local Board appointed under section 50323(c) of this title.
(9)State and Local Law Enforcement Badge
The term “State and Local Law Enforcement Badge” means the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery described in section 50321 of this title.
(10)State or local agency head
The term “State or local agency head” means the head of any executive, legislative, or judicial branch entity of a State or local government that employs State or local law enforcement officers.
(11)State or local law enforcement officer
The term “State or local law enforcement officer” means an employee of a State or local government—
(A)who has statutory authority to make arrests or apprehensions;
(B)who is authorized by the agency of the employee to carry firearms; and
(C)whose duties are primarily—
(i)engagement in or supervision of the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law; or
(ii)the protection of Federal, State, local, or foreign government officials against threats to personal safety.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15231 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

For

Short Title

of Pub. L. 110–298, which is classified to this chapter, as the “Law

Enforcement

Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008”, see section 1 of Pub. L. 110–298, set out as a

Short Title

of 2008 Act note under section 10101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

34 U.S.C. § 50301

Title 34, Navy

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110