§15202 Medal of Valor Board

Summary

Creates a Medal of Valor Review Board with 11 members who must have experience or training in public safety. Two members are picked by the Senate majority leader, two by the Senate minority leader, two by the Speaker of the House, two by the House minority leader, and three by the President (one each with firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency services experience). Members serve 4-year terms. The board elects its chair, fills vacancies the same way they were first filled, must meet at least twice a year, must hold its first meeting within 90 days after the last initial member is named, and needs a majority for most decisions. The board picks Medal of Valor candidates from applications sent to the National Medal of Valor Office and may send names to the Attorney General no more than once a year. It does not have to choose anyone in a year, and it may pick up to 5 individuals or groups (the Attorney General can allow more in extraordinary cases). The board can hold hearings, take testimony under oath, pay witnesses the same fees federal law allows, get information from federal agencies, and must not disclose anything that would harm an ongoing law enforcement investigation or is legally required to stay secret.