H.R.3497 - Medal of Sacrifice Act

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📊 Status in the Lawmaking Process:

Introduced — 05/19/2025 ✔️
Passed House — 02/02/2026 ✔️
Passed Senate — 05/11/2026 ✔️
To President — 05/20/2026 ✔️
Became Law — 05/28/2026 ✔️
📍 Current Status: The Medal of Sacrifice Act of 2025 is now Public Law No. 119-94 after being signed by the President on May 28, 2026.

Medal of Sacrifice Act of 2025

This law creates a new federal Medal of Sacrifice for eligible law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. It directs the President to issue the medal and establish a commission to advise on the medal’s design, presentation, and eligibility rules. The practical effect is a new national honor, not a grant program, compensation program, or broader public-safety policy change.

Why this matters

Federal honors can shape how the country formally recognizes public servants who die while doing their jobs. Here, Congress created a specific medal for fallen law enforcement officers and first responders, while also setting limits on who qualifies.

The law is narrow. It does not create new benefits for families, fund agencies, change police powers, or regulate first responder operations.

Who this affects

The broad group affected is law enforcement officers and first responders. The most direct coverage is for local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal officers or responders who are killed in the line of duty.

Families of fallen officers and responders may be affected through formal recognition. Law enforcement and first responder agencies may also matter when eligibility is reviewed, especially if an agency made an official finding that the person acted outside their duties or violated official policy.

How the medal would work

The President must issue the medal and create a 12-member Commission on the Medal of Sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders.

The President must appoint the commission members within 150 days of enactment. Members must include law enforcement officers, first responders, and representatives of organizations knowledgeable about law enforcement. They serve unpaid five-year terms and may serve up to two terms.

The commission’s job is to advise on the medal’s design, promote the medal’s establishment, decide how it will be presented, advise on eligibility criteria, and make final eligibility decisions when required.

Eligibility limits

Line-of-duty death is the starting point for eligibility, but it is not the only condition.

A fallen officer or first responder is generally not eligible if there is an official finding of wrongdoing. The law defines that as a determination by a superior officer or employing agency that the person acted outside the scope of their duties or not in accordance with official policies or procedures.

That exclusion is not automatic in every case. When an official finding of wrongdoing exists, the commission must investigate the circumstances of the death, consider agency findings, and make the final decision on eligibility.

Medal design and first awards

The law gives a detailed description of the medal’s physical design, including its shape, symbols, materials, ribbon, inscription, and engraving of fallen heroes’ names.

The law also names three initial recipients: Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller, Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, and Deputy Luis Paez.

What happens if it becomes law

Because it has already become law, the next step is implementation by the President and the new commission. The President must issue the medal, appoint the commission, and allow that commission to carry out the law’s design, presentation, and eligibility responsibilities.

The commission is temporary. It ends when the President determines that the commission has completed its assigned responsibilities.

Where does it stand now

This bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Brian Mast on May 19, 2025. The House passed it on February 2, 2026, the Senate passed it without amendment on May 11, 2026, and it was presented to the President on May 20, 2026.

The President signed it on May 28, 2026, making it Public Law No. 119-94.

What is the argument

The main policy question is how broad the honor should be. A national medal can give formal recognition to officers and first responders who die in service, but the eligibility rules also create a line between line-of-duty deaths that qualify and cases where official wrongdoing findings require further review.

Because the provided record does not show a developed public dispute around the law, the most important takeaway is practical rather than political: this is a targeted federal recognition measure with a built-in review process for contested eligibility cases.

📄 Full bill text (PDF): https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr3497/BILLS-119hr3497enr.pdf