PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: Cortez Masto and Graham-Led Medal of Sacrifice Act

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), as well as U.S. Representative Brian Mast (R-Fl.), applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of the Medal of Sacrifice Act during National Police Week. The legislation would create a new presidential award to posthumously honor law enforcement officers and other first responders killed in the line of duty. Following its Senate passage, this legislation now heads to President Trump to be signed into law.

"Every single day, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect and serve our communities and keep our families safe," said Senator Cortez Masto. "The Medal of Sacrifice Act will go a long way to honoring those officers who lose their lives in the line of duty. This Police Week, I'm proud to have worked alongside Senator Graham and Congressman Mast to get our bill to the President's desk."

"Our law enforcement officers and first responders represent some of the best and bravest among us. These men and women selflessly put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. If these law enforcement officers and first responders perish in the line of duty, that sacrifice deserves the highest level of recognition. I am proud to have worked with President Trump and Rep. Mast on this important legislation so that we can ensure these heroes are never forgotten, and look forward to it being signed into law," said Senator Graham.

"I will never forget November 21, 2024, the day three lions of my community were taken after being struck on the side of the road. After we laid Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputies Waller, Diaz, and Paez to rest, President Trump and I agreed that their sacrifice can never be forgotten. That's what the Medal of Sacrifice is all about, and I've worked every single day since then to pass this bill to honor every officer and first responder killed in action. In the face of incomprehensible loss, families of the fallen will now know they have a nation standing firmly behind them, directed by the highest office of our land. I am deeply grateful to Senator Graham for sharing this mission and for carrying it across the finish line in the Senate," said Congressman Mast.

Read the bill here. The Medal of Sacrifice Act is supported by the National Police Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), and the Police Officers Defense Coalition.

Senator Cortez Masto is a leading advocate in the Senate for our police officers. The Senator introduced the PUBLIC SAFETY Act to redirect almost $75 billion in funding to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local cops in communities across the U.S. She has fought for funding for the Byrne JAG grant program, the leading source of criminal justice funding in the country. Her bipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide, provide mental health resources to police officers, and support families of retired fallen law enforcement officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties.

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