Medal of Sacrifice Act Passes the House

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Brian Mast announced the passage of his bill, the Medal of Sacrifice Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"This medal was created alongside President Trump as a small way to thank the brave men and women in uniform who ultimately sacrificed their lives to protect our communities," said Rep. Brian Mast. "May we never forget their dedication and use this medal to forever honor their memory. I look forward to it being passed quickly in the Senate and sent to the President so we can ensure that every family knows that their loved one's sacrifice will never be forgotten."

The Medal of Sacrifice Act creates a new medal given directly from the Office of the President posthumously to law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. The first three Medals of Sacrifice were awarded to three sheriff deputies from Palm Beach County who were killed after being struck by a vehicle on the side of the road. Last May, President Trump honored these three deputies, awarding the medals to their families in the Oval Office.

"Police officers knowingly place themselves in harm's way to keep us safe and protect our sacred rights. Sadly, when one of these heroes is killed, their sacrifice is quickly forgotten, if even acknowledged," said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. "The Medal of Sacrifice Act provides a meaningful way to pay tribute to these heroes as well as to honor their families, who have sacrificed everything and continue to experience unimaginable grief. This medal will also serve as a symbol of the public's profound gratitude for the men and women who stand between us and lawlessness and uphold the U.S. Constitution," Fitzsimmons added.

"The Medal of Sacrifice Act represents a meaningful and long-overdue commitment to honoring the families of law enforcement officers and first responders who have given everything in service to their communities and this nation. By recognizing their sacrifice with a presidentially presented medal, this legislation ensures that their loved ones know their loss is seen, remembered, and respected at the highest level of our government," said Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) National President Mathew Silverman."FLEOA applauds Representative Brian Mast, the bill's co-sponsors, and the House Judiciary Committee for advancing this bipartisan, commonsense legislation. The symbolism of this medal, and the solemn responsibility it represents, reinforces a simple truth: behind every fallen officer is a family whose sacrifice must never be forgotten. We strongly urge Congress to swiftly pass this important legislation."

"The names on National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial in Washington, D.C. are a stark reminder that law enforcement officers perform one of the toughest, most dangerous jobs in America and the high price police officers and their families pay to protect and serve," said NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) President Vincent Vallelong."The 'Medal of Sacrifice' is a small but powerful expression of gratitude to surviving families of their loved ones' service and sacrifice. The SBA is grateful for Rep. Mast's leadership on this legislation and his commitment to honoring our nation's law enforcement heroes and their families."

You can read the full bill here.