Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 46 (ih) To provide for a national medal for public safety officers who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 46 (ih) To provide for a national medal for public safety officers who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. [Introduced in House] ...
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 46
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for a national medal for public safety officers who act with
extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 46
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for a national medal for public safety officers who act with
extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor
Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF MEDAL.
The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a
Medal of Valor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances,
to a public safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, on the
advice of the Medal of Valor Review Board, for extraordinary valor
above and beyond the call of duty.
SEC. 3. BOARD.
(a) Board.--There is established a permanent Medal of Valor Review
Board (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Board''). The Board
shall--
(1) be composed of 11 members appointed in accordance with
subsection (b); and
(2) conduct its business in accordance with this Act.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The members of the Board shall be
appointed as follows:
(A) Two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(B) Two shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(C) Two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader
of the Senate.
(D) Two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Senate.
(E) Three shall be appointed by the President, one
of whom shall have substantial experience in
firefighting, one of whom shall have substantial
experience in law enforcement, and one of whom shall
have substantial experience in emergency services.
(2) Persons eligible.--The members of the Board shall be
individuals who have knowledge or expertise, whether by
experience or training, in the field of public safety.
(3) Term.--The term of a Board member is 4 years.
(4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the Board
shall not affect the powers of the Board and shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointment.
(5) Operation of the board.--
(A) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of
the Chairman and not less than twice each year. The
initial meeting of the Board shall be conducted not
later than 30 days after the appointment of the last
member of the Board.
(B) Quorum; voting; rules.--A majority of the
members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to
conduct business, but the Board may establish a lesser
quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the Board.
The Board may establish by majority vote any other
rules for the conduct of the Board's business, if such
rules are not inconsistent with this Act or other
applicable law.
(c) Duties.--The Board shall select candidates as recipients of the
Medal of Valor from among those applications received by the National
Medal Office. Not more often than once each year, the Board shall
present to the Attorney General the name or names of those it
recommends as Medal of Valor recipients. In a given year, the Board is
not required to choose any names, but is limited to a maximum number of
6 recipients. The Board shall set an annual timetable for fulfilling
its duties under this Act.
(d) Hearings.--
(1) In general.--The Board may hold such hearings, sit and
act at such times and places, administer such oaths, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Board considers
advisable to carry out its duties.
(2) Witness expenses.--Witnesses requested to appear before
the Board may be paid the same fees as are paid to witnesses
under section 1821 of title 28, United States Code. The per
diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from
funds appropriated to the Board.
(e) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Board may secure
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the
Board considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of
the Board, the head of such department or agency may furnish such
information to the Board.
(f) Information To Be Kept Confidential.--The Board shall not
disclose any information which may compromise an ongoing law
enforcement investigation or is otherwise required by law to be kept
confidential.
SEC. 4. BOARD PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph
(2), each member of the Board shall be compensated at a rate equal to
the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5,
United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which
such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Board.
(2) All members of the Board who serve as officers or employees of
the United States, a State, or a local government, shall serve without
compensation in addition to that received for those services.
(b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Board shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular
places of business in the performance of service for the Board.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act:
(1) Public safety officer.--The term ``Public Safety
Officer'' has the same meaning given that term in section 1204
of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
SEC. 7. OFFICE.
There is established within the Department of Justice a national
medal office. The office shall staff the Medal of Valor Review Board
and establish criteria and procedures for the submission of
recommendations of nominees for the Medal of Valor.
SEC. 8. CONFORMING REPEAL.
Section 15 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974
is repealed.
SEC. 9. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.
The Attorney General shall consult with the Institute of Heraldry
within the Department of Defense regarding the design and artistry of
the Medal of Valor. The Attorney General shall also consider
suggestions received by the Department of Justice regarding the design
of the medal, including those made by persons not employed by the
Department.
Passed the House of Representatives April 13, 1999.
Attest:
Clerk.
Pages: 1 Other Popular 106th Congressional Bills Documents:
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