IIB 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4056 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
APRIL 16, 2008 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
AN ACT 
To establish an awards mechanism to honor Federal law 
enforcement officers injured in the line of duty. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Law Enforce-
ment Officers Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 
2008’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
(1) According to the Department of Justice, in 
the past 7 years, an average of 150 Federal law en-
forcement officers per year sustained physical inju-
ries while dealing with an assaultive subject. 
(2) More than 70 Federal agencies employ Fed-
eral law enforcement officers but only 2 such agen-
cies have an awards mechanism to recognize Federal 
law enforcement officers who are injured in the line 
of duty. 
(3) In contrast to the lack of an awards mecha-
nism for Federal law enforcement officers, the Presi-
dent awards the Purple Heart for military personnel 
wounded or killed during armed service, and most 
State and local police departments have commenda-
tions and medals for officers who are injured in the 
line of duty. 
(4) Formal congressional recognition does not 
exist to honor Federal law enforcement officers who 
are injured in the line of duty. 
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tice in a manner that acknowledges the Federal 
service and bravery of each such recipient. 
(5) Set an annual timetable for fulfilling the 
duties described in this subsection. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Board 
shall be composed of 7 members (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Board members’’) appointed as fol-
lows: 
(A) One member jointly appointed by the 
majority leader and minority leader of the Sen-
ate. 
(B) One member jointly appointed by the 
Speaker and minority leader of the House of 
Representatives. 
(C) One member from the Department of 
Justice appointed by the Attorney General. 
(D) Four members of the Federal Law 
Enforcement Officers Association appointed by 
the Executive Board of the Federal Law En-
forcement Officers Association. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) APPLICABLE
TO
MEMBERS
OF
THE 
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSO-
CIATION.—No more than 5 Board members 
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may be members of the Federal Law Enforce-
ment Officers Association. 
(B) APPLICABLE
TO
NOMINATING
OFFI-
CIALS.—In the case of a Board member who is 
an agency head, if such member nominates an 
individual under section 4(a), such member may 
not participate in any evaluation or rec-
ommendation process of the Board with respect 
to such individual. 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—Board members shall be 
individuals with knowledge or expertise, whether by 
experience or training, in the field of Federal law en-
forcement. 
(4) TERMS
AND
VACANCIES.—Each Board 
member shall be appointed for 2 years and may be 
reappointed. A vacancy in the Board shall not affect 
the powers of the Board and shall be filled in the 
same manner as the original appointment. 
(d) OPERATIONS.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the 
Board shall be a Board member elected by a major-
ity of the Board. 
(2) MEETINGS.—The Board shall conduct its 
first meeting not later than 90 days after the ap-
pointment of a majority of Board members. There-
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after, the Board shall meet at the call of the Chair-
person, or in the case of a vacancy of the position 
of Chairperson, at the call of the Attorney General. 
(3) VOTING AND RULES.—A majority of Board 
members shall constitute a quorum to conduct busi-
ness, 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 business of the Board, 
if such rules are not inconsistent with this Act or 
other applicable law. 
(4) STAFF.—The Board may appoint and fix 
the pay of additional qualified personnel as the 
Board considers appropriate to assist it in carrying 
out its duties under subsection (b). 
(e) POWERS.— 
(1) HEARINGS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Board may hold 
hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as the Board 
considers appropriate to carry out the duties of 
the Board under this Act. The Board may ad-
minister oaths or affirmations to witnesses ap-
pearing before it. 
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(B) WITNESS
EXPENSES.—Witnesses re-
quested 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. 
(2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
Subject to sections 552, 552a, and 552b of title 5, 
United States Code— 
(A) the Board may secure directly from 
any Federal department or agency information 
necessary to enable it to carry out this Act; and 
(B) upon request of the Board, the head of 
that department or agency shall furnish the in-
formation to the Board. 
(3) INFORMATION
TO
BE
KEPT
CONFIDEN-
TIAL.—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. 
(f) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), Board members shall serve without pay. 
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(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each Board member 
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable 
provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
5, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. PRESENTATION OF BADGES. 
(a) PRESENTATION BY MEMBER OF CONGRESS.—A 
Member of Congress may present a Badge to any Badge 
recipient who resides in such Member’s congressional dis-
trict. If both a Senator and Representative choose to 
present a Badge, such Senator and Representative shall 
make a joint presentation. 
(b) PRESENTATION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—If no 
Member of Congress chooses to present the Badge as de-
scribed in subsection (a), the Attorney General, or a des-
ignee of the Attorney General, shall present such Badge. 
(c) PRESENTATION ARRANGEMENTS.—The office of 
the Member of Congress presenting each Badge may make 
arrangements for the presentation of such Badge, and if 
a Senator and Representative choose to participate jointly 
as described in subsection (a), the Senator and Represent-
ative shall make joint arrangements. The Board shall fa-
cilitate any such presentation arrangements as requested 
by the congressional office presenting the Badge and shall 
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make arrangements in cases not undertaken by Members 
of Congress. 
(d) LIMITATION.—A Badge may not be awarded 
under this section during the 60-day period before the 
date of a Congressional election. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act: 
(a) FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The 
term ‘‘Federal law enforcement officer’’ means a Federal 
employee— 
(1) who has statutory authority to make ar-
rests; 
(2) who is authorized by his or her agency to 
carry firearms; and 
(3) whose duties are primarily— 
(A) the investigation, apprehension, or de-
tention of individuals suspected or convicted of 
a Federal criminal offense; or 
(B) the protection of Federal officials 
against threats to personal safety. 
(b) AGENCY HEAD.—The term ‘‘agency head’’ means 
the head of any executive, legislative, or judicial branch 
government entity that employs Federal law enforcement 
officers. 
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