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ceive 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 mile-
age 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 nec-
essary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of the
Board, the head of such department or agency may fur-
nish 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 equiva-
lent 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)
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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 gov-
ernment, 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 agen-
cies 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.
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SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attor-
ney 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 proce-
dures for the submission of recommendations of nominees
for the Medal of Valor.
SEC. 8. CONFORMING REPEAL.
Section 15 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Con-
trol 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 Attor-
ney 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:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.