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Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Chapter 145 — Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor and Tributes

§ 15208. Law enforcement tribute acts

Statutory text

(a)

Short title

This section may be cited as the “Law Enforcement Tribute Act”.

(b)

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

The well-being of all citizens of the United States is preserved and enhanced as a direct result of the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement and public safety personnel.

(2)

More than 700,000 law enforcement officers, both men and women, at great risk to their personal safety, serve their fellow citizens as guardians of peace.

(3)

Nationwide, 51 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2000, according to statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This number is an increase of 9 from the 1999 total of 42.

(4)

In 1999, 112 firefighters died while on duty, an increase of 21 deaths from the previous year.

(5)

Every year, 1 in 9 peace officers is assaulted, 1 in 25 is injured, and 1 in 4,400 is killed in the line of duty.

(6)

In addition, recent statistics indicate that 83 officers were accidentally killed in the performance of their duties in 2000, an increase of 18 from the 65 accidental deaths in 1999.

(7)

A permanent tribute is a powerful means of honoring the men and women who have served our Nation with distinction. However, many law enforcement and public safety agencies lack the resources to honor their fallen colleagues.

(c)

Program authorized

From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Attorney General may make grants to States, units of local government, and Indian tribes to carry out programs to honor, through permanent tributes, men and women of the United States who were killed or disabled while serving as law enforcement or public safety officers.

(d)

Uses of funds

Grants awarded under this section shall be distributed directly to the State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe, and shall be used for the purposes specified in subsection (c).

(e)

$150,000 limitation

A grant under this section may not exceed $150,000 to any single recipient.

(f)

Matching funds

(1)

The Federal portion of the costs of a program provided by a grant under this section may not exceed 50 percent.

(2)

Any funds appropriated by Congress for the activities of any agency of an Indian tribal government or the Bureau of Indian Affairs performing law enforcement or public safety functions on any Indian lands may be used to provide the non-Federal share of a matching requirement funded under this subsection.

(g)

Applications

To request a grant under this section, the chief executive of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may require.

(h)

Annual report to Congress

Not later than November 30 of each year, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Congress regarding the activities carried out under this section. Each such report shall include, for the preceding fiscal year, the number of grants funded under this section, the amount of funds provided under those grants, and the activities for which those funds were used.

(i)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2009.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Law Enforcement Tribute Act

    Pub. L. 107–273 div. C title I § 11001 · 116 Stat. 1758

    Enacted · 42 U.S.C. § 15208

    Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11001, Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1815

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11001, Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1815

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SEC. 11001. LAW ENFORCEMENT TRIBUTE ACT. (a) Short Title.— This section may be cited as the “Law Enforcement Tribute Act”. (b) Findings.— Congress finds the following: (1) The well-being of all citizens of the United States is preserved and enhanced as a direct result of the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement and public safety personnel. (2) More than 700,000 law enforcement officers, both men and women, at great risk to their personal safety, serve their fellow citizens as guardians of peace. (3) Nationwide, 51 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2000, according to statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This number is an increase of 9 from the 1999 total of 42. (4) In 1999, 112 firefighters died while on duty, an increase of 21 deaths from the previous year. (5) Every year, 1 in 9 peace officers is assaulted, 1 in 25 is injured, and 1 in 4,400 is killed in the line of duty. (6) In addition, recent statistics indicate that 83 officers were accidentally killed in the performance of their duties in 2000, an increase of 18 from the 65 accidental deaths in 1999. (7) A permanent tribute is a powerful means of honoring the men and women who have served our Nation with distinction. However, many law enforcement and public safety agencies lack the resources to honor their fallen colleagues. (c) Program Authorized.— From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Attorney General may make grants to States, units of local government, and Indian tribes to carry out programs to honor, through permanent tributes, men and women of the United States who were killed or disabled while serving as law enforcement or public safety officers. (d) Uses of Funds.— Grants awarded under this section shall be distributed directly to the State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe, and shall be used for the purposes specified in subsection (c). (e) $150,000 Limitation.— A grant under this section may not exceed $150,000 to any single recipient. (f) Matching Funds.— (1) The Federal portion of the costs of a program provided by a grant under this section may not exceed 50 percent. (2) Any funds appropriated by Congress for the activities of any agency of an Indian tribal government or the Bureau of Indian Affairs performing law enforcement or public safety functions on any Indian lands may be used to provide the non-Federal share of a matching requirement funded under this subsection. (g) Applications.— To request a grant under this section, the chief executive of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may require. (h) Annual Report to Congress.— Not later than November 30 of each year, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Congress regarding the activities carried out under this section. Each such report shall include, for the preceding fiscal year, the number of grants funded under this section, the amount of funds provided under those grants, and the activities for which those funds were used. (i) Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

  2. Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005

    Pub. L. 109–162 title XI § 1185 · 119 Stat. 2960

    Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 15208(i)

    Pub. L. 109–162 substituted “2009” for “2006”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 109–162 substituted “2009” for “2006”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SEC. 1185. REAUTHORIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TRIBUTE ACT.   Section 11001 of Public Law 107–273 (42 U.S.C. 15208; 116 Stat. 1816) is amended in subsection (i) by striking “2006” and inserting “2009”.

2 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as the Law Enforcement Tribute Act, and also as part of the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, and not as part of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 109–162 substituted “2009” for “2006”.

Credits

2002–2006 · 2 acts
  1. 2002Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11001, , 116 Stat. 1815
  2. 2006Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1185, , 119 Stat. 3127.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11001, , 116 Stat. 1815; Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1185, , 119 Stat. 3127.)

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