Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter 145 — Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor and Tributes
§ 15208. Law enforcement tribute acts
Statutory text
Short title
This section may be cited as the “Law Enforcement Tribute Act”.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
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.
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.
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.
In 1999, 112 firefighters died while on duty, an increase of 21 deaths from the previous year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
$150,000 limitation
A grant under this section may not exceed $150,000 to any single recipient.
Matching funds
The Federal portion of the costs of a program provided by a grant under this section may not exceed 50 percent.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 1815Enacted 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.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
- 2002Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11001, , 116 Stat. 1815
- 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.)