Short Title

This Act may be cited as the

Federal Law Enforcement Officers Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008

Findings

Congress finds as follows: (1)According to the Department of Justice, in the past 7 years, an average of 150 Federal law enforcement officers per year sustained physical injuries while dealing with an assaultive subject. (2)More than 70 Federal agencies employ Federal law enforcement officers but only 2 such agencies 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 mechanism for Federal law enforcement officers, the President awards the Purple Heart for military personnel wounded or killed during armed service, and most State and local police departments have commendations 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. (5)It is appropriate for Congress to recognize and honor the brave men and women in Federal law enforcement who are injured while putting themselves at personal risk in the line of duty.

Authorization of a Badge

The Attorney General may award, and a Member of Congress or the Attorney General may present, in the name of Congress a Congressional Badge of Bravery (in this Act referred to as the Badge) to a Federal law enforcement officer who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Congressional Badge of Bravery Board, for sustaining a physical injury on or after January 1, 2007, while in the line of duty.

Nominations

(a)

In General

An agency head may nominate for a Badge an individual who meets the following criteria: (1)The individual is a Federal law enforcement officer working within the agency of the agency head making the nomination. (2)The individual sustained a physical injury while in the line of duty. (3)The individual faced personal risk when the injury described in paragraph (2) occurred. (4)The injury described in paragraph (2) occurred during some form of conduct characterized as bravery by the agency head making the nomination. (b)

Contents

A nomination under subsection (a) shall include— (1)a written narrative, of not more than 2 pages, describing the circumstances under which the nominee sustained a physical injury described in subsection (a) and how the circumstances meet the criteria described in such subsection; (2)the full name of the nominee; (3)the home mailing address of the nominee; (4)the agency in which the nominee served on the date when such nominee sustained a physical injury described in subsection (a); (5)the occupational title and grade or rank of the nominee; (6)the field office address of the nominee on the date when such nominee sustained a physical injury described in subsection (a); and (7)the number of years of service in the Federal government by the nominee as of the date when such nominee sustained a physical injury described in subsection (a). (c)

Submission Deadline

(1)

Injuries sustained before August 15

In the case of an individual who sustained a physical injury described in subsection (a) on or after January 1 of a year and before August 15 of such year, to nominate such individual under such subsection for a Badge, an agency head shall submit such nomination to the Congressional Badge of Bravery Board by February 15 of the following year. (2)

Injuries sustained on or after August 15

In the case of an individual who sustained a physical injury described in subsection (a) on or after August 15 of a year, to nominate such individual under such subsection for a Badge, an agency head shall submit such nomination to the Congressional Badge of Bravery Board by February 15 of the second year following the date on which the individual sustained such physical injury.

Congressional Badge of Bravery Board

(a)

Establishment

There is established within the Department of Justice a Congressional Badge of Bravery Board (in this Act referred to as the Board). (b)

Duties

The duties of the Board are the following: (1)Design the Badge with appropriate ribbons and appurtenances. (2)Select an engraver to produce each Badge. (3)Not later than July 15 of each year, from among the nominations timely submitted to the Congressional Badge of Bravery Board by February 15th of such year, endorse as recipients of the Badge such nominations who meet the criteria described in section 4(a) and submit to the Attorney General a list of such nominations so endorsed. (4)After submission to the Attorney General of the list described in paragraph (3)— (A)procure the Badges from the engraver selected under paragraph (2); (B)send a letter announcing the award of each Badge to the agency head who nominated the endorsed recipient of such Badge; (C)send a letter to each Member of Congress representing the congressional district where the endorsed recipient of each Badge resides to offer such Member an opportunity to present such Badge; (D)provide for the presentation of each Badge in accordance with section 7; and (E)provide for the posting of the name of each endorsed recipient of the Badge on the public Internet site of the Department of Justice 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 referred to as the Board members) appointed as follows: (A)One member jointly appointed by the majority leader and minority leader of the Senate. (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 Enforcement Officers Association. (2)

Limitations

(A)

Applicable to members of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association

No more than 5 Board members may be members of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. (B)

Applicable to nominating officials

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 recommendation 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 enforcement. (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 majority of the Board. (2)

Meetings

The Board shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90 days after the appointment of a majority of Board members. Thereafter, the Board shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, 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 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 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 administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. (B)

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. (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 information to the Board. (3)

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. (f)

Compensation

(1)

In General

Except as provided in paragraph (2), Board members shall serve without pay. (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.

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 district. 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 described in subsection (a), the Attorney General, or a designee 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 Representative shall make joint arrangements. The Board shall facilitate any such presentation arrangements as requested by the congressional office presenting the Badge and shall 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.

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 arrests; (2)who is authorized by his or her agency to carry firearms; and (3)whose duties are primarily— (A)the investigation, apprehension, or detention 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.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.