
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-12 Section 8]
[CITE: 15USC2214]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
                 CHAPTER 49--FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
 
Sec. 2214. Public safety awards


(a) Establishment

    There are hereby established two classes of honorary awards for the 
recognition of outstanding and distinguished service by public safety 
officers--
        (1) the President's Award For Outstanding Public Safety Service 
    (``President's Award''); and
        (2) the Director's Award For Distinguished Public Safety Service 
    (``Director's Award'').

(b) Description

    (1) The President's Award shall be presented by the President of the 
United States to public safety officers for extraordinary valor in the 
line of duty or for outstanding contribution to public safety.
    (2) The Director's Award shall be presented by the Director or by 
the Attorney General to public safety officers for distinguished service 
in the field of public safety.

(c) Selection

    The Director and the Attorney General shall advise and assist the 
President in the selection of individuals to whom the President's Award 
shall be tendered and in the course of performing such duties they shall 
seek and review nominations for such awards which are submitted to them 
by Federal, State, county, and local government officials. They shall 
annually transmit to the President the names of those individuals 
determined by them to merit the award, together with the reasons 
therefor. Recipients of the President's Award shall be selected by the 
President.

(d) Limitation on number of awards

    (1) There shall not be presented in any one calendar year in excess 
of twelve President's Awards.
    (2) There shall be no limitation on the number of Director's Awards 
presented.

(e) Award

    (1) Each President's Award shall consist of--
        (A) a medal suitably inscribed, bearing such devices and 
    emblems, and struck from such material as the Secretary of the 
    Treasury, after consultation with the Director and the Attorney 
    General deems appropriate. The Secretary of the Treasury shall cause 
    the medal to be struck and furnished to the President; and
        (B) an appropriate citation.

    (2) Each Director's Award shall consist of an appropriate citation.

(f) Regulations

    The Director and the Attorney General are authorized and directed to 
issue jointly such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.

(g) ``Public safety officer'' defined

    As used in this section, the term ``public safety officer'' means a 
person serving a public agency, with or without compensation, as--
        (1) a firefighter;
        (2) a law enforcement officer, including a corrections or court 
    officer; or
        (3) a civil defense officer.

(Pub. L. 93-498, Sec. 15, Oct. 29, 1974, 88 Stat. 1544; Pub. L. 98-241, 
title II, Sec. 202, Mar. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 96; Pub. L. 106-503, title 
I, Sec. 110(a)(2)(B)(iv), (v), (C), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2302.)


                               Amendments

    2000--Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 106-503, Sec. 110(a)(2)(C), 
substituted ``Director's'' for ``Secretary's'' in two places.
    Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 106-503, Sec. 110(a)(2)(B)(iv), (C), 
substituted ``Director's'' for ``Secretary's'' and ``Director'' for 
``Secretary''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106-503, Sec. 110(a)(2)(B)(iv), substituted 
``Director'' for ``Secretary''.
    Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 106-503, Sec. 110(a)(2)(C), substituted 
``Director's'' for ``Secretary's''.
    Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 106-503, Sec. 110(a)(2)(B)(v), 
substituted ``with the Director'' for ``with the Secretary''.
    Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 106-503, Sec. 110(a)(2)(C), substituted 
``Director's'' for ``Secretary's''.
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 106-503, Sec. 110(a)(2)(B)(iv), substituted 
``Director'' for ``Secretary''.
    1984--Subsecs. (b)(2), (c), (e)(1)(A), (f). Pub. L. 98-241 struck 
out ``, the Secretary of Defense,'' after ``Secretary'' wherever 
appearing.

                          Transfer of Functions

    Functions of National Fire Prevention and Control Administration 
[now United States Fire Administration] and National Academy for Fire 
Prevention and Control generally transferred to Federal Emergency 
Management Agency. For further details see Transfer of Functions note 
set out under section 2202 of this title.

Ex. Ord. No. 13161. Establishment of the Presidential Medal of Valor for 
                         Public Safety Officers

    Ex. Ord. No. 13161, June 29, 2000, 65 F.R. 41543, provided:
    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, it is ordered:
    Section 1. The Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety 
Officers (Medal) is established for the purpose of recognizing those 
public safety officers adjudged to have shown extraordinary valor above 
and beyond the call of duty in the exercise of their official duties. As 
used in this section, the term ``public safety officer'' means a person 
serving a public agency with or without compensation:
        (1) as a law enforcement officer, including police, 
    correctional, probation, or parole officers;
        (2) as a firefighter or emergency responder; and
        (3) who is employed by the Government of the United States, any 
    State of the United States, any officially recognized elective body 
    within a State of the United States, or any Federally recognized 
    tribal organization.
    Sec. 2. Eligible recipients generally will be recommended to the 
President by the Attorney General by April 1 of each year. Pursuant to 
36 U.S.C. 136-137, the President designates May 15 of each year as 
``Peace Officers Memorial Day'' and the week in which it falls as 
``Police Week.'' Presentation of the Medal shall occur at an appropriate 
time during the commemoration of Police Week, as far as is practicable.
    Sec. 3. The President may select for the Medal up to ten persons 
annually from among those persons recommended to the President by the 
Attorney General. In submitting recommendations to the President, the 
Attorney General may consult with experts representing all segments of 
the public safety sector, including representatives from law 
enforcement, firefighters, and emergency services.
    Sec. 4. Those chosen for recognition shall receive a medal and a 
certificate, the designs of which shall be submitted by the Attorney 
General for the President's approval no later than December 1, 2000. The 
medal and certificate shall be prepared by the Department of Justice.
    Sec. 5. The Medal may be given posthumously.
                                                     William J. Clinton.
