34 USC § 50301 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t34/s50301"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "34 USC § 50301 - Definitions"
title_number: 34
title_name: "CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT"
section_number: "50301"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 503
chapter_name: "LAW ENFORCEMENT CONGRESSIONAL BADGE OF BRAVERY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 110–298, § 2, July 31, 2008, 122 Stat. 2985.)"
---


# § 50301. Definitions

In this chapter:

**(1)** **Federal agency head** The term “Federal agency head” means the head of any executive, legislative, or judicial branch Government entity that employs Federal law enforcement officers.

**(2)** **Federal Board** section 50313(a) of this title

The term “Federal Board” means the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board established under .

**(3)** **Federal Board members** section 50313(c) of this title

The term “Federal Board members” means the members of the Federal Board appointed under .

**(4)** **Federal Law Enforcement Badge** section 50311 of this title

The term “Federal Law Enforcement Badge” means the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery described in .

**(5)** **Federal law enforcement officer** The term “Federal law enforcement officer”—

**(A)** means a Federal employee—

**(i)** who has statutory authority to make arrests or apprehensions;

**(ii)** who is authorized by the agency of the employee to carry firearms; and

**(iii)** whose duties are primarily—

**(I)** engagement in or supervision of the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law; or

**(II)** the protection of Federal, State, local, or foreign government officials against threats to personal safety; and

**(B)** includes a law enforcement officer employed by the Amtrak Police Department or Federal Reserve.

**(6)** **Office** section 50331(a) of this title

The term “Office” means the Congressional Badge of Bravery Office established under .

**(7)** **State and Local Board** section 50323(a) of this title

The term “State and Local Board” means the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board established under .

**(8)** **State and Local Board members** section 50323(c) of this title

The term “State and Local Board members” means the members of the State and Local Board appointed under .

**(9)** **State and Local Law Enforcement Badge** section 50321 of this title

The term “State and Local Law Enforcement Badge” means the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery described in .

**(10)** **State or local agency head** The term “State or local agency head” means the head of any executive, legislative, or judicial branch entity of a State or local government that employs State or local law enforcement officers.

**(11)** **State or local law enforcement officer** The term “State or local law enforcement officer” means an employee of a State or local government—

**(A)** who has statutory authority to make arrests or apprehensions;

**(B)** who is authorized by the agency of the employee to carry firearms; and

**(C)** whose duties are primarily—

**(i)** engagement in or supervision of the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law; or

**(ii)** the protection of Federal, State, local, or foreign government officials against threats to personal safety.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–298, § 2, July 31, 2008, 122 Stat. 2985.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

For short title of , which is classified to this chapter, as the “Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008”, see , set out as a Short Title of 2008 Act note under .