---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 50301"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "50301"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/50301"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Personnel"
  - "Chapter 503 — Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery"
---

# §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](#5).
- (2) **Federal Board—** The term “Federal Board” means the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board established under [section 50313(a) of this title](/usc/34/50313.md?p=a).
- (3) **Federal Board members—** The term “Federal Board members” means the members of the [Federal Board](#2) appointed under [section 50313(c) of this title](/usc/34/50313.md?p=c).
- (4) **Federal Law Enforcement Badge—** The term “Federal Law Enforcement Badge” means the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery described in [section 50311 of this title](/usc/34/50311.md).
- (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](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4), local, or foreign government officials against threats to personal safety; and
  - (B) includes a [law enforcement officer](/usc/34/50501.md?p=4) employed by the Amtrak Police Department or Federal Reserve.
- (6) **Office—** The term “Office” means the Congressional Badge of Bravery Office established under [section 50331(a) of this title](/usc/34/50331.md?p=a).
- (7) **State and Local Board—** The term “State and Local Board” means the [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board established under [section 50323(a) of this title](/usc/34/50323.md?p=a).
- (8) **State and Local Board members—** The term “State and Local Board members” means the members of the [State and Local Board](#7) appointed under [section 50323(c) of this title](/usc/34/50323.md?p=c).
- (9) **State and Local Law Enforcement Badge—** The term “State and Local Law Enforcement Badge” means the [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery described in [section 50321 of this title](/usc/34/50321.md).
- (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](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) or local government that employs [State or local law enforcement officers](#11).
- (11) **State or local law enforcement officer—** The term “State or local law enforcement officer” means an employee of a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) 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](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4), local, or foreign government officials against threats to personal safety.

## Source credit

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

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15231 of Title 42, 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 Pub. L. 110–298, which is classified to this chapter, as the “Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008”, see section 1 of Pub. L. 110–298, set out as a Short Title of 2008 Act note under section 10101 of this title.