S. Res. 372 is a Senate simple resolution that honors the life and service of Kansas City, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic.
The text recites his biography — birthdate, education, community volunteer work, academy graduation — and describes the circumstances of his death while attempting to stop a fleeing vehicle on August 26, 2025.
The resolution offers condolences to Simoncic’s family, pays tribute to his sacrifice, and “calls on all levels of government to support the family” of the fallen officer. As a simple Senate resolution, it does not change law or create funding; its primary effect is symbolic and recordkeeping — a formal statement of the Senate’s views and recognition of service.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill adopts a Sense of the Senate memorial: it lists biographical and service facts about Officer Hunter Simoncic, expresses respect and condolences, and urges governmental support for his family. It contains no operative commands that change statutes or appropriate funds.
Who It Affects
The resolution directly concerns the Simoncic family, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, and the local communities he served. Indirectly it engages federal and state officials who might be asked to coordinate or offer support in response to the Senate’s call.
Why It Matters
Although ceremonial, the resolution formally places Officer Simoncic’s service into the Congressional Record, signals federal recognition, and creates a congressional prompt for executive or local agencies to consider non‑statutory assistance or honors.
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What This Bill Actually Does
S. Res. 372 is a short, formal Senate resolution that memorializes Officer Hunter Simoncic.
The body of the text is almost entirely a series of recitals: it records his birth date and places, education (a B.S. in sociology and a master’s in forensic sciences), his Kansas City, Kansas Police Academy graduation, volunteer activities with youth programs, and the fact he was killed on August 26, 2025 while attempting to disable a vehicle driven by someone fleeing law enforcement. Those recitals establish the factual basis for the Senate’s tribute.
The operative portion contains four numbered clauses. The Senate expresses respect and appreciation for what Simoncic did to protect his community; offers condolences to his family; pays tribute to his sacrifice; and issues a non‑binding call for "all levels of government" to support the family.
There are no instructions for federal agencies to expend funds, change benefits, or take specific actions — the call to support is hortatory rather than mandatory.Procedurally, the resolution is a simple Senate measure introduced by Senator Jerry Moran with Senator Marshall listed as a co‑sponsor; the header shows referral to the Committee on the Judiciary. As a simple resolution (S.
Res.), it records the sense of the Senate and is not presented to the President, does not have the force of law, and does not on its own create entitlements or appropriations.The practical effects are symbolic and administrative: it places the Senate’s view on the public record, can be used by local officials and agencies to justify memorials or honors, and may prompt outreach from federal or state entities. The language calling on support is deliberately broad, which makes it flexible but also leaves open what, if anything, specific governmental support will look like in practice.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The resolution records that Officer Hunter Simoncic was born April 16, 1999, and was killed in the line of duty on August 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Kansas.
It cites Simoncic’s academic credentials: a B.S. in sociology from Pittsburg State University (2021) and an M.S. in forensic sciences from Oklahoma State University (2023), and notes his Kansas City, Kansas Police Academy graduation in November 2023.
Senator Jerry Moran introduced S. Res. 372 on September 3, 2025, with Senator Marshall listed as a co‑sponsor; the measure was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The resolution contains four operative clauses: expressions of respect and appreciation, condolences to the family, tribute to his sacrifice, and a call for all levels of government to support the family.
S. Res. 372 is a non‑binding, ceremonial Senate resolution—it creates no legal obligations, does not appropriate funds, and does not change federal statute or benefits.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Biographical and incident recitals
The preamble compiles the factual record the Senate is memorializing: birth and upbringing, education, academy graduation, volunteer work, survivors, and the circumstances of death. These recitals serve two functions: they justify the resolution’s tribute and place those facts into the Congressional Record for posterity and reference by other government entities.
Senate expressions of respect, condolences, and tribute
Clauses (1) through (3) respectively express the Senate's appreciation for Simoncic’s service, offer condolences to his family, and pay tribute to his sacrifice. Those are declarative statements of the Senate’s view; they do not direct action by federal agencies but can be cited by others to support memorial activities or honors.
Call for governmental support for the family
Clause (4) urges "all levels of government" to support the fallen officer’s family. The language is intentionally broad and hortatory: it imposes no statutory duty or funding requirement. Practically, this clause functions as a public prompt that can be used to encourage discretionary assistance, intergovernmental coordination, or ceremonial recognition.
Sponsor, referral, and legal effect
The header identifies Senator Moran as the sponsor, lists Senator Marshall as a co‑sponsor, and shows referral to the Judiciary Committee. Because this is an S. Res. (a simple Senate resolution), it expresses the sense of the Senate only, is not presented to the President, and carries no force of law; its main official effect is entry into the Congressional Record.
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Who Benefits
- Simoncic family — the resolution provides formal federal recognition and a public record of condolence that can assist in memorialization and may encourage discretionary support from governmental and non‑profit sources.
- Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and local community — receives a federal acknowledgment that can be used to justify memorials, honors, or local fundraising and to recognize the officer’s service publicly.
- Local youth programs (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters, Lead to Read partners) — the recitals that note Simoncic’s volunteer work validate the community service component of his legacy and may help partner organizations secure tributes or continued support tied to his memory.
Who Bears the Cost
- Federal, state, and local agencies potentially asked to offer support — while the resolution does not allocate funds, its call for support may lead agencies to devote staff time or discretionary resources to ceremonial events or assistance.
- Senate Judiciary Committee staff — the committee must process and potentially schedule the resolution for consideration, consuming limited committee time and administrative resources for a ceremonial measure.
- Local governments and departments — if they respond to the Senate’s call, municipalities and police departments may provide honors, events, or benefits that require budgetary or personnel commitments.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is honoring a fallen public servant through symbolic congressional recognition while stopping short of creating material obligations: the Senate can and does offer tribute, but a public call for "support" without defined mechanisms risks generating expectations of tangible assistance that only separate statutory or discretionary actions can satisfy.
The resolution’s greatest ambiguity is its exhortation that "all levels of government" support the family. That phrase invites responses but provides no definition of "support" and imposes no funding or procedural commitments.
Agencies and officials can interpret the call as they see fit — from issuing condolence letters and offering honors to dedicating discretionary benefits — which produces variability in outcomes across jurisdictions.
Another tension is the boundary between symbolic recognition and substantive assistance. Memorial resolutions confer honor and can catalyze action, but they can also create expectations among families or constituents that federal help will follow.
Because S. Res. measures are non‑binding, any concrete help (financial, benefits, or services) requires separate administrative or legislative steps.
Finally, frequent use of congressional resolutions to memorialize individual officers or events can dilute the distinctiveness of such recognitions and shift limited congressional and committee resources toward ceremonial business rather than policy work.
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