S 284119th CongressBecame Law

Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act

Introduced: Jan 28, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY] (R-Wyoming)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The bill, titled the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act, is designed to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act and keep the Congressional Award Program active for youth recognition. The key change is to extend the program’s termination date from October 1, 2023, to October 1, 2028, with the extension treated as if enacted on October 1, 2023. In addition, the bill makes targeted amendments to how medals are described in the statute: it removes a specific requirement about medal materials in Section 102(a) and adjusts a cross-reference in Section 102(f)(1). In short, the bill would extend the program for five more years and alter certain technical details related to medal specifications.

Key Points

1Extends the termination date of the Congressional Award Act to October 1, 2028, effectively reauthorizing the program for five additional years.
2The extension has retroactive effect, applying as if enacted on October 1, 2023.
3Alters medal language by striking explicit material specifications (gold-plate over bronze, rhodium over bronze, or bronze) from Section 102(a).
4Makes a drafting change in Section 102(f)(1) by removing the phrasing “Subject to subsection (a), the” and replacing it with “The,” which changes how the medal-related provisions are framed.
5Overall purpose remains reauthorization of the Congressional Award Program, with minor statutory formatting/definition adjustments.

Impact Areas

Primary: Youth participants who engage in the Congressional Award Program and receive medals; organizations and schools supporting or awarding the Congressional Award.Secondary: Administrators and administrators’ offices responsible for implementing the program, including any entities involved in medal production or procurement (as affected by the change in medal material language).Additional: Potential minor administrative or procurement implications stemming from the updated medal language and the retroactive extension, though no new funding or broad policy shifts are specified in the text provided.

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