A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards

Order Code RS20884

Updated March 31, 2004

CRS Report for Congress

Received through the CRS Web

A Guide to Major Congressional and

Presidential Awards

Barbara Salazar Torreon

Information Research Specialist

Information Research Division

Summary

This report is designed to help congressional offices obtain information about

major awards given by Congress and the President. It lists details about the

establishment, criteria, selection process, and presentation of each of the major

presidential and congressional awards: Congressional Award, Congressional Gold

Medal, Medal of Honor, Presidential Citizens Medal, and Presidential Medal of

Freedom. Brief entries are provided for additional awards made by the President

including two new military medals for service in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT):

the GWOT Expeditionary Medal and the GWOT Service Medal. Contact information

is provided for the organization responsible for making the award and for more data

about an award. References to CRS products on awards are also given. This report will

be updated as necessary.

Congressional Awards

Congressional Award. The Congressional Award Program was established in

1979 to promote initiative, achievement, and excellence among youths age 14 to 23.

Award recipients have completed a self-designed program of challenging but achievable

goals in four program areas: voluntary service, personal development, physical fitness,

and expedition/exploration. There is no limit on the number of Congressional Awards;

it is a noncompetitive, individual achievement.

Program participants can work toward a Congressional Award Certificate or Medal.

In either category there are three achievement levels: gold, silver, and bronze. Minimum

requirements must be met regarding the number of hours devoted to each of the four

program areas, total hours worked toward the award, and for the duration of the

participant’s efforts. Senators and Representatives present the awards at local, city, or

state ceremonies. Gold medal recipients are recognized each year at the Congressional

Award Gold Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

The Congressional Award was originally authorized in P.L. 96-114, which set up the

Congressional Award Foundation to manage the Award program, and was reauthorized

Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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in 1999 by P.L. 106-63. Funds for the program are received through charitable

contributions. Three awards are associated with the Congressional Award. The

Leadership Award is presented by Congress to individuals in recognition of their

extraordinary contributions to the nation’s youth, particularly for efforts related to the

Congressional Award Program. At its annual gala, the Congressional Award Foundation

presents the Horizon Award to individuals to recognize their contributions to expanding

opportunities for young people, either through their actions or by the example set by their

life’s successes. In 2000, the Congressional Award Act was amended by P.L. 106-533,

to establish a Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education. This act

established a nine-member congressional board to recognize schools that promote

excellence in arts education. The foundation may be contacted as follows:

Congressional Award Foundation

P.O. Box 77440

Washington, DC 20013

Tel: (202) 226-0130; Fax: (202) 226-0131

To request a brochure: 1-888-80-AWARD

Internet: [http://www.congressionalaward.org]

E-mail: information@congressionalaward.org

Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is considered “the

nation’s highest civilian award and the most distinguished award” given by the U.S.

Congress. It may be given to recognize a lifetime contribution or a singular achievement.

No statutory provisions govern the award; the medal is awarded irregularly, when merited.

Legislation authorizing each medal must be passed by Congress and signed by the

President. Each gold medal is individually designed and struck by the U.S. Mint.

Although only one gold medal is made, in most cases, legislation also provides for the

production and sale of duplicate bronze medals.

The Congressional Gold Medal was initially awarded to military leaders. The first

medal, authorized in 1776, was given to George Washington. Following the establishment

of new military awards, notably the Medal of Honor, the Congressional Gold Medal was

used to recognize achievements in many fields, including world and space exploration,

science, medicine, arts, entertainment, and humanitarian and public service.

Congressional Gold Medals have been awarded to individuals, groups of individuals,

foreign citizens, and to one organization, the American Red Cross.

Additional information on the Congressional Gold Medal, including a list of

recipients, is provided in CRS Report RL30076, Congressional Gold Medals, 1776-2003.

Congressional Gold Medal legislation is under the jurisdiction of the House of

Representatives Committee on Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary

Policy, Technology, and Economic Growth and the Senate Committee on Banking,

Housing, and Urban Affairs. For additional information, contact the committees:

Committee on Financial Services

Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy, Technology, and Economic Growth

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Tel: (202) 226-0473

[http://financialservices.house.gov]

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Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

U.S. Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Tel: (202) 224-7391

[http://www.banking.senate.gov]

Medal of Honor. This award, the nation’s highest military honor, is presented by

the President “in the name of Congress,” and for that reason is sometimes referred to as

the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The Medal of Honor was established by Congress during the Civil War to recognize

soldiers who had distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action. It is the nation’s

highest military honor, awarded for acts of personal bravery or self-sacrifice that are

above and beyond the call of duty. Recommendations for the Medal of Honor are

generally made by the military commander or others on the scene at the time of the act.

These recommendations are reviewed by the Department of Defense (DOD), which

makes the final determination on awards. In addition to the prestige associated with the

Medal of Honor, recipients receive additional small courtesies and benefits, including a

$1,000 monthly pension and access to certain military base privileges.

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 1979 publication, Medal of Honor

Recipients, 1863-1978, lists the names and citations of award for recipients. This data is

updated through the Somalian Action in 1993 in the privately published book, United

States of America’s Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients and Their Official

Citations (Columbia Heights, MN: Highland House II, 1994). A detailed history, current

procedures for making the award, and a complete list of privileges afforded to Medal of

Honor recipients are provided in CRS Report 95-519, Medal of Honor: History and

Issues. Award recipients and citations since 1979 are listed in CRS Report RL30011,

Medal of Honor Recipients: 1979-2003. Additional information is available from

Congressional Medal of Honor Society

40 Patriots Point Road

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Tel: (843) 884-8862; Fax: (843) 884-1471

[http://www.cmohs.org]

Additional Congressional Awards and Medals. Two awards are given at the

discretion of individual Members. The U.S. Senate Productivity Award recognizes the

achievements of organizations in productivity, customer service, or other areas depending

on the criteria adopted by the Senator. Each Senator may award one per year. The Medal

of Merit may be awarded by Members of Congress to recognize the achievements of

constituents as they see fit. Both awards are funded privately and have been used by only

a few Members.

Presidential Awards

Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is

considered the highest civilian award of the United States government. President Truman

first awarded the Medal of Freedom to reward war-connected acts or services during

World War II. It was later re-established by President Kennedy in Executive Order 11085

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of February 22, 1963, to recognize persons who have made especially meritorious

contributions to the security or national interests of the United States; to world peace; or

to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. There are two degrees of the

Medal, the higher being the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction.

Honorees are selected solely by the President, either acting on his own initiative or

based on recommendations made to him. As such, recipients tend to reflect the personal

and political interests of the President. The accomplishments of past recipients have been

in wide-ranging fields, including public service, journalism, business, sports, and

entertainment. The award is presented by the President, generally at a White House

ceremony, and may be awarded posthumously.

Lists of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients are available in several books,

such as the annual Time Almanac (Boston, Information Please) and The Presidential

Medal of Freedom (Washington, Congressional Quarterly, 1996).

Presidential Citizens Medal. In Executive Order 11494 of November 13, 1969,

President Nixon established the Presidential Citizens Medal to recognize U.S. citizens

who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or fellow citizens. It

is generally considered the second highest civilian award of our government. The

Presidential Citizens Medal is bestowed at the sole discretion of the President and is

usually presented by him. Past recipients were recognized for their contributions in a

variety of areas, including human rights, the civil rights movement, national security,

space exploration, religion, government service, and the environment. The Medal may

be awarded posthumously. To make a nomination for either the Presidential Medal of

Freedom or the Presidential Citizens Medal, a letter detailing the accomplishments of the

nominee should be sent to the following address:

Executive Office of the President

The White House

ATTN: Executive Clerk’s Office

Washington, DC 20502

Tel: (202) 456-2226; Fax: (202) 456-2569

[http://www.whitehouse.gov]

Global War on Terrorism Medals. In Executive Order 13289 of March 12,

2003, President George W. Bush established two military medals for service in the Global

War on Terrorism (GWOT). Specific eligibility for the medals will be established by

DOD award policy. Future authorization for these medals will be considered by the

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff if the war expands.

!

The GWOT Expeditionary Medal will recognize servicemen who

participated on or after September 11, 2001, to combat terrorism and

limited to those deployed are part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

!

The GWOT Service Medal will recognize service in military operations

to combat terrorism on or after September 11, 2001, and is limited to

Operation Noble Eagle and to those service members who provide

support to Operation Enduring Freedom from outside the area of

eligibility designated for the GWOT expeditionary medal.

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Copy of E.O. 13289 from the White House website at

[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030312-6.html].

DOD Press release with links to photos of these two medals at

[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2003/b03152003_bt121-03.html].

Additional Awards and Medals. Other awards presented by the President

include are as follows:

Enrico Fermi Award recognizing contributions in the field of nuclear

energy (Department of Energy);

! “E” and “E Star” Awards recognizing contributions to export expansion

efforts (Department of Commerce);

! Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recognizing organizations for

their achievements in quality and business performance (National

Institute of Standards and Technology);

! Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

(National Science Foundation);

! Presidential Rank Award and President’s Award for Distinguished

Federal Civilian Service (Office of Personnel Management); and

! President’s Environmental Youth Award (Environmental Protection

Agency).

!

In addition, special awards may be established to grant presidential recognition to

persons or organizations for whom other categories of awards are not appropriate. For

additional information, see Awards, Honors, and Prizes (Farmington Hills, MI: Gale

Group. Annual) under “Executive Office of the President.”

Numerous other awards are authorized and may be presented by the President.

Major medals are summarized in Table 1.

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Table 1. Presidential Medals

Award or Medal

Contact Information

Purpose

Congressional Space Medal Administrator of NASA

NASA Headquarters

of Honor

300 E St. S.W.

(P.L. 91-76)

Washington, DC 20546-0001

(202) 358-0000; Fax (202) 358-3251

E-mail: info-center@hq.nasa.gov

[http://www.nasa.gov]

Awarded to astronauts whose particular

efforts and contributions to the welfare

of the nation and mankind have been

exceptionally meritorious.

Recommendations are made by the

administrator of NASA to the President,

who makes the award.

National Medal of Science

(P.L. 86-209)

National Medal of Science Committee

National Science Foundation

4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1225

Arlington, VA 22230

(703) 292-8070

[http://www.nsf.gov]

Awarded to individuals whose

accumulated work has had a particularly

significant impact on the present state of

the physical, biological, mathematical,

engineering, or social and behavioral

sciences or that is deemed likely to

strongly influence the future

development of scientific thought.

National Medal of

Technology

(P.L. 96-480)

National Medal of Technology

Technology Administration

Room 4226

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20230

(202) 482-5572

E-mail: NMT@ta.doc.gov

[http://www.ta.doc.gov/Medal/default.htm]

Awarded to individuals, teams, or

companies for accomplishments in the

innovation, development,

commercialization, and management of

technology, as evidenced by the

establishment of new or significantly

improved products, processes, or

services.

National Security Medal

(E.O. 10431)

National Security Council

Old Executive Office Building

Washington, DC 20506

(202) 456-1414

[http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc]

Recognizes exceptionally meritorious

service performed in a position of high

responsibility or an act of valor requiring

personal courage of a high degree and

complete disregard of personal safety.

Presidential Medal of Valor U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

for Public Safety Officers

Washington, DC 20530-0001

(E.O. 13161)

(202) 514-2000

[http://www.usdoj.gov]

Awarded to public safety officers judged

to have shown extraordinary valor above

and beyond the call of duty in the

exercise of their official duties.

Recognizes individuals exhibiting

Young American Medal for Young American Medals Committee

exceptional courage, extraordinary

Office of Justice Programs

Bravery

decision making, presence of mind, and

U.S. Department of Justice

(P.L. 81-638)

unusual swiftness of action, regardless of

Washington, DC 20531

their own personal safety, to save a

(202) 307-0781

[http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov:80/obms/young.h person whose life was in actual

imminent danger.

tm]

Young American Medal for

Service

(P.L. 81-638)

Sources: Congressional liaison offices of various agencies and the Internet.

Recognizes individuals who have

achieved outstanding or unusual

recognition for character and service.