Official Summaries

Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the board that administers the Congressional Award Program, which promotes and recognizes service, initiative, and achievement in America's youth. The reauthorization is effective as if enacted on October 1, 2023. The bill also removes a requirement for program medals to consist of gold-plate over bronze, rhodium over bronze, or bronze.

Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act

This act reauthorizes through FY2028 the Congressional Award Board, the board that administers the Congressional Award Program, and modifies program medals.

(The program, established by law in 1979, awards medals to youth ages 14 to 23 who satisfy standards of achievement set by the board. The program aims to promote initiative, achievement, and excellence among youth in the areas of public service, personal development, and physical fitness.)

The act removes a requirement for program medals to consist of gold-plate over bronze, rhodium over bronze, or bronze.

The reauthorization is effective as if enacted on October 1, 2023 (the date on which a prior reauthorization expired).

Current Full Text

[119th Congress Public Law 66]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 139 STAT. 1992]]

Public Law 119-66
119th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To reauthorize the Congressional Award Act. <<NOTE: Dec. 26, 2025 -  [S. 
                                 284]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Congressional 
Award Program Reauthorization Act.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 2 USC 801 note.>> SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Award Program 
Reauthorization Act''.
SEC. 2. TERMINATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 108 of the Congressional Award Act (2 
U.S.C. 808) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2023'' and inserting 
``October 1, 2028''.
    (b) <<NOTE: 2 USC 808 note.>> Retroactive Effective Date.--The 
amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted on 
October 1, 2023.
SEC. 3. OTHER AMENDMENTS.

    Section 102 of the Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 802) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Each medal shall 
        consist of gold-plate over bronze, rhodium over bronze, or 
        bronze and shall be struck in accordance with subsection (f).''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (f)(1), in the second sentence, by 
        striking ``Subject to subsection (a), the'' and inserting 
        ``The''.

    Approved December 26, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 284:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
            Oct. 20, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 15, considered and passed House.

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