I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5397 
To amend requirements for awarding the National Medal of Science, the 
National Medal of Arts, and the National Technology and Innovation 
Medal, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 
Ms. ESHOO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend requirements for awarding the National Medal 
of Science, the National Medal of Arts, and the National 
Technology and Innovation Medal, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Civilian Med-
als Improvement Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE AWARD. 
The Act entitled ‘‘An Act to establish a National 
Medal of Science to provide recognition for individuals who 
make outstanding contributions in the physical, biological, 
mathematical, 
engineering, 
behavioral, 
and 
social 
sciences.’’, approved August 25, 1959 (42 U.S.C. 1881), 
is amended— 
(1) in the title, by striking ‘‘engineering, behav-
ioral, and social’’ and inserting ‘‘and engineering 
sciences’’; and 
(2) by amending section 2 to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2 AWARD OF THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE. 
‘‘(a) 
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
President 
shall 
award the National Medal of Science to an individual or 
a group who in the judgment of the President is deserving 
of special recognition by reason of outstanding contribu-
tions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathe-
matical, or engineering sciences on the basis of— 
‘‘(1) information and evidence the President de-
termines appropriate; and 
‘‘(2) recommendations received from— 
‘‘(A) the President’s Committee on the Na-
tional Medal of Science (or a successor of such 
committee); 
‘‘(B) the Director of the National Science 
Foundation; 
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‘‘(C) the President of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences; 
‘‘(D) the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy; and 
‘‘(E) the Director of the National Insti-
tutes of Health. 
‘‘(b) NUMBER; ANNUAL REQUIREMENT.—Annually, 
the President shall award at least 1 medal, and the Presi-
dent may not award more than 5 medals in any calendar 
year. 
‘‘(c) CITIZENSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) CITIZENSHIP OF AN INDIVIDUAL.—An in-
dividual may be awarded the medal only if at the 
time the award is made such individual— 
‘‘(A) is a citizen or other national of the 
United States; or 
‘‘(B) is an alien lawfully admitted to the 
United States for permanent residency who— 
‘‘(i) has filed an application or peti-
tion for naturalization in the manner pre-
scribed by section 334 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and 
‘‘(ii) is eligible for naturalization. 
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‘‘(2) CITIZENSHIP OF A GROUP.—A group may 
be awarded the medal only if such group is orga-
nized or incorporated in the United States. 
‘‘(d) CEREMONIES.— 
‘‘(1) DATE
REQUIREMENT.—The presentation 
of the award under subsection (a) shall be made by 
the President, during the month of April of each cal-
endar year, with such ceremonies as the President 
may determine proper. 
‘‘(2) INVITATION TO CONGRESS AND THE SU-
PREME COURT.—The President shall invite appro-
priate Members of Congress and all Justices of the 
Supreme Court to attend the presentation under 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(e) ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) POSTHUMOUS
LIMITATION.—The Presi-
dent may not award the National Medal of Science 
posthumously. 
‘‘(2) CERTAIN PUBLIC OFFICIALS.—The Presi-
dent may not award the National Medal of Science 
to— 
‘‘(A) the Vice President, the head of an ex-
ecutive department, or a Member of Congress; 
or 
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