I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 284 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of a 
prisoner-of-war medal to civilian employees of the Federal Government 
who, during war or under wartime conditions, are taken captive by 
armed forces or agents of a foreign government hostile to the United 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 5, 2007 
Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the 
issuance of a prisoner-of-war medal to civilian employees 
of the Federal Government who, during war or under 
wartime conditions, are taken captive by armed forces 
or agents of a foreign government hostile to the United 
States. 
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 ‘‘Civilian Prisoner-of- 
War Medal Act of 2007’’. 
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SEC. 2. PRISONER-OF-WAR MEDAL FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOY-
EES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 45 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS AWARDS 
‘‘§ 4531. Prisoner-of-war medal 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall issue a pris-
oner-of-war medal to any person who, while serving as an 
employee, was forcibly taken prisoner and held captive— 
‘‘(1) while serving in a position or otherwise 
performing functions in support of members of the 
Armed Forces of the United States that were en-
gaged in an action or military operation or serving 
with friendly forces under circumstances described in 
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 1128(a) of title 
10, as determined by the President; or 
‘‘(2) by foreign armed forces that are hostile to 
the United States, under circumstances which the 
President finds to have been comparable to those 
under which persons have generally been held cap-
tive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed 
conflict. 
‘‘(b) DESIGN.—The prisoner-of-war medal shall be of 
appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances. 
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‘‘(c) NUMERICAL LIMITATION.—Not more than one 
prisoner-of-war medal may be issued to a person under 
this section. However, for each succeeding service that 
would otherwise justify the issuance of such a medal, the 
President may issue a suitable device to be worn as the 
President determines. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBILITY.—For a person to be eligible for 
issuance of a prisoner-of-war medal under this section, the 
person’s conduct must have been honorable for the period 
of captivity which serves as the basis for the issuance, and 
such captivity must not have been the result of any willful 
misconduct on the part of such person. 
‘‘(e) ISSUANCE TO A REPRESENTATIVE.—If a person 
dies before the issuance of a prisoner-of-war medal to 
which the person is entitled under this section, the medal 
may be issued to that person’s representative, as des-
ignated by the President. 
‘‘(f) REPLACEMENT.—Under regulations prescribed 
by the President, a prisoner-of-war medal under this sec-
tion that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use with-
out fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom 
it was issued may be replaced without charge. 
‘‘(g) COORDINATION.—Nothing in this section shall 
affect the operation of section 1128 of title 10.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 45 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS AWARDS 
‘‘4531. Prisoner-of-war medal’’. 
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 
as of April 6, 1917, and shall apply to persons taken cap-
tive on or after that date. 
Æ 
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