National Civilian Medals Improvement Act
Bill: S.2927 | Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. (D-NJ)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
National Civilian Medals Improvement Act
This bill revises the requirements for awarding the National Medal of Science, the National Medal of Arts, and the National Technology and Innovation Medal and establishes a National Humanities Medal and a National Medal of Social Sciences. The bill prohibits such medals from being awarded to certain public officials or posthumously.
With respect to the National Medal of Arts, the President must award at least one award annually but not more than five in any calendar year.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Civilian Medals Improvement 
Act''.

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, behavioral, 
        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 
contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, 
or engineering sciences on the basis of--
            ``(1) information and evidence the President determines 
        appropriate; and
            ``(2) recommendations received from--
                    ``(A) the President's Committee on the National 
                Medal of Science (or a successor of such committee);
                    ``(B) the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation;
                    ``(C) the President of the National Academy of 
                Sciences;
                    ``(D) the Director of the Office of Science and 
                Technology Policy; and
                    ``(E) the Director of the National Institutes of 
                Health.
    ``(b) Number; Annual Requirement.--Annually, the President shall 
award at least 1 medal, and the President may not award more than 5 
medals in any calendar year.
    ``(c) Citizenship.--
            ``(1) Citizenship of an individual.--An individual 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 petition 
                        for naturalization in the manner prescribed by 
                        section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality 
                        Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and
                            ``(ii) is eligible for naturalization.
            ``(2) Citizenship of a group.--A group may be awarded the 
        medal only if such group is organized 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 calendar year, with such ceremonies as 
        the President may determine proper.
            ``(2) Invitation to congress and the supreme court.--The 
        President shall invite appropriate Members of Congress and all 
        Justices of the Supreme Court to attend the presentation under 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(e) Additional Limitations.--
            ``(1) Posthumous limitation.--The President may not award 
        the National Medal of Science posthumously.
            ``(2) Certain public officials.--The President may not 
        award the National Medal of Science to--
                    ``(A) the Vice President, the head of an Executive 
                department, or a Member of Congress; or
                    ``(B) the spouse, child, son-in-law, or daughter-
                in-law of an individual described in subparagraph (A), 
                as determined under applicable common law.''.

SEC. 3. THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS AWARD.

    Section 13 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the 
Humanities Act Amendments of 1983 (20 U.S.C. 955b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``subsection (b)'' and 
        inserting ``this section'';
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Recommendations.--The President shall award the National 
Medal of Arts, on the basis of recommendations from the National 
Council on the Arts, to an individual or a group who in the judgment of 
the President is deserving of special recognition by reason of 
outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and 
availability of the arts in the United States.'';
            (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (g); and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Number; Annual Requirement.--Annually, the President shall 
award at least 1 National Medal of Arts, and the President may not 
award more than 5 of such medals in any calendar year.
    ``(d) Citizenship.--
            ``(1) Citizenship of an individual.--An individual may be 
        awarded the National Medal of Arts 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 petition 
                        for naturalization in the manner prescribed by 
                        section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality 
                        Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and
                            ``(ii) is eligible to become a citizen of 
                        the United States.
            ``(2) Citizenship of a group.--A group may be awarded the 
        National Medal of Arts only if such group is organized or 
        incorporated in the United States.
    ``(e) Ceremonies.--
            ``(1) Date requirement.--The presentation of the award 
        under subsection (a) shall be made by the President, during the 
        month of October of each calendar year, with such ceremonies as 
        the President may determine proper.
            ``(2) Invitation to congress and the supreme court.--The 
        President shall invite appropriate Members of Congress and all 
        Justices of the Supreme Court to attend the presentation under 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(f) Additional Limitations.--
            ``(1) Posthumous limitation.--The President may not award 
        the National Medal of Arts posthumously.
            ``(2) Certain public officials.--The President may not 
        award the National Medal of Arts to--
                    ``(A) the Vice President, the head of an Executive 
                department, or a Member of Congress; or
                    ``(B) the spouse, child, son-in-law, or daughter-
                in-law of an individual described in subparagraph (A), 
                as determined under applicable common law.''.

SEC. 4. THE NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MEDAL.

    Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Recommendations.--The President shall award the National 
Technology and Innovation Medal to an individual or a group who in the 
judgment of the President is deserving of special recognition by reason 
of outstanding contributions to the promotion of technology or 
technological manpower for the improvement of the economic, 
environmental, or social well-being of the United States on the basis 
of--
            ``(1) information and evidence the President determines 
        appropriate; and
            ``(2) recommendations from--
                    ``(A) the National Medal of Technology and 
                Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee (or a 
                successor of such committee);
                    ``(B) the Director of the United States Patent and 
                Trademark Office;
                    ``(C) the Director of the Office of Science and 
                Technology Policy;
                    ``(D) the Director of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology; and
                    ``(E) the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation.'';
            (2) by striking subsection (c); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Number; Annual Requirement.--Annually, the President shall 
award at least 1 National Technology and Innovation Medal, and the 
President may not award more than 5 of such medals in any calendar 
year.
    ``(d) Citizenship.--
            ``(1) Citizenship of an individual.--An individual may be 
        awarded the National Technology and Innovation 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 petition 
                        for naturalization in the manner prescribed by 
                        section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality 
                        Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and
                            ``(ii) is eligible to become a citizen of 
                        the United States.
            ``(2) Citizenship of a group.--A group may be awarded the 
        National Technology and Innovation Medal only if such group is 
        organized or incorporated in the United States.
    ``(e) 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 calendar year, with such ceremonies as 
        the President may determine proper.
            ``(2) Invitation to congress and the supreme court.--The 
        President shall invite appropriate Members of Congress and all 
        Justices of the Supreme Court to attend the presentation under 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(f) Additional Limitations.--
            ``(1) Posthumous limitation.--The President may not award 
        the National Technology and Innovation Medal posthumously.
            ``(2) Certain public officials.--The President may not 
        award the National Technology and Innovation Medal to--
                    ``(A) the Vice President, the head of an Executive 
                department, or a Member of Congress; or
                    ``(B) the spouse, child, son-in-law, or daughter-
                in-law of an individual described in subparagraph (A), 
                as determined under applicable common law.''.

SEC. 5. THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES MEDAL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a National Humanities 
Medal, which shall be a medal of such design as is determined 
appropriate by the President.
    (b) Recommendations.--The President shall award the National 
Humanities Medal, on the basis of recommendations from the National 
Council on the Humanities, to an individual or a group who in the 
judgment of the President is deserving of special recognition by reason 
of outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and 
availability of the humanities in the United States.
    (c) Number; Annual Requirement.--Annually, the President shall 
award at least 1 National Humanities Medal, and the President may not 
award more than 5 of such medals in any calendar year.
    (d) Citizenship.--
            (1) Citizenship of an individual.--An individual may be 
        awarded the National Humanities 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 petition 
                        for naturalization in the manner prescribed by 
                        section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality 
                        Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and
                            (ii) is eligible to become a citizen of the 
                        United States.
            (2) Citizenship of a group.--A group may be awarded the 
        National Humanities Medal only if such group is organized or 
        incorporated in the United States.
    (e) Ceremonies.--
            (1) Date requirement.--The presentation of the award under 
        subsection (a) shall be made by the President, during the month 
        of October of each calendar year, with such ceremonies as the 
        President may determine proper.
            (2) Invitation to congress and the supreme court.--The 
        President shall invite appropriate Members of Congress and all 
        Justices of the Supreme Court to attend the presentation under 
        paragraph (1).
    (f) Additional Limitations.--
            (1) Posthumous limitation.--The President may not award the 
        National Humanities Medal posthumously.
            (2) Certain public officials.--The President may not award 
        the National Humanities Medal to--
                    (A) the Vice President, the head of an Executive 
                department, or a Member of Congress; or
                    (B) the spouse, child, son-in-law, or daughter-in-
                law of an individual described in subparagraph (A), as 
                determined under applicable common law.

SEC. 6. THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AWARD.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a National Medal of Social 
Sciences, which shall be a medal of such design as is determined 
appropriate by the President.
    (b) Recommendations.--The President shall award the National Medal 
of Social Sciences to an individual or a group who in the judgment of 
the President is deserving of special recognition by reason of 
outstanding contributions to knowledge in the social sciences, on the 
basis of--
            (1) information and evidence the President determines 
        appropriate; and
            (2) recommendations from--
                    (A) the presidential committee established to award 
                the medal described in this section;
                    (B) the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation;
                    (C) the President of the National Academy of 
                Science; and
                    (D) the Director of the National Institutes of 
                Health.
    (c) Number; Annual Requirement.--Annually, the President shall 
award at least 1 Medal of Social Sciences, and the President may not 
award more than 5 of such medals in any calendar year.
    (d) Citizenship.--
            (1) Citizenship of an individual.--An individual may be 
        awarded the National Medal of Social Sciences 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 petition 
                        for naturalization in the manner prescribed by 
                        section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality 
                        Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and
                            (ii) is eligible to become a citizen of the 
                        United States.
            (2) Citizenship of a group.--A group may be awarded the 
        National Medal of Social Sciences only if such group is 
        organized or incorporated in the United States.
    (e) 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 calendar year, with such ceremonies as the 
        President may determine proper.
            (2) Invitation to congress and the supreme court.--The 
        President shall invite appropriate Members of Congress and all 
        Justices of the Supreme Court to attend the presentation under 
        paragraph (1).
    (f) Additional Limitations.--
            (1) Posthumous limitation.--The President may not award the 
        National Medal of Social Sciences posthumously.
            (2) Certain public officials.--The President may not award 
        the National Medal of Social Sciences to--
                    (A) the Vice President, the head of an Executive 
                department, or a Member of Congress; or
                    (B) the spouse, child, son-in-law, or daughter-in-
                law of an individual described in subparagraph (A), as 
                determined under applicable common law.

SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    A medal described in this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, 
shall be considered a ``thing of value'' for purposes of any Federal 
law with respect to bribery or corruption of a Government official.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the later of 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act or, after the date of 
enactment of this Act, on the date that the President awards at least 1 
of each of the medals described in this Act and the amendments made by 
this Act.
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