[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 211 (Monday, December 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5856-H5857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRESSIONAL AWARD PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 284) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 284
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 ``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) 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''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on S. 284.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 284, the Congressional
Award Program Reauthorization Act.
The Congressional Award Act encourages young people between the ages
of 14 and 23 to challenge themselves in ways that not only benefit
themselves but also the communities they live in. The award is not
given based on past achievement but, rather, an individual is honored
for setting goals, creating an action plan, and meeting those goals.
Earning an award means young Americans completed self-designed
programs focused on four key goals. They are volunteer service,
personal growth, exploration, and physical fitness.
Upon completion, participants are awarded a Congressional Award
certificate or medal in one of three levels: gold, silver, or bronze.
These are important recognitions of the hard work and dedication of
America's young leaders. The Congressional Award has empowered over
500,000 participants nationwide and is the highest honor Congress
bestows on American youth.
By reauthorizing this program, we honor the countless hours of hard
work and dedication of so many past and present participants.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
{time} 1410
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 284, the Congressional
Award Program Reauthorization Act.
Since its inception in 1979, the award program has honored young
people for their remarkable achievements through volunteering in their
communities, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration.
The Congressional Award is a unique initiative, completely voluntary
and noncompetitive, allowing young individuals who are ages 13 to 24 to
set and achieve personal goals at their own pace.
It encourages them to engage with their communities and strive for
excellence in all areas of life. By providing this recognition, we give
young people the motivation and push they need to realize their
potential, reminding them that they are the future of this country.
This bill reauthorizes the program through 2029. The award operates
solely on private donations overseen by a bipartisan Congressional
Award Board, which underscores the collective commitment to fostering
the potential of our Nation's youth.
At a time when our youth face unprecedented challenges, it is
essential that we continue to uplift and recognize their efforts. By
supporting the bill, we can take a small step to reaffirm our
commitment to supporting the youth, nurturing their potential, and
celebrating their achievements.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Hudson), a man who has consistently been committed
to encouraging young people to achieve, beginning with his own son, as
well.
Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 284, which is
identical to the bill I introduced in the House, H.R. 860, and I urge
the House to pass this important bill.
This bill simply reauthorizes the Congressional Award program,
Congress' official youth recognition program and the highest honor that
Congress can award our Nation's youth.
This program has helped generations of young people set goals, serve
others, and push themselves to achieve more. Specifically, young
Americans have to set and complete rigorous personal goals focused on
volunteer service, personal development, exploration, and physical
fitness.
One of my constituents, Caroline Harris, from Greensboro, North
Carolina, has spent more than 3 years working toward her goal, earning
a Gold Medal at the age of 17. She is one of the youngest to earn the
Gold Medal.
Caroline is a very impressive young woman. She spent 400 hours
volunteering to help our military families, volunteering with youth in
her community, and volunteering with her peers. Caroline completed a
physical fitness challenge. She even learned a new language while
planning a trip abroad.
In 2025, Caroline joins a long list of impressive young Americans
from North Carolina's Ninth District to earn this award. Among them,
Amaria Youmans of Fayetteville and Connor Ambrose from Raeford were
Bronze Medalists in 2022, and Fred Vinson from Pinehurst was a Bronze
Certificate earner in 2024. It is a great honor to represent these
hardworking young people.
This bill will ensure the Congressional Award program continues to
challenge young Americans like Caroline, Amaria, Connor, and Fred to
set goals and dedicate themselves to their community and to their own
success and self-improvement.
There are over 48,000 Americans enrolled in this program throughout
the country in every single congressional district. These young people
give back to their communities and make investments in themselves. It
is very important that we reauthorize this successful program so that
we can continue to inspire and reward our young Americans and encourage
each of them to reach their full potential.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote in support of S. 284.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my strong support
for S. 284, the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead it with my colleague,
Representative Hudson, whom you just heard from, and also Congressmen
Mike Levin and John Rutherford.
This bill will reauthorize the Congressional Award program, which has
been responsible for printing and distributing awards to young
Americans across this country since 1979. This important program
expired nearly 18 months ago, and it is in desperate need of
reauthorization.
The Congressional Award is the highest award for youth legislated and
presented by the United States Congress
[[Page H5857]]
to young people. It is a noncompetitive program designed to acknowledge
young people for their initiative, achievement, and service.
Over 8.1 million hours of service have been contributed to
communities across the country as part of the Congressional Award
program. There are currently over 50,000 youth enrolled, and they
reside in every congressional district across this country. This award
encourages young Americans to do and to be their best, but the program
has lapsed. My office is receiving notes from people who are not
receiving their hard-earned awards.
Believe it or not, there are people who are proud that these are
congressional awards, and they are proud that we are encouraging them.
Take this note that I received from a constituent: ``I earned both
the Silver and the Gold Medal for the Congressional Award last year.
However, due to backlogs or shortages, I still haven't received the
actual awards. I would like to get them from you if that is the case.''
This young student, like thousands across the country, put in time
and effort, working toward their award, but, unfortunately, they have
been unable to receive it because the program has expired. Congress
needs to reauthorize it.
That is why this reauthorization is so important. It will ensure that
the young people who achieved their own challenging goals and who
helped their communities with their volunteer hours are recognized and
honored for their work.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my cosponsors again for their support and
Chairman Tim Walberg and Ranking Member Bobby Scott for their
assistance and support of this important bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill reauthorizes the Congressional Award program
that has been an acknowledgment of achievements by individuals since
1979, recognizing their accomplishments and service within their
communities.
This is more than just an award. It is about empowering our youth to
engage in their communities and realize their full potential.
As young people are being tested in today's climate and atmosphere,
it is crucial that we uplift them and celebrate their accomplishments.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, as I close, I thank my colleagues, including my ranking
member, Bobby Scott, for this work in a bipartisan way. We have worked
to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act, including Representative
Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Senator Lummis of Wyoming.
For decades, the Congressional Award Act has inspired young people to
engage with their communities and improve the lives of their neighbors
and themselves. On the Education and Workforce Committee, we are
constantly working to promote more pathways for success for students
and young adults so that they can thrive. The Congressional Award
program is yet another step to encourage young people to set goals,
develop a plan, and be the best that they can be.
Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1420
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 284.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________