[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 60793-60794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25744]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 60793]]


                Executive Order 13709 of October 2, 2015

                
National Security Medal

                By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of 
                the United States and as Commander in Chief of the 
                Armed Forces of the United States, it is hereby ordered 
                as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. In order to more appropriately 
                recognize distinguished achievements and outstanding 
                contributions in the field of national security, 
                Executive Order 10431 of January 19, 1953, is amended 
                as follows:

                    (a) Section 2 is amended to read as follows: ``The 
                National Security Medal may be awarded to any person, 
                without regard to nationality, including members of the 
                Armed Forces of the United States, for distinguished 
                achievement or outstanding contribution made on or 
                after July 26, 1947, in the field of national security 
                through either exceptionally meritorious service 
                performed in a position of high responsibility or 
                through an act of heroism requiring personal courage of 
                a high degree and complete disregard of personal 
                safety.''; and
                    (b) By inserting at the end:
                    ``7. Any individual having personal knowledge of 
                the facts of a potential recipient's exceptionally 
                meritorious service or act of heroism, either as an 
                eyewitness or from the testimony of others who have 
                personal knowledge or were eyewitnesses, may recommend 
                the potential recipient as a candidate for the award to 
                the Executive Secretary of the National Security 
                Council. Any recommendations shall be made with the 
                concurrence of the department or agency employing the 
                proposed recipient, if appropriate, and be accompanied 
                by complete documentation, including, where necessary, 
                certificates, affidavits, or sworn transcripts of 
                testimony. Each recommendation for an award shall show 
                the exact status, at the time of the rendition of the 
                service on which the recommendation is based, with 
                respect to citizenship, employment, and all other 
                material factors of the person who is being recommended 
                for the National Security Medal. Each recommendation 
                shall contain a draft of an appropriate citation to 
                accompany the award of the National Security Medal.
                    ``8. Upon a determination by the Executive 
                Secretary of the National Security Council that the 
                National Security Medal is warranted, and following 
                approval by the President, the Executive Secretary 
                shall notify the Office of the Director of National 
                Intelligence, which will then process the award 
                recommendation, prepare the National Security Medal, 
                with any appropriate devices, and deliver the National 
                Security Medal to the National Security Council for 
                presentation to the recipient.''

                Sec. 2. This order supersedes the regulations governing 
                the award of the National Security Medal issued with 
                Presidential approval on January 19, 1953, and 
                published with Executive Order 10431.

                Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the 
head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.

[[Page 60794]]

                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    October 2, 2015.

[FR Doc. 2015-25744
Filed 10-6-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P