Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act
Signed into law Dec 26, 2025 · Congress
What this law does
- Renews through FY2028 the board that runs the Congressional Award Program, which gives medals to youth ages 14 to 23.
- Removes the rule that program medals must be made of gold-plate, rhodium, or bronze.
- Makes the renewal count as if passed on October 1, 2023, when the prior authorization expired.
Plain-language list by Voting On, based only on the official summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service and the bill's titles. Read the official summary.
How it became law
- IntroducedJan 28, 2025 · Senate
- 265 daysPassed SenateOct 20, 2025
- 56 daysPassed HouseDec 15, 2025
- 3 daysPresented to the PresidentDec 18, 2025
- 8 daysSigned into lawDec 26, 2025
Official summary
Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act
This act reauthorizes through FY2028 the Congressional Award Board, the board that administers the Congressional Award Program, and modifies program medals.
(The program, established by law in 1979, awards medals to youth ages 14 to 23 who satisfy standards of achievement set by the board. The program aims to promote initiative, achievement, and excellence among youth in the areas of public service, personal development, and physical fitness.)
The act removes a requirement for program medals to consist of gold-plate over bronze, rhodium over bronze, or bronze.
The reauthorization is effective as if enacted on October 1, 2023 (the date on which a prior reauthorization expired).
Summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 26, 2025).
Who wrote it
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
3 cosponsors: 2 Democrats, 1 Republicans. 0 signed on the day it was introduced, 3 joined later.
Show all cosponsors
| Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|
| Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] | Jun 18, 2025 | |
| Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] | Jul 24, 2025 | |
| Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] | Jul 28, 2025 |
Recorded votes
| Date | Chamber | Vote | Yeas | Nays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2025 | House | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 22 (Roll no. 335). | 370 | 22 |
What was added
Amendments adopted (0)
No floor amendments were adopted. Any changes were made in committee or in a later version of the bill.
Sections in the final law that were not in the first version (Introduced in Senate) (0)
None. Every section heading in the final law was already in the first version (Introduced in Senate).
What was removed
Sections in the first version (Introduced in Senate) that did not make it into the law (0)
None. Every section heading from the first version (Introduced in Senate) remains in the law.
Compared by section heading between the Introduced in Senate text (Jan 28, 2025) and the Enrolled Bill text, both from GovInfo. Wording changes inside a section that kept its heading are not shown here; see the amendments and the text versions.
Proposed but not adopted
No amendments were voted down or withdrawn.
Full action history
Show all 23 official actions
| Dec 26, 2025 | Signed by President. |
| Dec 26, 2025 | Signed by President. |
| Dec 26, 2025 | Became Public Law No: 119-66. |
| Dec 26, 2025 | Became Public Law No: 119-66. |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Presented to President. |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Presented to President. |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 22 (Roll no. 335). |
| Dec 15, 2025 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 22 (Roll no. 335). |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5888) |
| Dec 15, 2025 | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. |
| Dec 15, 2025 | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 284. |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5856-5857) |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. |
| Oct 24, 2025 | Held at the desk. |
| Oct 24, 2025 | Received in the House. |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Message on Senate action sent to the House. |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7169; text: CR S7169) |
| Jan 28, 2025 | Introduced in Senate |
| Jan 28, 2025 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. |
Sources: Congress.gov (bill record, sponsors, actions, amendments, CRS summary) and GovInfo (official text). Days are calendar days.