Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act
January 28, 2025
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Where This Stands
Current status: signed.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
The law ensures the continued federal operation and legal authority of the Congressional Award Program for youth participants through 2028, with the extension applied retroactively to October 1, 2023.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Congressional Award Program participants
The program's legal authorization is extended, allowing it to continue issuing awards to youth participants through 2028.
Current stage: signed.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The Congressional Award Program is reauthorized to operate through October 1, 2028.
- The reauthorization is retroactive, taking effect as if it were enacted on October 1, 2023.
- The law removes specific statutory requirements regarding the metal composition of the medals (gold-plate over bronze, rhodium over bronze, or bronze).
- The act amends Section 108 of the Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 808).
- The act amends Section 102 of the Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 802).
- The bill (S. 284) passed the Senate on October 20, 2025.
- The bill (S. 284) passed the House on December 15, 2025.
- The act was signed into law on December 26, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Congressional Award Program?
How long is the program authorized for now?
Does this law change the medals given to participants?
Why It Matters
The law ensures the continued federal operation and legal authority of the Congressional Award Program for youth participants through 2028, with the extension applied retroactively to October 1, 2023.
News Coverage
Voting Record
Total
389
Yes
367
No
22
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (389)
Mike Flood
R · yes
Robin Kelly
D · yes
Jason Crow
D · yes
Sarah McBride
D · yes
Maggie Goodlander
D · yes
Teresa Leger Fernandez
D · yes
Steven Horsford
D · yes
Clay Higgins
R · no
Mark Amodei
R · yes
John Joyce
R · yes
Nellie Pou
D · yes
W. Steube
R · yes
Elijah Crane
R · no
John Garamendi
D · yes
Joyce Beatty
D · yes
Kevin Hern
R · yes
Emilia Sykes
D · yes
Ann Wagner
R · yes
Adam Gray
D · yes
David Kustoff
R · yes
Pat Fallon
R · yes
J. Hill
R · yes
Mike Rogers
R · yes
Stephen Lynch
D · yes
+ 365 more
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Removal of Medal Composition Requirements
The law removes specific statutory requirements for medal materials, likely to allow for administrative flexibility in procurement.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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