S. 284 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-66, Dec 26, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends youth award program through 2028
This act reauthorizes the Congressional Award Program, which has been giving medals to young people ages 14 to 23 since 1979 for achievements in public service, personal development, and physical fitness. The reauthorization extends the program through fiscal year 2028. It also removes the requirement that the medals be made of specific materials like gold-plated bronze, giving the program more flexibility in how it designs the awards.
How it affects you
If you're a young person between 14 and 23, this means the Congressional Award Program will continue to be available for you to earn recognition for your achievements and contributions. The changes mainly affect how the program is administered and what its medals look like, rather than how you'd participate in it.
Read the official summary (Public Law, Dec 26, 2025)
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).
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 284
AN ACT
Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Sen. Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY) · Introduced Jan 28, 2025 · Congress · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 26, 2025: “Became Public Law No: 119-66.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Dec 15, 2025
Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Passed 370–22
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 194 | 0 | 19 |
| Republicans | 176 | 22 | 22 |
22 members voted against most of their party: 22 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 3 official versions.