§4013. Department awards

The President shall establish a system of awards to confer appropriate recognition of outstanding contributions to the Nation by members of the Service or Civil Service. The awards system established under this section shall provide for presentation by the President and by the Secretary of medals or other suitable commendations for performance in the course of or beyond the call of duty which involves distinguished, meritorious service to the Nation, including extraordinary valor in the face of danger to life or health. Distinguished, meritorious service in the promotion of internationally recognized human rights, including the right to freedom of religion, shall serve as a basis for granting awards under this section.

( Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §614, formerly §613, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2099 ; renumbered §614, Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §181(a)(1), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 416 ; amended Pub. L. 105–292, title V, §504(b), Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2811 ; Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LIII, §5308(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2362 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021-Pub. L. 117–81, §5308(a)(1), amended section catchline generally, substituting "Department awards" for "Foreign Service awards".

Pub. L. 117–81, §5308(a)(2), inserted "or Civil Service" after "the Service" before period at end of first sentence.

1998-Pub. L. 105–292 inserted at end "Distinguished, meritorious service in the promotion of internationally recognized human rights, including the right to freedom of religion, shall serve as a basis for granting awards under this section."

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

Functions of President under this section delegated to Secretary of State, see section 1 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13969, set out under section 3901 of this title.

The Richard C. Holbrooke Award for Diplomacy

Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 22, 2010, 77 F.R. 75507, provided:

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

To honor the legacy of one of America's greatest diplomats and to reaffirm our commitment to diplomacy, I hereby direct you to establish the Richard C. Holbrooke Award for Diplomacy, to be awarded annually. You are authorized to take all necessary steps to establish an appropriate award program under the auspices of your department to recognize distinguished Americans who have made especially meritorious contributions to diplomacy.

Sixty days prior to presenting the award, you shall present to me a list of nominees, from which I will select up to five individuals or groups of individuals to receive this award. In preparing your list of nominees, you may consider the recommendations of appropriate individuals and groups, coordinate your nominations in consultation with other executive agencies as appropriate, and may include recommendations for posthumous awards.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

Barack Obama.