Congressional Award Act Reauthorization

CONGRESSIONAL AWARD ACT REAUTHORIZATION -- (House of Representatives - December 14, 2005)

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 335) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today, the House considers S. 335, a bill which would reauthorize the Congressional Award Act. The Congressional Award program was established by PL 96-114 in 1979 to promote initiative, achievement, and excellence among youths aged 14 to 23. Award recipients complete a self-designed program of challenging, but achievable, goals in four program areas: voluntary service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration.

Program participants can work toward a Congressional Award certificate or medal. In either category, there are three achievement levels: gold, silver, and bronze. Minimum requirements must be met regarding the number of hours devoted to each of the four program areas, total hours worked toward the award, and the duration of the participant's efforts.

Senators and Representatives present the awards at local, city, or State ceremonies. It was my great pleasure to make a presentation of the silver award recently in my district to Cameron Harris. Cameron exemplifies all the positive aspects of the Congressional Award. Making that presentation was one of the highlights of my first year in Congress.

Gold medal recipients are recognized each year at the Congressional Award Gold Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, and I look forward to making a presentation in the near future to Cameron.

In 2000, the Congressional Award Act was amended by PL 106-533 to establish a congressional recognition for excellence in arts education. This act established a nine-member congressional board to recognize schools that promote excellence in arts education.

The Congressional Award program is administered by the Congressional Award Board, which is a nonprofit 503(c)(3) private-public partnership that is statutorily prohibited from receiving Federal funds. In lieu of Federal funding, the board is supported by charitable contributions and is authorized to receive in-kind services from the Federal Government, including free office space and an annual audit by the General Accountability Office, GAO.

S. 335 maintains current law by continuing the prohibition on Federal funding and provides a straight reauthorization that extends current law in-kind services for another 5 years.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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