Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 284) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 284.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 284, the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act.

The Congressional Award Act encourages young people between the ages of 14 and 23 to challenge themselves in ways that not only benefit themselves but also the communities they live in. The award is not given based on past achievement but, rather, an individual is honored for setting goals, creating an action plan, and meeting those goals.

Earning an award means young Americans completed self-designed programs focused on four key goals. They are volunteer service, personal growth, exploration, and physical fitness.

Upon completion, participants are awarded a Congressional Award certificate or medal in one of three levels: gold, silver, or bronze. These are important recognitions of the hard work and dedication of America's young leaders. The Congressional Award has empowered over 500,000 participants nationwide and is the highest honor Congress bestows on American youth.

By reauthorizing this program, we honor the countless hours of hard work and dedication of so many past and present participants.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson), a man who has consistently been committed to encouraging young people to achieve, beginning with his own son, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as I close, I thank my colleagues, including my ranking member, Bobby Scott, for this work in a bipartisan way. We have worked to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act, including Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Senator Lummis of Wyoming.

For decades, the Congressional Award Act has inspired young people to engage with their communities and improve the lives of their neighbors and themselves. On the Education and Workforce Committee, we are constantly working to promote more pathways for success for students and young adults so that they can thrive. The Congressional Award program is yet another step to encourage young people to set goals, develop a plan, and be the best that they can be.

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my strong support for S. 284, the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead it with my colleague, Representative Hudson, whom you just heard from, and also Congressmen Mike Levin and John Rutherford.

This bill will reauthorize the Congressional Award program, which has been responsible for printing and distributing awards to young Americans across this country since 1979. This important program expired nearly 18 months ago, and it is in desperate need of reauthorization.

The Congressional Award is the highest award for youth legislated and presented by the United States Congress

to young people. It is a noncompetitive program designed to acknowledge young people for their initiative, achievement, and service.

Over 8.1 million hours of service have been contributed to communities across the country as part of the Congressional Award program. There are currently over 50,000 youth enrolled, and they reside in every congressional district across this country. This award encourages young Americans to do and to be their best, but the program has lapsed. My office is receiving notes from people who are not receiving their hard-earned awards.

Believe it or not, there are people who are proud that these are congressional awards, and they are proud that we are encouraging them.

Take this note that I received from a constituent: ``I earned both the Silver and the Gold Medal for the Congressional Award last year. However, due to backlogs or shortages, I still haven't received the actual awards. I would like to get them from you if that is the case.''

This young student, like thousands across the country, put in time and effort, working toward their award, but, unfortunately, they have been unable to receive it because the program has expired. Congress needs to reauthorize it.

That is why this reauthorization is so important. It will ensure that the young people who achieved their own challenging goals and who helped their communities with their volunteer hours are recognized and honored for their work.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my cosponsors again for their support and Chairman Tim Walberg and Ranking Member Bobby Scott for their assistance and support of this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 284, which is identical to the bill I introduced in the House, H.R. 860, and I urge the House to pass this important bill.

This bill simply reauthorizes the Congressional Award program, Congress' official youth recognition program and the highest honor that Congress can award our Nation's youth.

This program has helped generations of young people set goals, serve others, and push themselves to achieve more. Specifically, young Americans have to set and complete rigorous personal goals focused on volunteer service, personal development, exploration, and physical fitness.

One of my constituents, Caroline Harris, from Greensboro, North Carolina, has spent more than 3 years working toward her goal, earning a Gold Medal at the age of 17. She is one of the youngest to earn the Gold Medal.

Caroline is a very impressive young woman. She spent 400 hours volunteering to help our military families, volunteering with youth in her community, and volunteering with her peers. Caroline completed a physical fitness challenge. She even learned a new language while planning a trip abroad.

In 2025, Caroline joins a long list of impressive young Americans from North Carolina's Ninth District to earn this award. Among them, Amaria Youmans of Fayetteville and Connor Ambrose from Raeford were Bronze Medalists in 2022, and Fred Vinson from Pinehurst was a Bronze Certificate earner in 2024. It is a great honor to represent these hardworking young people.

This bill will ensure the Congressional Award program continues to challenge young Americans like Caroline, Amaria, Connor, and Fred to set goals and dedicate themselves to their community and to their own success and self-improvement.

There are over 48,000 Americans enrolled in this program throughout the country in every single congressional district. These young people give back to their communities and make investments in themselves. It is very important that we reauthorize this successful program so that we can continue to inspire and reward our young Americans and encourage each of them to reach their full potential.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote in support of S. 284.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 284, the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act.

Since its inception in 1979, the award program has honored young people for their remarkable achievements through volunteering in their communities, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration.

The Congressional Award is a unique initiative, completely voluntary and noncompetitive, allowing young individuals who are ages 13 to 24 to set and achieve personal goals at their own pace.

It encourages them to engage with their communities and strive for excellence in all areas of life. By providing this recognition, we give young people the motivation and push they need to realize their potential, reminding them that they are the future of this country.

This bill reauthorizes the program through 2029. The award operates solely on private donations overseen by a bipartisan Congressional Award Board, which underscores the collective commitment to fostering the potential of our Nation's youth.

At a time when our youth face unprecedented challenges, it is essential that we continue to uplift and recognize their efforts. By supporting the bill, we can take a small step to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the youth, nurturing their potential, and celebrating their achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill reauthorizes the Congressional Award program that has been an acknowledgment of achievements by individuals since 1979, recognizing their accomplishments and service within their communities.

This is more than just an award. It is about empowering our youth to engage in their communities and realize their full potential.

As young people are being tested in today's climate and atmosphere, it is crucial that we uplift them and celebrate their accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.