---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12653a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12653a"
heading: "Presidential awards for service"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12653a"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division H — Investment for Quality and Innovation"
  - "Part I — Additional Corporation Activities To Support National Service"
---

# §12653a. Presidential awards for service

- (a) **Presidential awards—**
  - (1) **In general—** The President, acting through the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), may make Presidential awards for service to individuals providing significant service, and to outstanding service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8).
  - (2) **Individuals and programs—** Notwithstanding [section 12511 of this title](/usc/42/12511.md)—
    - (A) an individual receiving an award under this subsection need not be a participant in a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) authorized under this chapter; and
    - (B) a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) receiving an award under this subsection need not be a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) authorized under this chapter.
  - (3) **Nature of award—** In making an award under this section to an individual or [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), the President, acting through the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2)—
    - (A) is authorized to incur necessary expenses for the honorary recognition of the individual or [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8); and
    - (B) is not authorized to make a cash award to such individual or [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8).
- (b) **Information—** The President, acting through the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), shall ensure that information concerning individuals and [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) receiving awards under this section is widely disseminated.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 198A, formerly § 198B, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 104(c), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 843; renumbered § 198A and amended Pub. L. 111–13, title I, §§ 1803(b), 1804, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1554.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 101–610, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12501 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 12653b of this title.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 12653a, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 198A, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 104(c), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 842, related to clearinghouses, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1803(a)(1), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1554, effective Oct. 1, 2009.

Another prior section 12653a, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 195A, as added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1092(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2523, which provided for establishment of Civilian Community Corps Demonstration Program, was renumbered section 152 of Pub. L. 101–610 by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(b), and transferred to section 12612 of this title.

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1804, substituted “section 12511” for “section 12511(19)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 1701 of Title 16, Conservation.