---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 4523"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "4523"
heading: "Award authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/4523"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart C — Employee Performance"
  - "Chapter 45 — Incentive Awards"
  - "Subchapter III — Award to Law Enforcement Officers for Foreign Language Capabilities"
---

# §4523. Award authority

- (a) An [agency](/usc/5/4501.md?p=1) may [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) a cash award, up to 5 percent of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4), to any [law enforcement officer](/usc/5/8401.md?p=17) employed in or under such [agency](/usc/5/4501.md?p=1) who possesses and makes substantial use of 1 or more foreign languages in the performance of official duties.
- (b) Awards under this section shall be paid under regulations prescribed by the head of the [agency](/usc/5/4501.md?p=1) involved (or designee thereof). Regulations prescribed by an [agency](/usc/5/4501.md?p=1) head (or designee) under this subsecton[^1] shall include—
  - (1) procedures under which foreign language proficiency shall be ascertained;
  - (2) criteria for the selection of individuals for recognition under this section; and
  - (3) any other provisions which may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “subsection”.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title IV, § 408(a)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1467.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1992, see section 529 [title IV, § 408(d)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as a note under section 4521 of this title.