---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 352"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "352"
heading: "Annual employee award program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/352"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter VII — Management"
---

# §352. Annual employee award program

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) may establish an annual employee award program to recognize [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) employees or groups of employees for significant contributions to the achievement of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5)’s goals and missions. If such a program is established, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) shall—
  - (1) establish within such program categories of awards, each with specific criteria, that emphasize honoring employees who are at the nonsupervisory level;
  - (2) publicize within the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) how any employee or group of employees may be nominated for an award;
  - (3) establish an internal review board comprised of representatives from [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) components, headquarters, and field [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) award recommendations regarding specific employees or groups of employees;
  - (4) select recipients from the pool of nominees submitted by the internal review board under [paragraph (3)](#a-3) and convene a ceremony at which employees or groups of employees receive such awards from the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16); and
  - (5) publicize such program within the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5).
- (b) **Internal review board—** The internal review board described in [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3) shall, when carrying out its function under such subsection, consult with representatives from operational components and headquarters, including supervisory and nonsupervisory [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15), and employee labor organizations that represent [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) employees.
- (c) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize additional [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) to carry out the requirements of this section or to require the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) to provide monetary bonuses to recipients of an award under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title VII, § 712, as added Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXIV, § 6402(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2398.)