PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can give medals and other awards to people in the U.S. merchant marine for individual acts or service. These awards can be ribbons, pins, plaques, small replicas, or similar items, and their look can match military medals for similar deeds. The Secretary may award a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal for outstanding acts or valor beyond the line of duty, and a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal for meritorious acts in the line of duty that are not as outstanding. The Secretary may also give medals for service during war, a national emergency declared by the President or Congress, or during armed forces operations outside the continental United States when life and property are in danger, and for other clearly brave and heroic acts under dangerous conditions that would merit a similar military medal.

Title 46, §51901

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(a)General Authority.—

The Secretary of Transportation may award decorations and medals of appropriate design (including ribbons, ribbon bars, emblems, rosettes, miniature facsimiles, plaques, citations, or other suitable devices or insignia) for individual acts or service in the merchant marine of the United States. The design may be similar to the design of a decoration or medal authorized for members of the armed forces for similar acts or service.

(b)Specific Authority.—

The Secretary may award—

(1)a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to an individual for outstanding acts, conduct, or valor beyond the line of duty;

(2)a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal to an individual for meritorious acts, conduct, or valor in the line of duty, but not of the outstanding character that would warrant the award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal;

(3)a decoration or medal to an individual for service during a war, national emergency proclaimed by the President or Congress, or operations by the armed forces outside the continental United States under conditions of danger to life and property; and

(4)a decoration or medal to an individual for other acts or service of conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and extraordinary heroism under conditions of danger to life and property that would warrant a similar decoration or medal for a member of the armed forces.

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 51901(a)46 App.:2001.Pub. L. 100–324, §§ 2, 3, 5(d), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 576, 577. 46 App.:2004(d). 51901(b)46 App.:2002.

§51901 Awards for Individual Acts or Service

Summary

Title 46, §51901

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Citations & Metadata