§ 955b. — National Medal of Arts.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 20USC955b]
TITLE 20--EDUCATION
CHAPTER 26--SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIP IN HUMANITIES AND ARTS; MUSEUM
SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER I--NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
Sec. 955b. National Medal of Arts
(a) Establishment
There is hereby established a National Medal of Arts, which shall be
a medal of such design as is deemed appropriate by the President, on the
basis of recommendations submitted by the National Council on the Arts,
and which shall be awarded as provided in subsection (b) of this
section.
(b) Award of Medal; conditions; recipients; presentation ceremonies
(1) The President shall from time to time award the National Medal
of Arts, on the basis of recommendations from the National Council on
the Arts, to individuals or groups who in the President's judgment are
deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding
contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of
the arts in the United States.
(2) Not more than twelve of such medals may be awarded in any
calendar year.
(3) An individual may be awarded the National Medal of Arts only if
at the time such award is made such individual--
(A) is a citizen or other national of the United States; or
(B) is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for
permanent residence who (i) has filed an application or petition for
naturalization in the manner prescribed by section 1445 of title 8
and (ii) is not permanently ineligible to become a citizen of the
United States.
(4) A group may be awarded the National Medal of Arts only if such
group is organized or incorporated in the United States.
(5) The presentation of the National Medal of Arts shall be made by
the President with such ceremonies as the President may deem proper,
including attendance by appropriate Members of Congress.
(c) Availability of funds
Funds made available to the National Endowment for the Arts shall be
used to carry out this section.
(Pub. L. 98-306, Sec. 13, May 31, 1984, 98 Stat. 225.)
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the National Foundation on the Arts
and the Humanities Act Amendments of 1983, and not as part of the
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 which
comprises this subchapter.
