§ 80504. — Medals of honor.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 49USC80504]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
SUBTITLE X--MISCELLANEOUS
CHAPTER 805--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 80504. Medals of honor
(a) Medals.--The President may prepare and give a bronze medal of
honor with emblematic devices to an individual who by extreme daring
endangers that individual's life in trying to prevent, or save the life
of another in, a grave accident in the United States involving a rail
carrier providing transportation in interstate commerce or involving a
motor vehicle on the public streets, roads, or highways. The President
may give a medal only when sufficient evidence that the individual
deserves the medal has been filed under regulations prescribed by the
President.
(b) Ribbons, Knots, and Rosettes.--The President may give an
individual who receives a medal a ribbon to be worn with the medal and a
knot or rosette to be worn in place of the medal. The President shall
prescribe the design for the ribbon, knot, and rosette. If the ribbon is
lost, destroyed, or made unfit for use and the individual receiving the
medal is not negligent, the President shall issue a new ribbon without
charge to the individual.
(c) Availability of Appropriations.--Appropriations made to the
Secretary of Transportation are available to carry out this section.
(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1358.)
Historical and Revision Notes
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Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
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80504(a).............................. 49 App.:1201. Feb. 23, 1905, ch. 744, Sec. 1, 33
Stat. 743; June 13, 1957, Pub. L. 85-
50, Sec. 1(1), 71 Stat. 69.
80504(b).............................. 49 App.:1202. Feb. 23, 1905, ch. 744, Sec. 2, 33
Stat. 743.
80504(c).............................. 49 App.:1203. Feb. 23, 1905, ch. 744, Sec. 3, 33
Stat. 743; restated June 13, 1957,
Pub. L. 85-50, Sec. 1(2), 71 Stat.
69.
49 App.:1655(e)(3). Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89-670, Sec.
6(e)(3), 80 Stat. 939.
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In subsection (a), the words ``may prepare and give'' are
substituted for ``is authorized to cause to be prepared . . . which
shall be bestowed'' for clarity. The word ``suitable'' is omitted as
surplus. The word ``individual'' is substituted for ``persons'' because
it is more precise. The words ``trying to prevent, or save the life of
another in'' are substituted for ``in saving, or endeavoring to save,
lives . . . or in preventing or endeavoring to prevent'' to eliminate
unnecessary words. The words ``grave accident'' are substituted for
``wreck, disaster, or grave accident'' because they are inclusive. The
words ``rail carrier providing transportation in interstate commerce''
are substituted for ``railroad . . . engaged in interstate commerce''
for consistency in the revised title. The words ``The President may give
a medal only when'' are substituted for ``Provided, That no award of
said medal shall be made to any person until'' for clarity. The word
``filed'' is substituted for ``furnished and placed on file'' to
eliminate unnecessary words.
In subsection (b), the words ``and the individual receiving the
medal is not negligent'' are substituted for ``without fault or neglect
on the part of the person to whom it was issued'' to eliminate
unnecessary words. The words ``the President shall issue'' are
substituted for ``shall be issued'' for clarity.
In subsection (c), the words ``to the Secretary of Transportation''
are substituted for ``for the Department of Transportation'' because of
49:102(b).
