PL 100-324 Merchant Marine Decorations and Medals Act

102 STAT. 576

PUBLIC LAW 100-324-MAY 30, 1988

Public Law 100-324
100th Congress
An Act
May 30, 1988
[H.R. 1430]
Merchant
Marine
Decorations and
Medals Act.
Maritime
affairs.
46 u s e app.
2001 note.
46 u s e app.
2001.
46 u s e app.
2002.

46 u s e app.
2003.

46 u s e app.
2004.

To authorize decorations, medals, and other recognition for service in the United
States merchant marine, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled.
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Merchant Marine
Decorations and Medals Act".
SEC, 2. 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
United States merchant marine.
SEC. 3. The Secretary of Transportation 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 as would warrant the
award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal;
(3) a decoration or medal to an individual for service in time
of war or national emergency proclaimed by the President or
Congress, or during operations by the Armed Forces of the
United States 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 of the United States,
SEC. 4, The Secretary of Transportation may issue a Gallant Ship
Award and a citation to a United States vessel or to a foreign-flag
vessel participating in outstanding or gallant action in marine
disasters or other emergencies for the purpose of saving life or
property at sea. The Secretary may award a plaque to a vessel so
cited, and a replica of the plaque may be preserved as a permanent
historical record. The Secretary may also award an appropriate
citation ribbon bar to the master and each individual serving on
board the vessel at the time of the action for which the citation is
made. The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State before
giving an award or citation to a foreign-flag vessel or its crew under
this section.
SEC. 5. (a) The Secretary of Transportation may not award more
than one of any type of decoration or medal to an individual. For
each succeeding act or service justifying the same decoration or
medal, a suitable device may be awarded to be worn with the
decoration or medal.

PUBLIC LAW 100-324—MAY 30,1988

102 STAT. 577

(b) When an individual scheduled to receive a decoration or medal
under this Act is unable to accept it, the Secretary may make the
award to an appropriate personal representative.
(c) The Secretary may provide at cost, or authorize for the manufacture and sale at reasonable prices by private persons—
(1) the decorations and medals authorized under section 2 of
this Act and replacements for those decorations and medals;
and
(2) replacements for decorations and medals issued under a
prior law.
(d) Decorations and medals authorized under section 2 of this Act
may be of similar design as are authorized for members of the
Armed Forces of the United States for similar acts or service.
SEC. 6. Except as authorized under another law, the Secretary of
Transportation may issue at no cost a flag of the United States and
a grave marker to the family or personal representative of a deceased individual, who served in the United States merchant marine
in support of the Armed Forces of the United States or its allies in
periods of war or national emergency.
SEC. 7. (a) The Maritime Administrator may issue a special certificate in recognition of service to an individual, or the personal
representative of an individual, whose service in the United States
merchant marine has been determined to be active duty under
section 401 of Public Law 95-202 (38 U.S.C. 106, Note).
(b) Issuance of a certificate to any individual under subsection (a)
of this section does not entitle that individual to any rights, privileges, or benefits under any law of the United States.
SEC. 8. Except as authorized by this Act, a person may not
manufacture, sell, possess, or display a decoration or medal provided
for in this Act. A person violating this section is liable to the United
States Government for a civil penalty of $2,000.
SEC. 9. The Act of July 24, 1956 (46 App. U.S.C. 249-249c) is
repealed.
SEC. 10. (a) The Act entitled "An Act to set aside certain surplus
vessels for use in the provision of health and other humanitarian
services", as amended, approved October 22, 1982 (Public Law
97-360; 96 Stat. 1718), is amended—

46 USC app.
2005.

46 USC app.
2006.

46 USC app.
2007.
^

102 STAT. 578

PUBLIC LAW 100-324—MAY 30, 1988

(1) in section 6, by striking "United States Ship Colonial
LSD-18", and substituting "United States Ship Sanctuary
AH-20"; and
(2) in section 7, by striking "1989" and substituting "1992".
(b) The United States Ship Sanctuary AH-20 shall be transferred
to the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Approved May 30, 1988.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1430:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 100-510 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 100-329 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988):
Mar. 8, considered and passed House.
May 13, considered and passed Senate.