 
   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.
