H.R. 9405: Esther Coopersmith Award Act

This bill would create a new annual award at the State Department called the Esther Coopersmith Award, named after a U.S. diplomat.

What the award would do

The Secretary of State would be required to set up an annual individual or group performance award for members of the Civil Service or Foreign Service. The award would recognize people whose work has made a meaningful contribution to the goals of existing U.S. laws on women, peace, security, and women’s economic empowerment.

The bill says award recipients should be recognized for work that helps to:

• include women’s views and interests in conflict-prevention efforts;
• encourage other governments to increase women’s participation in peace and security decision-making;
• promote the safety, economic security, and dignity of women and girls;
• improve women’s access to aid and services; and
• support data collection and analysis to improve early warning systems for conflict and violence.

The award would also include one honorable mention each year. Recipients would meet with the Secretary of State, and the State Department would support their travel to a major global security conference.

How it would be administered

The Office of Global Women’s Issues at the State Department would administer the award. An award review panel made up of Assistant Secretaries of State and Chiefs of Mission would provide input on recipients.

Training and reporting requirements

Recipients and honorable mentions would be required to present their work virtually to the Chiefs of Mission Conference and to at least one entry-level Foreign Service training course, such as the A-100 class.

Within 90 days after recipients are chosen, the Secretary of State would have to send a report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. That report would describe the recipients’ efforts, the U.S. interests involved, the actions taken and results achieved, lessons learned, and whether the State Department should continue or expand the work.

Other legal change

The bill would also make a small change to existing law by adding “the rights of women and girls” to a section of the Foreign Service Act related to diplomatic award recognition.

Duration

The bill would expire 5 years after enactment, along with the legal amendment it makes.

Relevant Companies

None found