Us Code § 2708a - Award of Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 2708a — Award of Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 2708a. Award of Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service

(a) Authority to award

The President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary, may award a Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service to any member of the Foreign Service or any other civilian employee of the Government of the United States who, while employed at, or assigned permanently or temporarily to, an official mission overseas or while traveling abroad on official business, incurred a wound or other injury or an illness (whether or not the wound, other injury, or illness resulted in death)—

(1) as the person was performing official duties;

(2) as the person was on the premises of a United States mission abroad; or

(3) by reason of the person's status as a United States Government employee.

(b) Selection criteria

The Secretary shall prescribe the procedures for identifying and considering persons eligible for award of a Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service and for selecting the persons to be recommended for the award.

(c) Award in the event of death

If a person selected for award of a Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service dies before being presented the award, the award may be made and the star presented to the person's family or to the person's representative, as designated by the President.

(d) Form of award

The Secretary shall prescribe the design of the Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service. The award may not include a stipend or any other cash payment.

(e) Funding

Any expenses incurred in awarding a person a Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service may be paid out of appropriations available at the time of the award for personnel of the department or agency of the United States Government in which the person was employed when the person incurred the wound, injury, or illness upon which the award is based.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, §36A, as added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §321], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–436; amended Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, §311, Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1377.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–228 substituted "Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service" for "Foreign Service star" in section catchline and wherever appearing in text.

About This Section

22 U.S.C. § 2708a is part of Title 22 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 22 U.S.C. § 2708a. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 2708a

What does United States Code § 2708a cover?

Section 2708a ("Award of Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 2708a?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 2708a" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 2708a apply to my situation?

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Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Us Code.