33 U.S.C. § 1974 — Judges

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

(a) Appointment The Secretary must appoint not fewer than 3 judges who must, except as provided in subsection (b), select the 1 or more annual winners of the prize competition. (b) Determination by the Secretary The judges appointed under subsection (a) must not select any annual winner of the prize competition if the Secretary makes a determination that, in any fiscal year, none of the technological advancements entered into the prize competition merits an award.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a) Appointment

The Secretary shall appoint not fewer than 3 judges who shall, except as provided in subsection (b), select the 1 or more annual winners of the prize competition.

(b) Determination by the Secretary

The judges appointed under subsection (a) shall not select any annual winner of the prize competition if the Secretary makes a determination that, in any fiscal year, none of the technological advancements entered into the prize competition merits an award.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 109–449, § 124, formerly Pub. L. 116–224, title I, § 124, Dec. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 1083; renumbered Pub. L. 109–449, § 124, by Pub. L. 119–65, § 4(a), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1989.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

2020Enacted · Pub. L. 109-449 · 134 Stat. 1083
2025Amended · Pub. L. 109-449 · 139 Stat. 1989

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 109-449 on 2020-12-18.