[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR3.7]

[Page 14-15]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 3--GIFTS AND DECORATIONS FROM FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 3.7  Decorations.

    (a) Decorations tendered in recognition of active field service in 
time of combat operations or awarded for other outstanding or unusually 
meritorious performance may be accepted, retained, and worn by an 
employee, subject to the approval of the employing agency. Without such 
approval, the decoration is deemed to have been accepted on behalf of 
the United States and, like tangible gifts of more than

[[Page 15]]

minimal value, must be deposited by the employee with the designated 
depository office for the employing agency within sixty days after 
acceptance, for retention for official use or for disposal in accordance 
with Sec. 3.9.
    (b) The decision as to whether a decoration has been awarded for 
outstanding or unusually meritorious performance will be made:
    (1) For the Department of State, by the supervising Assistant 
Secretary of State or comparable official, except that, in the case of a 
decoration awarded to an Assistant Secretary or other officer of 
comparable or higher rank, the decision shall be made by the Office of 
Protocol;
    (2) For IDCA, by the Assistant Director for Administration;
    (3) For AID, by the Director of Personnel Management; and
    (4) For USICA, by the Supervising Associate Director, the General 
Counsel, or the Director of the Office of Congressional and Public 
Liaison (for domestic employees), and by the Director of Area Offices 
(for overseas employees).
    (c) To justify an affirmative decision, a statement from the foreign 
government, preferably in the form of a citation which shows the 
specific basis for the tender of the award, should be supplied. An 
employee who has received or been tendered a decoration should forward 
to the designated depository office of the employing agency a request 
for review of the case. This request should contain a statement of 
circumstances of the award and such documentation from the foreign 
government as has accompanied it. The depository office will obtain the 
decision of the cognizant office as to whether the award meets the 
statutory criteria and thus whether the decoration may be retained and 
worn. Pending receipt of that decision, the decoration should remain in 
the custody of the recipient.