Esther Coopersmith Award Act

119th Congress Introduced by Tim Kaine and 1 co-sponsor

The bill creates the Esther Coopersmith Award at the State Department to recognize a diplomat for sustained impact advancing sustainable peace and security.

Introduced in Senate

Summary of Bill: S. 4790 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

Establishes a new award at the U.S. Department of State called the Esther Coopersmith Award.

The award is intended to recognize a distinguished diplomat who has made notable contributions toward advancing sustainable peace and security.

Key provisions and changes

Creation of the Esther Coopersmith Award within the Department of State.

The award is designed to honor an individual diplomat (presumably a U.S. government employee) whose career demonstrated sustained impact in promoting sustainable peace and security on an international scale.

The bill outlines that the award would be administered by the Department of State, though specific administrative procedures (criteria, nomination process, frequency, and funding) are not detailed in the provided summary. The bill’s text would presumably specify:

Eligibility criteria for nominees.
Nomination and selection process (who nominates, who reviews, conservative or bipartisan considerations).
Frequency (annual, biennial, or as determined by the Department) and the form of recognition (medal, certificate, monetary stipend, or public acknowledgment).
Funding mechanism (source of funds within the department or an endowment) and any associated fiscal provisions.

Affected entities and individuals

Primary: Department of State and its diplomatic staff, particularly those engaged in peace and security initiatives.

Nominees: Distinguished U.S. diplomats whose work aligns with sustainable peace and security goals.

Potential beneficiaries or laureates are current or former diplomats whose careers meet the award criteria.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative path shown in the action history:

Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 16, 2026.
The action history indicates a standard referral process, with consideration by the committee potentially guiding further floor action, amendments, or passage.

No specific dates are provided for hearings, votes, or implementation, beyond the initial committee referral.

If enacted, the Department of State would implement the award according to the bill’s provisions and any accompanying regulations or guidance.

Potential impact and considerations

Symbolic and practical recognition: By creating a formal award, the bill seeks to publicly recognize and incentivize diplomatic work focused on sustainable peace and security.

Diplomatic signaling: The award could highlight U.S. commitments to long-term peace-building and stable international security, potentially elevating careers of diplomats who exemplify these values.

Administrative details: The effectiveness of the award will depend on detailed criteria, transparent nomination and selection processes, and appropriate funding and administration within the Department of State, which would be clarified in the bill’s full text or accompanying regulations.

If you’d like, I can extract and present a more granular breakdown once the bill’s full text is available, including specific eligibility criteria, nomination timelines, and the proposed form of recognition and funding.