Sponsors (2)
Official title: Establish, at the Department of State, the Esther Coopersmith Award in recognition of a distinguished diplomat advancing sustainable peace and security.
Introduced June 16, 2026 by Timothy Michael Kaine · Last progress June 16, 2026
The bill raises the profile of Women, Peace, and Security work—improving knowledge-sharing, diplomatic influence, and State Department recognition and training—while relying on existing budgets (no new funding), imposing modest administrative burdens, creating some security and politicization risks, and introducing short‑term uncertainty via a five‑year sunset.
Women and girls in conflict-affected areas benefit indirectly because the bill documents, highlights, and promotes successful Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) programs and encourages adoption of lessons that can improve physical safety, economic security, and aid access.
U.S. diplomatic influence and multilateral coordination on preventing mass atrocities and conflict-related sexual violence are strengthened through formal recognition, conference participation, and alignment with international norms.
Foreign Service and State Department workforce preparedness improves because award winners share practical WPS lessons with Chiefs of Mission and entry-level training incorporates WPS best practices, raising awareness and capacity across posts.
Women and girls in conflict zones receive no new direct funding from the bill — findings and awards do not by themselves provide resources or services on the ground.
The bill creates modest administrative costs and additional staff burdens at the State Department (awards administration, review panels, required presentations, and reporting) that divert time and limited resources from other diplomatic tasks.
Embedding policy tests or new eligibility rules in award language could politicize recognition decisions, undermining impartiality and public trust in awards.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Creates an annual State Department award recognizing and publicizing Civil or Foreign Service efforts that advance Women, Peace, and Security goals, requires presentations and a follow-up report, and sunsets after five years.
Creates an annual Esther Coopersmith Award administered by the State Department to honor Civil Service or Foreign Service individuals or teams who advance U.S. Women, Peace, and Security goals by preventing, mitigating, or resolving conflict and improving the safety, economic security, and participation of women and girls. The law requires an honorable mention each year, travel support for recipients to attend a major global security conference, presentations of awardees’ work at specified State Department venues, a public report on recipients’ activities within 90 days of selection, and a five-year sunset for the law and its amendments.