33 USC § 1974 - Judges

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s1974"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 1974 - Judges"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "1974"
section_name: "Judges"
chapter_number: 33
chapter_name: "MARINE DEBRIS RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND REDUCTION"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "GENIUS PRIZE FOR SAVE OUR SEAS INNOVATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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.)"
---


# § 1974. Judges

**(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.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to  prior to renumbering by .