Bill Overview
Title: Task Force Pineapple Congressional Gold Medal Act
Description: This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Task Force Pineapple in recognition of its efforts to rescue hundreds of Afghan special operators and American citizens as the United States was concluding its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Sponsors: Rep. Cawthorn, Madison [R-NC-11]
Target Audience
Population: Members and associates of Task Force Pineapple
Estimated Size: 800
- The bill awards the Task Force Pineapple with a Congressional Gold Medal, a symbolic honor which does not directly impact wellbeing.
- The act of recognizing Task Force Pineapple may indirectly affect the wellbeing of the individuals within the task force or their families by acknowledging their efforts and potentially raising their social or professional standing.
- The population directly associated with Task Force Pineapple is relatively small, likely encompassing only the individuals who were part of the task force.
- Beneficiaries of Task Force Pineapple's actions, i.e., the hundreds rescued, are not directly affected by this recognition bill.
- The wellbeing of the individuals rescued may have already been impacted positively by the actions of the task force, not by this award.
Reasoning
- The award is primarily symbolic and does not involve financial compensation, thus it has a limited tangible impact on wellbeing.
- The impact is expected to be primarily psychological or emotional, affecting feelings of recognition and pride.
- The number of people directly affected by this bill is small, considering it targets members and associates of Task Force Pineapple, estimated to be around 800 individuals.
- The indirect impact may extend slightly to families by enhancing pride and social status but not significantly enough to alter overall wellbeing scores.
- Because the award does not directly change living conditions or financial status, improvements in wellbeing scores are expected to be minimal and short-term.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran and Task Force Pineapple member (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel proud of our achievements and recognition is certainly fulfilling.
- While it's an honor, the award doesn't change my day-to-day life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The recognition feels good, but I wish there were tangible benefits.
- It's important for public acknowledgment of what we did.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Military (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This recognition might help in promoting the cause of veterans.
- It serves as a reminder of the teamwork and courage we exhibited.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Spouse of Task Force Pineapple member (Denver, CO)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm proud of my husband's recognition, it boosts our family's morale.
- The medal feels like an acknowledgment we've been waiting for.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a journalist, I'm neutral. It's good that they are recognized publicly.
- The medal will not affect my reporting work or personal life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Social Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe any recognition for veterans is beneficial for morale.
- This medal might not have a wide impact outside the immediate group.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Colonel (Chicago, IL)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This medal is a nice touch but doesn't change our work's impact.
- The pride it brings should still be celebrated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm proud of my brother, and this medal boosts my aspirations in international studies.
- It adds a sense of pride to our family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Defense Contractor (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Honors like this are great for recognition but don't impact my role.
- The work improves public perception of these operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This recognition can be a case study in my research, but it doesn't impact me personally.
- The medal might stimulate more academic discussion on such interventions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $40000 (Low: $30000, High: $50000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The production and awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal has negligible financial implications on the federal budget.
- The symbolic nature of the award may hold significant societal and cultural value.