Bill Overview
Title: WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act
Description: This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to World War II Army and Navy Nurse Corps members in recognition of their critical military service and devotion to duty.
Sponsors: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Target Audience
Population: World War II Army and Navy Nurse Corps members
Estimated Size: 5000
- The bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to individuals who served as nurses in the Army and Navy Nurse Corps during World War II.
- The bill specifically recognizes their military service and devotion to duty during WWII.
- These individuals are a subset of all military personnel who served during World War II.
- The population of WWII veterans has decreased significantly over the decades since the end of the war.
Reasoning
- The main recipients of the WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act are a very specific and small population: World War II Army and Navy Nurse Corps members.
- Given that there are fewer than 5,000 surviving members, the distribution of the Congressional Gold Medal will be limited and targeted to these individuals.
- The policy is not expected to have a wide impact on the general public due to the specific nature of its recipient group.
- The allocation of $200,000,000 over ten years for awards can improve the recognition and possible well-being of these individuals, although the financial impact per recipient is minimal given the symbolic nature of the award.
- By focusing on individuals who provided significant service during the war, the policy honors contributions that have been historically undervalued.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Nurse (San Diego, CA)
Age: 98 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Receiving this medal means a lot to me as it feels like my contributions during WWII are being recognized.
- It's great to see the service of nurses gaining acknowledgment after all these years.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Austin, TX)
Age: 99 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am grateful for the recognition, though it feels a bit late in life. Still, it's nice to be remembered.
- I hope this brings some more attention to the role nurses played in the war.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Retired Medical Director (New York, NY)
Age: 102 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This medal is a symbol of the past sacrifices, but perhaps it could have come sooner to help highlight our roles when we had more influence.
- It's a step for future recognition of nurses in military service overall.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Historian (Chicago, IL)
Age: 75 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm pleased my grandmother’s service is being recognized through this policy.
- I wish policies like this could engage younger generations and teach them more about this history.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Teacher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's an important teaching point for my students about the value of contributions from all members of service.
- Hopefully, this helps elevate the message about different roles in the military.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Nurse (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy reminds me why I chose nursing; it honors a legacy that influenced my career choice.
- Recognition is great, but ongoing support for current nurses should also be a focus.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 89 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My late husband would have appreciated this recognition for his peers, even if it comes late.
- It's heartwarming to see such acknowledgments happening now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Advocate for Veterans (Portland, OR)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see efforts to honor WWII nurses, which and in turn raises awareness for current and future military obligations.
- This may set a positive precedent for other under-recognized groups.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Engineer (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This medal honors my mother's service, which means a lot to our family.
- I believe recognizing nurses' contributions can inspire new generations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Veterans Affairs Officer (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're always pleased to see recognition for often overlooked service members.
- This will help raise awareness about the myriad of roles in military service.
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 | 4 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
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 cost of producing and delivering a Congressional Gold Medal is the primary factor.
- This is a one-time, symbolic recognition, hence costs will only incur in the awarding year.
- The eligible population is elderly, given the passage of time since WWII, which may affect how many medals need exact production.