Bill Overview
Title: To award a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Dr. John Cheng, a hero who died protecting others on May 15, 2022.
Description: This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Dr. John Cheng in recognition of his heroic actions to protect others on May 15, 2022.
Sponsors: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45]
Target Audience
Population: People who value acts of heroism and recognition of bravery
Estimated Size: 330000000
- This legislation is intended to recognize the actions of a deceased individual by awarding a Congressional Gold Medal.
- The immediate effect is symbolic, aimed at honoring Dr. John Cheng posthumously.
- While the legislation primarily acknowledges the heroism of one individual, its impact is more broadly on groups who value recognition of such acts of bravery.
- The global population understands and values acts of heroism, especially those that involve self-sacrifice to save others.
- Congressional Gold Medals serve as national symbols of gratitude and recognition for service and sacrifice, emphasizing community and societal values.
Reasoning
- The policy's impact is primarily symbolic and revolves around recognizing acts of heroism, hence it may not directly affect the everyday lives of individuals in tangible ways.
- Since the policy involves posthumously awarding a medal, its immediate impact will be on Dr. Cheng's family, colleagues, and communities he impacted or symbolically represents.
- The American populace broadly values actions of bravery and sacrifice, so public sentiment towards acts of heroism may incrementally boost the national collective morale.
- The budget for this policy is noted to handle symbolic measures, media coverage, and possibly related events commemorating the awarding ceremony.
- Common citizens might not see a variance in their personal wellbeing scores as a direct result of this action, but subtle shifts in national sentiment towards appreciating heroism could impact long-term collective wellbeing.
- The policy serves to reinforce national values around heroism and bravery, affecting those with specific ties or interests in military service, law enforcement, and emergency response who draw parallels with Dr. Cheng's actions.
Simulated Interviews
Emergency Room Doctor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a good step in recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of individuals in dangerous situations.
- I feel inspired and proud to be in the same profession as Dr. Cheng.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Congressional Gold Medal is an important symbolic gesture.
- Recognition through such awards underlines our society’s commitment to acknowledging acts of bravery.
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 | 5 |
Retired Police Officer (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.2 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognizing bravery is crucial even if the person isn’t alive to see it.
- Stories like Dr. Cheng's are important for future generations to understand bravery.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Teaching students about Dr. Cheng and the medal award enriches the curriculum on national values.
- It serves as a great example of sacrificing for the well-being of others.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Firefighter (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seeing such acts being recognized makes me feel that the risks we take are appreciated.
- These stories give confidence and motivation to others in hazardous professions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Graduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Acts like these that are given national recognition inspire me in my studies and activism.
- The award aligns with my belief in valuing selflessness and bravery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran (Houston, TX)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.3 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Honors like these should be used to inspire younger generations about serving others.
- I’m glad to see bravery being recognized nationally. It means more than people realize.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
High School Student (Portland, OR)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.8 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hearing Dr. Cheng's story makes me more determined to pursue a career in emergency services.
- It's motivating to know that heroism is noticed and valued.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Community Activist (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This award brings positive visibility to the Asian American community.
- Dr. Cheng’s action is a source of pride and a reminder of our community’s resilience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I don't feel personally connected, it's always good to hear about bravery being acknowledged.
- These stories add to the national conscience about doing good in times of crisis.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
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
- This bill represents a significant symbolic gesture by Congress, with a low fiscal impact.
- The impact is more cultural and social, reinforcing values of heroism and bravery.
- Financial costs are minimal compared to other federal programs or initiatives.