Bill Overview
Title: Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act
Description: This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Services Company, known collectively as the Ghost Army , in recognition of unique and highly distinguished service during World War II.
Sponsors: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: Surviving members of the Ghost Army units and their families
Estimated Size: 400
- The bill concerns the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to a specific group of World War II veterans.
- The Ghost Army refers to units from World War II, specifically the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Services Company.
- These units are historical military groups with members primarily from the United States who served during WWII.
- As the event was during World War II, the number of surviving members will be quite small as this war ended in 1945, over 75 years ago.
- The population impacted is largely symbolic as the medal recognizes past contributions rather than providing ongoing or material benefits.
Reasoning
- The Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act has a primarily symbolic impact, recognizing a small and specific group of World War II veterans.
- Given the passage of time since the war, the number of direct surviving members is very small and most impact is felt through their families or in the symbolic recognition of their service.
- The policy budget reflects that the costs are minimal due to its symbolic nature, mainly allocated towards the ceremonial award and related activities.
- The wellbeing impact is likely small as it doesn't affect daily life or material conditions but may provide emotional satisfaction or pride.
- People interviewed will include surviving family members, veterans from other military units, historians, and everyday citizens unaffected by the policy directly.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Veteran (Boston, MA)
Age: 92 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's gratifying to see this recognition, though it comes quite late for many of my peers.
- I'm proud and grateful, it feels like our efforts are not forgotten.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Historian (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognition is important for historical reasons, and this act would also honor my father's legacy.
- I believe it helps educate younger generations about unique military contributions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As an educator, I think this is a great way to bring attention to lesser-known WWII contributions.
- It doesn't impact me directly, but it's good history recognition.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a cool thing to have historical events and people recognized, but it doesn't affect my life.
- It's a nice ceremonial aspect of history acknowledgment.
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 |
Retired Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 83 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been pushing for this kind of recognition for years; it's an important acknowledgement that goes beyond personal gain.
- I feel closer to my brother's memory now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a piece of history being recognized. From an academic standpoint, it's appreciated.
- Neutral on personal impact but finds it supports educational interests.
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 | 5 |
Retired Nurse (Richmond, VA)
Age: 76 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to see peer recognition, benefits the community.
- Feels public acknowledgment helps veterans' families feel part of a broader memorial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Military Historian (New York, NY)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It validates years of my work, gives a boost to public history appreciation.
- Professional satisfaction increased through recognition efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- No direct effect, but sees it as a positive step for recognition.
- Feels it will inspire her exploration into family history.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Finance Analyst (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see any real impact for me; however, it's always good to recognize efforts of the past.
- I appreciate the historical dimension but it's not relevant to my daily life.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000 (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 primary cost involves the production of the Congressional Gold Medal, which is a one-time expenditure.
- The bill's focus is symbolic, emphasizing honor and recognition without providing additional monetary benefits or programs.
- From a fiscal perspective, the bill's impact on the federal budget is negligible due to the one-time, limited nature of the expenditure.