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S2195FEDERALin_committee

WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act

June 26, 2025

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Last action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Jun 26, 2025

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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The Frame

What this does

The bill honors the service of approximately 73,000 women who served as nurses during World War II, acknowledging their contributions despite historical disparities in pay, military status, and benefits.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

World War II Nurse Corps veterans

The bill formally recognizes their service through the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal.

U.S. Congress

The legislative body responsible for passing the bill and authorizing the medal.

What changed

Current stage: in_committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill proposes awarding a to the women who served in the U.S. Army and Navy Nurse Corps during World War II. It recognizes their service under combat conditions, their role in reducing soldier mortality rates, and their post-war humanitarian efforts.

Key Facts

  • The bill seeks to award a Congressional Gold Medal collectively to women who served in the U.S. Army and Navy Nurse Corps during World War II.
  • Over 59,000 Army nurses and 14,000 Navy nurses served during the war.
  • Nurses during WWII were granted 'relative rank' under the Act of June 4, 1920, which provided insignia but not full military status, pay parity, or veteran benefits.
  • Nurses served in combat zones across six continents, including field hospitals, hospital ships, and as flight nurses.
  • Nurses were held as prisoners of war in camps such as Santo Tomas University Internment Camp and Bilibid Prison.
  • The presence of nurses contributed to a mortality rate of less than 4 percent for American soldiers receiving field medical care.
  • Nurses received 1,619 medals, citations, and commendations during the war.
  • Post-war, nurses participated in public health missions in Hiroshima and refugee camps in Munich.

Why It Matters

The bill honors the service of approximately 73,000 women who served as nurses during World War II, acknowledging their contributions despite historical disparities in pay, military status, and benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Congressional Gold Medal?
It is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States, bestowed by Congress to honor individuals or groups for distinguished achievements and contributions.
Does this bill provide financial compensation to the nurses?
No, the bill is a formal recognition and does not include provisions for monetary payments or changes to veteran benefits.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Historical recognition of military status

The bill highlights the historical disparity in military status and benefits for female nurses compared to their male counterparts during WWII.

Connected Entities

personTammy BaldwinSenator who introduced the billMap →
organizationU.S. Navy Nurse CorpsPrimary group being honoredMap →
personBen Ray LujanSenator who co-sponsored the billMap →
organizationU.S. Army Nurse CorpsPrimary group being honoredMap →
personSteve DainesSenator who co-sponsored the billMap →

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy0
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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