WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act

Last action · June 26, 2025: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Sponsors: Tammy Baldwin and 30 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

What This Bill Would Do

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.

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.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

World War II Nurse Corps veterans

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

Directly affected

U.S. Congress

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

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.

Show all 8 facts

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.

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.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

2 actions

Jun 26, 2025SenateCommittee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Jun 26, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate

Version history

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

View official text →