Congress honors WWII nurses denied rank, pay, and benefits
S. 2195 — WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act · Filed by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) · 28 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 26, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill authorizes Congress to award a gold medal honoring World War II Army and Navy nurses who served in combat zones, field hospitals, and internment camps. The medal will be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury, displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, and made available for exhibit at military museums and memorials. The bill also permits the US Mint to manufacture and sell bronze duplicates at cost to recover expenses.
Why we flagged it
This is a straightforward commemorative measure authorizing a gold medal to honor WWII Army and Navy nurses. The bill's primary function is recognition and memorialization, with ancillary provisions for medal design, Smithsonian display, and bronze duplicate sales.
What the text implies
- The bill authorizes the US Mint to strike and sell bronze duplicates at cost-recovery prices, creating a revenue stream for the Mint Public Enterprise Fund. While modest, this establishes a precedent for monetizing commemorative medals tied to historical recognition.
- Designation of the gold medal as a 'numismatic item' under 31 USC §5134–5136 may affect collectibility, tax treatment, and secondary-market trading of duplicate bronze medals, potentially creating unintended investment or speculative value.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
US Mint (operational revenue from bronze medal sales); Precious metals suppliers (gold and bronze procurement); Medal manufacturing contractors