CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

CHAPTER 167

Statutes of 2026

Introduced by Senator Cabaldon

(Coauthors: Senators Grayson and Umberg)

April 22, 2026

Relative to military and veterans.

Fiscal committee: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

This measure would urge the United States Congress to act favorably in regard to legislation, Senate Bill 2195 and House of Representatives Bill 4901 to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the United States Army Nurse Corps and the United States Navy Nurse Corps.

WHEREAS, During World War II, more than 59,000 United States Army nurses and 14,000 United States Navy nurses volunteered to serve, providing critical medical care in combat zones, aboard hospital ships, and on evacuation aircraft, often under fire and in extreme conditions; and

WHEREAS, These nurses endured bombings, sniper attacks, and captivity as prisoners of war, while continuing to care for wounded service members with skill and compassion, contributing to a historically low mortality rate among United States soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Their service extended beyond the battlefield to postwar humanitarian missions, including caring for victims of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and preventing disease outbreaks in refugee camps across Europe; and

WHEREAS, The World War II nurses included women of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, such as African American, Chinese American, and Japanese American, and nurses from the United States territories of Guam, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Philippines, who overcame discrimination to serve honorably and heroically; and

WHEREAS, Despite their valor, many of these nurses served without full military status, equal pay, or veteran benefits, and their contributions have not been adequately recognized; and

WHEREAS, Federal Senate Bill 2195, introduced by Senator Tammy Baldwin and cosponsored by Senators Steve Daines and Ben Ray Luján, and House of Representatives Bill 4901, introduced by Representative Elise Stefanik and cosponsored by Representatives Christopher Deluzio and Jen Kiggans, seek to honor these nurses with a Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The State of California is home to thousands of veterans and military families who honor the legacy of these nurses and advocate for recognition of their extraordinary service, sacrifice, and contributions to military medicine and humanitarian missions; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States to quickly cosponsor S.2195 and H.R. 4901, and for the Congress of the United States to act favorably on legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the women who served in World War II as members of the United States Army Nurse Corps and the United States Navy Nurse Corps; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to the President and Vice President of the United States.