To rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill renames the Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Butte, Montana, as the "Charlie Dowd VA Clinic" to honor Charles "Charlie" Arthur Dowd, a Pearl Harbor survivor and decorated World War II Navy veteran. Charlie Dowd was present during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, where he heroically climbed to a rooftop to fire at Japanese aircraft. He later served in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, earning seven Bronze Star Medals.
Who Benefits and How
Veterans and the local community in Anaconda/Butte, Montana benefit symbolically through the recognition of a local hero who was active in veteran advocacy until his passing. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and veteran advocacy groups receive acknowledgment of their members' sacrifices. The Dowd family is honored through this permanent memorial to Charlie's service.
Who Bears the Burden and How
This is purely commemorative legislation with no significant burden on any group. The Department of Veterans Affairs will need to update signage and official documents to reflect the new name, but this is a minimal administrative cost.
Key Provisions
- Officially designates the Butte, Montana VA community-based outpatient clinic as the "Charlie Dowd VA Clinic"
- Documents Charlie Dowd's heroic service at Pearl Harbor and throughout World War II
- Recognizes Dowd's seven Bronze Star Medals and his nickname "Devil Dog Dowd"
- Acknowledges his post-service contributions as an educator, outdoor writer, and veteran advocate
- Requires all future federal documents to reference the clinic by its new name
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Renames the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic in honor of Pearl Harbor survivor Charles Arthur Dowd.
Who Benefits
- Veterans community in Butte, Montana
- Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
- Family of Charlie Dowd
Who Bears Costs
- No significant burden - purely commemorative legislation
Key Policy Areas
Veterans Affairs, Federal Property
Primary Purpose
Renames the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic in honor of Pearl Harbor survivor Charles Arthur Dowd.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Commemorative naming to honor a distinguished Pearl Harbor survivor and veteran who served with valor during World War II and was a lifelong advocate for veterans"
Identified Gains
- Veterans community in Butte, Montana
- Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
- Family of Charlie Dowd
Identified Costs
- No significant burden - purely commemorative legislation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Daines introduced the following bill; which was read twice …
Impact analysis is available but no clear stakeholder effects identified. View clause-level analysis →
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_department"
- → Department of Veterans Affairs
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
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