[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 441 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 441

 Recognizing the history and continued accomplishments of women in the 
                   Armed Forces of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 4, 2010

Mrs. Boxer (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Shaheen, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. 
 Klobuchar, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. 
  Lautenberg, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Burris, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. 
 Stabenow, and Ms. Landrieu) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the history and continued accomplishments of women in the 
                   Armed Forces of the United States.

Whereas women of diverse ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, and racial 
        backgrounds have made extraordinary contributions to each service of the 
        Armed Forces;
Whereas today women volunteer to serve the Nation and distinguish themselves in 
        the active and reserve components of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air 
        Force and Coast Guard;
Whereas the contributions of generations of women have contributed to the 
        collective success of women in military service and the freedom and 
        security of the United States;
Whereas women have served with honor, courage, and a pioneering spirit in every 
        major military campaign in the history of the United States since the 
        Revolutionary War;
Whereas Dr. Mary E. Walker was the first, and remains the only, woman awarded 
        the Medal of Honor for her contributions to military medicine and 
        selfless actions during the Civil War;
Whereas the role of women expanded during World War I, with women serving as 
        medical professionals and telephone operators and in other support roles 
        that were critical to the war effort;
Whereas, during World War II, women served in every military service and in 
        every theater and received awards for their gallantry, including four 
        Silver Stars;
Whereas the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 (62 Stat. 356, 
        chapter 449) established permanent positions and granted veterans 
        benefits for women in the Armed Forces and allowed women to serve during 
        the Korean War as regular members of the military;
Whereas, during the Vietnam War, roughly 7,500 women served in the Armed Forces 
        in Southeast Asia as Nurse Corps officers and in other vital capacities 
        where they saved lives and supported their fellow service members;
Whereas, in 1976, the service academies first admitted women, and in 1980, the 
        first women graduated from the United States Military Academy, the 
        United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and 
        the United States Coast Guard Academy;
Whereas women were assigned to the first gender-integrated units during the 
        1980s, with women serving alongside men in Operation Urgent Fury in 
        Grenada and Operation Just Cause in Panama;
Whereas an unprecedented 40,000 women deployed as uniformed members of the Armed 
        Forces in support of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield;
Whereas, in 1991, Congress repealed laws prohibiting women from flying combat 
        missions and in 1993 repealed the restriction on women serving on combat 
        vessels;
Whereas, on June 16, 2005, Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester, an Army National Guard 
        Military Police Soldier, became the first woman to receive the Silver 
        Star since World War II for exceptional valor during an ambush on her 
        convoy in Iraq;
Whereas, on November 14, 2008, General Ann Dunwoody became the first woman in 
        the military to achieve the rank of four-star general;
Whereas, according to the Department of Defense, there are currently 203,375 
        women on active duty in the Armed Forces, many of whom have been 
        deployed in harm's way;
Whereas, as of January 2, 2010, 104 military women have lost their lives in 
        Operation Iraqi Freedom and 20 military women have lost their lives in 
        Operation Enduring Freedom;
Whereas, as of February 6, 2010, 616 military women have been wounded in action 
        in Iraq, and 50 military women have been wounded in action in 
        Afghanistan;
Whereas, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as of February 1, 
        2010, there were 1,824,000 women veterans of the Armed Forces;
Whereas women help make the military of the United States the finest in the 
        world by serving frequent and lengthy deployments under the most 
        difficult conditions;
Whereas women in the Armed Forces frequently balance the rigors of a military 
        career with the responsibilities of maintaining a healthy family;
Whereas women serving in combat theaters have been exposed to the same hazards 
        and harsh conditions as male service members, and have sustained grave 
        injuries and have given their lives in service to our Nation;
Whereas all service members, both men and women, deserve fair compensation for 
        service related injuries, proper health care and rehabilitation, and the 
        respect of a grateful Nation for their selfless service, sacrifice, and 
        loyalty; and
Whereas women have made our Nation safer and more secure, while representing the 
        values that we hold dear: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) acknowledges the contributions of women to our national 
        defense and their importance in the rich history of the United 
        States;
            (2) celebrates the role that women have played in securing 
        our Nation and defending our freedom;
            (3) recognizes the unique challenges that women have 
        overcome to expand the role of women in military service;
            (4) agrees that programs available for women service 
        members and veterans should be strengthened and enhanced, 
        including for those who are dealing with invisible wounds of 
        war; and
            (5) strongly encourages the people of the United States to 
        honor women veterans who have served our Nation and to elevate 
        their stature in our national conscience.
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