[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 499 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 499

  Expressing support for the designation of June 12, 2023, as ``Women 
                      Veterans Appreciation Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 12, 2023

Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia (for herself, Ms. Sherrill, Ms. Houlahan, Mrs. 
Luna, and Mrs. Miller-Meeks) submitted the following resolution; which 
     was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for the designation of June 12, 2023, as ``Women 
                      Veterans Appreciation Day''.

Whereas, throughout all periods of the history of the United States, women have 
        proudly served the United States to secure and preserve freedom and 
        liberty for--

    (1) the people of the United States; and

    (2) the allies of the United States;

Whereas women have formally been a part of the United States Armed Forces since 
        the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, but have informally 
        served since the inception of the United States military;
Whereas women have served honorably and with valor, including--

    (1) disguised as male soldiers during the American Revolution and the 
Civil War;

    (2) as nurses during World War I and World War II; and

    (3) in combat roles in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Whereas, as of October 2021, women constitute 17 percent of United States Armed 
        Forces personnel on active duty, including--

    (1) 21 percent of active duty personnel in the Air Force;

    (2) 21 percent of active duty personnel in the Navy;

    (3) 16 percent of active duty personnel in the Army;

    (4) 9 percent of active duty personnel in the Marine Corps;

    (5) 20 percent of active duty personnel in the Space Force; and

    (6) 15 percent of active duty personnel in the Coast Guard.

Whereas, as of October 2021, women constitute nearly 21 percent of personnel in 
        the National Guard and Reserves;
Whereas as of 2021--

    (1) the population of women veterans exceeded 2,000,000, which 
represents an exponential increase from 713,000 women veterans in 1980; and

    (2) women veterans constitute approximately 10 percent of the total 
veteran population;

Whereas women are the fastest growing group in the veteran population;
Whereas an estimated one in three women veterans enrolled in the VA Healthcare 
        System report having experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST) during 
        military service;
Whereas the United States is proud of and appreciates the service of all women 
        veterans who have demonstrated great skill, sacrifice, and commitment to 
        defending the principles upon which the United States was founded and 
        which the United States continues to uphold;
Whereas women veterans have unique stories and should be encouraged to share 
        their recollections through the Veterans History Project, which has 
        worked since 2000 to collect and share the personal accounts of wartime 
        veterans in the United States;
Whereas, on June 12, 1948, all women were, for the first, time, authorized by 
        statute to serve as permanent, regular members of the armed forces with 
        the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act by President 
        Truman; and
Whereas, by designating June 12, 2023, as ``Women Veterans Appreciation Day'', 
        the House of Representatives can--

    (1) highlight the growing presence of women in the Armed Forces and the 
National Guard; and

    (2) pay respect to women veterans for their dutiful military service: 
Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses support for 
the designation of ``Women Veterans Appreciation Day'' to recognize the 
service and sacrifices of women veterans who have served valiantly on 
behalf of the United States.
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