[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H2314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING AMERICA'S SERVICEWOMEN

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor 
of Women's History Month, to pay tribute to the dedication and courage 
of the millions of women who have served in the United States Armed 
Services.
  Since the earliest days of our Nation, women have played an integral 
part in our military operations, either behind the front lines or in 
actual combat. As far back as the Revolutionary War, there are stories 
of women who posed as men so that they could go and fight at the 
frontline. Others offered their services as nurses. Still others worked 
to support the war movement by leaving their domestic roles to take on 
jobs that were necessary to maintain the Nation's economy.
  More recently, the role of women in the armed services has greatly 
expanded. In 1978, women began to be assigned to duty aboard ships; in 
1991, women were assigned to aircraft in both the Air Force and the 
Navy; and by 1994, the ban on women on combat ships was lifted, 
allowing women greater opportunities in our armed services.
  As the war in the Persian Gulf looms ahead, we send our thanks and 
support to all our members of the armed services. But let us not forget 
the women and their contributions in this time of need.

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