[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 25, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H3898-H3899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WOMEN IN THE MILITARY

  (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the courage and 
commitment of women who have served and continue to serve in defense of 
our Nation. Today, we will be voting on an appropriations bill to limit 
and restrict women in the military. How ironic.
  Tomorrow, women Members of Congress, from this Congress, will be 
attending the eighth annual Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues'

[[Page H3899]]

wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The event is an 
annual opportunity to recognize women who play and have played a 
critical role in the Armed Forces, both in times of war and peace, and 
currently now in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  Our troops and all of our servicewomen deserve our utmost respect for 
protecting our freedom. As of March 2005, an estimated 203,000 women 
serve in our U.S. military and another 142,000 women serve in the 
reserve units in the U.S. Armed Forces. These women give of themselves 
and make extraordinary sacrifices.
  The Congressional Caucus of Women's Issues is committed to supporting 
women in our Armed Forces. As Democratic Chair of that women's caucus, 
I want to thank all the servicewomen for their unyielding courage, 
selfless commitment, and long-standing dedication to our military and 
our country. Let us remember them over the Memorial Weekend.

                          ____________________