[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 42 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

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                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2013

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Women's History 
Month. Recently, we have witnessed history being made for women in the 
armed forces. In a long overdue decision, former Secretary of Defense 
Leon Panetta lifted the ban on women serving in combat roles. This 
decision opens up every position for advancement within the military to 
women.
   Dating back to the American Revolutionary War, women have proudly 
served in the Armed Forces. Their roles may have varied throughout 
history but they have always answered the call to action for their 
country. During the Civil War, Clara Barton became a household name 
because of her service as a nurse and later as the founder of the 
American Red Cross. In the World War II era, the iconic image of Rosie 
the Riveter represents the women who stepped up to help their country 
in a time of need. Under the Obama Administration, Michale Flournoy was 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the third-highest-ranking 
woman in the Pentagon's history.
   For more than a decade now, America has been engaging in a new 
method of warfare. With the ever-increasing use of technology, our 
military is now at a place where gender differences are less important. 
As the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown, the ban on women 
in combat roles was mostly theoretical because women served and 
continue to serve in de facto combat roles every day.
   Women have had the opportunity to serve in combat roles in other 
countries for years. It is long past time that the U.S. gives this 
opportunity to their female soldiers.
   Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Women's History Month, I am extremely 
pleased that our military made history by looking at this outdated 
policy and made the long overdue decision to reverse the ban on women 
in combat.

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