[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5482-S5483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL 
                              ACADEMY WEEK

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 550, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 550) designating the week of 
     September 5 through September 9, 2016, as ``Recognizing the 
     40th Anniversary of Women at the United States Naval Academy 
     Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today having submitted a 
resolution honoring the 40th anniversary of women attending the U.S. 
Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Forty years ago, in 1975, Congress 
proudly authorized women to attend military service academies. That act 
of Congress, created a milestone in our military history, setting the 
national stage for women's equality.
  On July 6, 1976, the very first class of women entered the U.S. Naval 
Academy. Four years later, the graduating class of 1980, commissioned 
55 women. Since then, more than 4,800 women, including this year's 
graduating class of 2016, have graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy 
and have transcended traditional military roles for women.
  Women have had to fight every single day and in every single way to 
be able to advance ourselves. Today, women make up 27 percent of the 
U.S. Naval Academy's student body, the highest in the school's history. 
This year, midshipmen were admitted from every state in the U.S., as 
well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands. The Naval Academy continues to evolve, depicting our 
Nation's diversity, and promoting equality.
  Our country is stronger today because women have advanced in the 
military. There are 2.2 million women serving in our military, serving 
with their male counterparts in leadership capacities that now include 
combat occupations. These strong, powerful, and intelligent women have 
unselfishly chosen to serve their country in a time when our Nation's 
military is needed the most, and they have done so with passion, 
heroism and integrity.
  The U.S. Naval Academy was founded in 1845. A school that began with 
merely 50 midshipman students and 7 professors now fosters a graduating 
class of 1,076 commissioned officers. A school rich with tradition, the 
Academy offers 43 different majors within 19 fields of study. The U.S. 
Naval Academy offers a premier education and continues to bolster some 
of the finest and most hardworking patrons of our society. But that 
society would not be complete without our women service members. When 
women succeed in the workplace, our economy succeeds, and our country 
is stronger for it.
  The U.S. Naval Academy has groomed trailblazers, women who have 
commanded in combat, women who have set standards for success, and 
women who have paved the way for our daughters and granddaughters. I 
wish to honor just a few of those trailblazers, as we recount the 
importance of this 40-year revolution.
  In 1995, CDR Wendy Lawrence, class of 1981, became the first Navy 
woman in space aboard space shuttle Endeavor.
  In 2006, RADM Margaret D. Klein, class of 1981, became the first 
woman commandant at the U.S. Naval Academy. Later she served as the 
Chief of Staff for U.S. Cyber Command, pioneering in the cyber field.
  In 2011, Marine Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds, class of 1986, was the 
first woman to command the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in Parris 
Island.
  Of course, we can't celebrate the U.S. Naval Academy without 
celebrating

[[Page S5483]]

the accomplishments of ADM Michelle J. Howard, class of 1982; who was 
the first African-American woman to command a Navy ship. In 2014, 
Admiral Howard became the first woman to become a four-star admiral, 
and was then appointed the Vice Chief of Naval Operations; becoming the 
first African-American and the first woman to hold that position.
  This list of accomplishments from our U.S. Naval Academy women 
graduates goes on. It is the reason I have introduced this resolution. 
We must ensure the legacy of this institution and the accomplishments 
of these amazing women are recognized and celebrated.
  Last May, the U.S. Naval Academy commissioned 265 women officers. 
These women, like their predecessors, will go on to serve in some of 
the most demanding assignments in the Navy, the Marine Corps, and even 
inter-service agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard. They will continue 
to break new ground and become firsts in their fields.
  It is because of our Nation's heroes we are able to stand here today, 
but the service of women in the military is a milestone we must honor. 
These women have proven equality matters. These women have proven that 
they can achieve anything. These women have made many sacrifices to 
make our country safe.
  We must continue to promote equality and encourage women to strive 
for success in order to guarantee future parity. In today's 
increasingly uncertain world, women serving in military leadership 
roles, are more important than ever before. Women service members are a 
necessity--they are dynamic, resilient leaders who inspire millions to 
make the world a better place. I am proud to promote and recognize such 
strength.
  As the Navy proudly proclaims, ``Through Knowledge, Sea Power.'' As 
dean of the Women Senators, I am here to proudly proclaim, through 
women's equality, we gain knowledge and create power that is 
unstoppable. As a society, we must continue to promote and recognize 
our Nation's heroines and their outstanding efforts for future 
generations.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 550) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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