HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2022-4658

HR 4658

ByRepresentative Bateman

WHEREAS, The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was the women's branch of the United States Army, created as an auxiliary unit in May of 1942 and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943; and

WHEREAS, These women faced opposition by both the conservative leadership of the Army and general public opinion; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 150,000 American women served in World War II, the first women, other than nurses, to serve in the Army; and

WHEREAS, These groundbreaking women were highly valued by generals such as General Douglas MacArthur and General Dwight Eisenhower who said, "their contributions in efficiency, skill, spirit and determination are immeasurable"; and

WHEREAS, Other branches of the United States military had women's units including the Navy (WAVES), the Coast Guard (SPARS), the (civilian) Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), and Women in Air Force (WAF); and

WHEREAS, The WAC disbanded in 1978, allowing women to serve in the same units alongside the men; and

WHEREAS, Women have only been allowed in or near combat situations since 1994, when United States Defense Secretary Les Aspin ordered the removal of "substantial risk of capture" from the list of grounds for excluding women from certain military units; and

WHEREAS, Women who served our country through these long years deserve our respect and gratitude both for their contributions to our military and for the furtherance of women's rights and equality in the United States; and

WHEREAS, June 12, 2022, will mark the 74th anniversary of the groundbreaking Women's Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives join in acknowledging the anniversary of this day in recognition of the courageous service of women in the military.