Title: An act relating to recording the oral histories of women who contributed to their communities, the state, or the nation during World War II.

Brief Description: Including women's contributions in the World War II oral history project.

Sponsors: Senators Franklin, Schmidt, Oke, Rasmussen, Thibaudeau, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Regala, Parlette, Pridemore, Hargrove, Fraser, Hewitt, Doumit, Spanel, Prentice, Stevens, McAuliffe, Mulliken, Haugen, Berkey, Swecker, Carrell, Fairley, Kline, Keiser, Kastama, Shin, Delvin, Roach, Poulsen, Sheldon, Eide, Johnson and Rockefeller.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/15/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/10/05, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin and Mulliken.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: The World War II oral history project was established for the purpose of providing oral history presentations, documentation, and other materials to assist the office of the superintendent of public instruction and educators in the development of a curriculum for use in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Summary of Bill: The legislature finds that the women of the greatest generation made essential contributions to our nation's success in World War II. Many directly served the country in the armed forces; many provided nursing and support services to the troops; and many back at home worked in industries that supported the service members. Other women held our families, businesses, and communities together. The legislature further finds that to have a clearer reflection of women's sacrifices on behalf of freedom and democracy, it is necessary to include the memories of these women in the World War II oral history project.

Any funding provided to the World War II oral history project through the omnibus appropriations act for the 2005-2007 biennium must be used to record the memories of women who served in the armed forces or contributed to the war effort through national or community contributions during World War II.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: August 1, 2005.

Testimony For: This bill will help complete the work to create the WWII oral history project. The video portion of the project is complete and in the schools now as part of their curriculum. Veterans have been working hard to get women included in the history and we must act quickly to preserve the memories. The important role played by women in our military history is generally lacking in our educational materials and that must be remedied. This is long overdue.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Franklin, prime sponsor; Bill Merifield, World War II Educational Foundation.