IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 499 

Expressing support for the designation of June 12, 2023, as ‘‘Women 

Veterans Appreciation Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 12, 2023 

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia (for herself, Ms. SHERRILL, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mrs. 

LUNA, and Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of June 12, 2023, 

as ‘‘Women Veterans Appreciation Day’’. 

Whereas, throughout all periods of the history of the United 

States, women have proudly served the United States to 

secure and preserve freedom and liberty for— 

(1) the people of the United States; and 

(2) the allies of the United States; 

Whereas women have formally been a part of the United 

States Armed Forces since the establishment of the Army 

Nurse Corps in 1901, but have informally served since 

the inception of the United States military; 

Whereas women have served honorably and with valor, including— 


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•HRES 499 IH 

(1) disguised as male soldiers during the American 

Revolution and the Civil War; 

(2) as nurses during World War I and World War 

II; and 

(3) in combat roles in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and 

Afghanistan. 

Whereas, as of October 2021, women constitute 17 percent 

of United States Armed Forces personnel on active duty, 

including— 

(1) 21 percent of active duty personnel in the Air 

Force; 

(2) 21 percent of active duty personnel in the Navy; 

(3) 16 percent of active duty personnel in the Army; 

(4) 9 percent of active duty personnel in the Marine 

Corps; 

(5) 20 percent of active duty personnel in the Space 

Force; and 

(6) 15 percent of active duty personnel in the Coast 

Guard. 

Whereas, as of October 2021, women constitute nearly 21 

percent of personnel in the National Guard and Reserves; 

Whereas as of 2021— 

(1) the population of women veterans exceeded 

2,000,000, which represents an exponential increase from 

713,000 women veterans in 1980; and 

(2) women veterans constitute approximately 10 percent of the total veteran population; 

Whereas women are the fastest growing group in the veteran 

population; 


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Whereas an estimated one in three women veterans enrolled 

in the VA Healthcare System report having experienced 

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) during military service; 

Whereas the United States is proud of and appreciates the 

service of all women veterans who have demonstrated 

great skill, sacrifice, and commitment to defending the 

principles upon which the United States was founded and 

which the United States continues to uphold; 

Whereas women veterans have unique stories and should be 

encouraged to share their recollections through the Veterans History Project, which has worked since 2000 to 

collect and share the personal accounts of wartime veterans in the United States; 

Whereas, on June 12, 1948, all women were, for the first, 

time, authorized by statute to serve as permanent, regular members of the armed forces with the signing of the 

Women’s Armed Services Integration Act by President 

Truman; and 

Whereas, by designating June 12, 2023, as ‘‘Women Veterans Appreciation Day’’, the House of Representatives 

can— 

(1) highlight the growing presence of women in the 

Armed Forces and the National Guard; and 

(2) pay respect to women veterans for their dutiful 

military service: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives ex2 presses support for the designation of ‘‘Women Veterans 

3 Appreciation Day’’ to recognize the service and sacrifices 


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1 of women veterans who have served valiantly on behalf of 

2 the United States. 

Æ 


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