I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1988 
To amend title 36, United States Code, to direct the President to issue 
an annual proclamation establishing Women’s Military History Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 17, 2021 
Ms. STEFANIK (for herself and Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
A BILL 
To amend title 36, United States Code, to direct the Presi-
dent to issue an annual proclamation establishing Wom-
en’s Military History Day. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Military His-
tory Day Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) On March 21, 1917, Loretta Perfectus 
Walsh became the first woman in United States his-
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tory to officially enlist in any military service when 
she joined the United States Navy in the month that 
would later be designated Women’s History Month. 
(2) Women have served in the United States 
Armed Forces since the Revolutionary War, initially 
serving in support roles as nurses, seamstresses, and 
cooks for troops. 
(3) Valiant women have served selflessly along-
side men during every conflict involving the United 
States, and have suffered the same hardships, often 
without the benefit of military rank or compensa-
tion. 
(4) Pioneering women have served as trail-
blazers, inspiring generations of American women to 
follow in their footsteps by answering the call to 
serve. 
(5) On January 21, 1918, Myrtle Hazard be-
came the first woman to officially take the oath of 
enlistment for the United States Coast Guard, join-
ing twin sisters, Genevieve and Lucille Baker. 
(6) On August 13, 1918, Opha May Johnson 
joined the United States Marine Corps before she, or 
any woman, was permitted to vote. 
(7) On July 8, 1948, Esther McGowin Blake, 
having already joined the Army Air Forces in 1944, 
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enlisted in the active duty United States Air Force, 
and served beside her two sons. 
(8) Deborah Sampson was, by scholarly con-
sensus, the first woman to serve in the United 
States Army, when she disguised herself as a man 
to join the Continental Army, in which she served 
until 1783. 
(9) In 2015, Department of Defense formally 
announced women could serve in direct combat roles 
and join combat arms professions. 
(10) Army Captains Shaye Haver and Kristen 
Griest were the first females to graduate the United 
States Army’s Ranger School, and Sergeant First 
Class Amanda Kelley was the first enlisted female to 
do so. 
(11) There are nearly 2,000,000 living female 
veterans of the United States Armed Forces who 
represent approximately 10 percent of the overall 
veteran population. 
(12) The United States holds these iconic 
women, and every woman who has served in the 
United States military, in the highest regard for 
their courage and bravery. 
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(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to en-
courage the nationwide observance of ‘‘Women’s Military 
History Day’’ on a day in the month of March. 
SEC. 3. OBSERVANCE OF WOMEN’S MILITARY HISTORY DAY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— Chapter 1 of title 36, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 146. Women’s military history day 
‘‘The President shall issue each year a proclamation 
calling on the people of the United States to— 
‘‘(1) celebrate the bold women who have served 
in the United States military throughout history; 
‘‘(2) highlight trailblazing women in the mili-
tary and their achievements; 
‘‘(3) commemorate the selfless service of women 
in every American military conflict; and 
‘‘(4) observe such Women’s Military History 
Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 1 of such title is amended by 
adding after the item relating to section 145 the following 
new item: 
‘‘146. Women’s military history day.’’. 
Æ 
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