Title: A resolution acknowledging and commemorating the women in the Army who served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and the Women's Army Corp during World War II.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution honors and commends the women who served in critical military positions in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corp and the Women's Army Corp to aid the war effort during World War II.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 735 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 735

Acknowledging and commemorating the women in the Army who served in the 
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and the Women's Army Corp during World War 
                                  II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2022

   Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Ms. Warren, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Scott of 
Florida, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Braun, and 
Mr. Scott of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Acknowledging and commemorating the women in the Army who served in the 
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and the Women's Army Corp during World War 
                                  II.

Whereas Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts introduced a bill, 
        H.R. 6293 (77th Congress), to create the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps 
        (referred to in this preamble as the ``WAAC'') to expand the types of 
        jobs women could hold in the Army to address manpower shortages;
Whereas President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the WAAC by signing the Act 
        entitled ``An Act to establish a Women's Army Auxiliary Corps for 
        service with the Army of the United States'', approved May 14, 1942 
        (commonly known as the ``W.A.A.C. (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) Act'') 
        (Public Law 77-554; 56 Stat. 278), into law;
Whereas while 35,000 women had served in the enlisted ranks of the Army 
        primarily in nursing positions during World War I, women had little 
        formal means to serve in non-medical roles prior to the creation of the 
        WAAC;
Whereas despite widely held stigmas associated with women in the military and 
        numerous false allegations of impropriety among members of the WAAC, 
        women applied to serve in such high numbers that enrollment ceilings 
        were reached within the first year;
Whereas under the leadership of Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, service in the WAAC 
        quickly exceeded the 25,000 women initially expected;
Whereas Secretary of War Henry Stimson had to raise the limit on WAAC 
        recruitment to 150,000 women because of high levels of enrollment;
Whereas the WAAC worked across the country, from Washington to Tennessee and 
        from New Mexico to South Carolina, as well as overseas;
Whereas members of the WAAC served in numerous capacities, including as 
        switchboard operators, mechanics, bakers, drivers, cryptographers, lab 
        technicians, and nurses;
Whereas members of the WAAC, despite the quality and value of their 
        contributions to the war effort, were not given benefits or pay equal to 
        those of their male counterparts, and were not recognized as full 
        members of the Army;
Whereas President Roosevelt signed the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a 
        Women's Army Corps for service in the Army of the United States'', 
        approved July 1, 1943 (commonly known as the ``W.A.C. (Women's Army 
        Corps) Act'') (Public Law 78-110; 57 Stat. 371), into law, which 
        converted the WAAC into the Women's Army Corp (referred to in this 
        preamble as the ``WAC''), gave the women official military status and 
        the same ranks and privileges of their male counterparts, and allowed 
        the women to serve overseas;
Whereas during World War II, members of the WAC served overseas as drivers, 
        clerks, nurses, and mechanics, enabling the release of more than 7 
        divisions of men to serve in combat roles;
Whereas towards the end of World War II, General Douglas MacArthur stated that 
        the members of the WAC were ``[his] best soldiers'', noting their 
        dedication to hard work and discipline;
Whereas General and future President Dwight D. Eisenhower said that the WAC's 
        ``contributions in efficiency, skill, spirit, and determination are 
        immeasurable'';
Whereas the WAC served as an important precursor to the complete gender 
        integration of the military in 1978; and
Whereas the brave women who served in the WAAC and the WAC are owed a great debt 
        of gratitude for their service to the United States: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the women who served the United States in the 
        Women's Auxiliary Army Corp (referred to in this resolution as 
        the ``WAAC'') and the Women's Army Corp (referred to in this 
        resolution as the ``WAC'') during World War II;
            (2) commends the women of the WAAC and the WAC who, through 
        their dedication to the United States and perseverance through 
        significant social pressure, served in critical military 
        positions to aid the war effort, freeing male soldiers for 
        combat duty; and
            (3) recognizes that the WAAC and the WAC overcame 
        stereotypes to open up more opportunities for women and made 
        significant contributions to the victory of the United States 
        and the allies in World War II.
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