Expressing support for the designation of June 12, 2021, as ''Women Veterans Appreciation Day''.

IV 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 472 Expressing support for the designation of June 12, 2021, as ‘‘Women Veterans Appreciation Day’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 11, 2021 Ms. SHERRILL submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of June 12, 2021, 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, in- cluding— (1) disguised as male soldiers during the American Revolution and the Civil War; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:44 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR472.IH HR472 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 472 IH (2) as nurses during World War I and World War II; and (3) as combat helicopter pilots in Afghanistan; Whereas, as of April 2020, women constitute approximately 17 percent of United States Armed Forces personnel on active duty, including— (1) 21 percent of active duty personnel in the Air Force; (2) 20 percent of active duty personnel in the Navy; (3) 15 percent of active duty personnel in the Army; (4) 9 percent of active duty personnel in the Marine Corps; and (5) 15 percent of active duty personnel in the Coast Guard; Whereas, as of April 2020, women constitute nearly 21 per- cent of personnel in the National Guard and Reserves; Whereas, as of April 2020, women comprise nearly 25 per- cent of the National Guard and Reserves activated to support COVID–19 response efforts; Whereas in 2021— (1) the population of women veterans is expected to reach 2,000,000, which represents an exponential in- crease from 713,000 women veterans in 1980; and (2) women veterans are expected to constitute more than 10 percent of the total veteran population; Whereas an estimated one in four 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:44 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR472.IH HR472 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 472 IH 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 Vet- erans History Project, which has worked since 2000 to collect and share the personal accounts of wartime vet- erans in the United States; and Whereas, by designating June 12, 2021, as ‘‘Women Vet- erans 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 Resolved, That the House of Representatives ex- 1 presses support for the designation of ‘‘Women Veterans 2 Appreciation Day’’ to recognize the service and sacrifices 3 of women veterans who have served valiantly on behalf of 4 the United States. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:15 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR472.IH HR472 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with BILLS