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—

(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;

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, 2026, 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