05-S1134 on May 26, 2005

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY:

Expresses the sense of Congress that:
1. women play a critical role in accomplishing the mission of the Armed Forces; and
2. there should be no change to existing statutes, regulations, or policy that would have the effect of decreasing the roles or positions available to women in the Armed Forces.

EXCERPTS OF RESOLUTION: Congress makes the following findings:

1. Women have a prominent role in American military history, with involvement as far back as the American Revolution.
2. Opportunities for servicewomen have increased dramatically since 1948, when the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 gave women a permanent place in the Armed Forces.
3. The Department of Defense began to expand its programs on women in the Armed Forces in earnest in 1973.

From 1973 to 2005, the number of women as a percentage of the total force of the Armed Forces increased from only 2.5% to approximately 17%, with more than 200,000 women currently serving in the Armed Forces.

The admission of women to the service academies began in Autumn 1976 and has increased steadily so that women currently comprise approximately 16% to 19% of the incoming class each year at the service academies.

The current policy excludes women units whose primary mission is to engage in direct combat on the ground.

It is the sense of Congress that--
1. women play a critical role in the accomplishment of the mission of the Armed Forces; and
2. there should be no change to existing statutes, regulations, or policy that would have the effect of decreasing the roles or positions available to women in the Armed Forces.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to Senate Committee

Participating counts on VoteMatch question 2.