September 27, 2024

Warren, Blackburn Renew Bipartisan Push to Honor Women that Volunteered in World War II

Despite social stigmas and adverse public opinion, hundreds of thousands of women enlisted in volunteer services to contribute to war efforts

Text of Resolution (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced the Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) resolution to honor the women who served in the Navy during World War II.

After World War I, laws limited women to the role of nurses during war. The Navy Women’s Reserve Act, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July 1942, reversed this law and established WAVES, allowing women to volunteer in support of war efforts. Women were then recruited to perform military assignments, including training thousands of aspiring male naval aviators, gunners, and navigators. 

More than 400,000 women served our country in military capacities in World War II. In fact, women accounted for about 2.5% of the Navy, including almost 80,000 officers and enlisted personnel during the program’s peak.

“Hundreds of thousands of women helped us win World War II through their service,” said Senator Warren, “Their contributions should not be forgotten, and we should honor their legacy and perseverance.”

Senator Warren has long been a leader in efforts to honor and fight for women servicemembers and veterans:

  • In May 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren led colleagues in reintroducing the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, a bill honoring women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status.
  • In July 2022, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) led 23 of their colleagues in a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), calling on the VA to take immediate administrative action to offer abortions and all abortion-related services to veterans and eligible dependents.
  • In October 2021, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) announced a bipartisan resolution to honor and commend the women who served the United States in the Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) during World War II. 
  • In April 2021, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Susan Collins, Angus King, and Steve Daines today re-introduced the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, a bill to honor women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status.
  • In April 2021, Senator Elizabeth Warren led a bipartisan group of 7 senators to introduce a resolution designating April 18, 2021 as Military Retiree Appreciation Day to commemorate the life-long service of military retirees.
  • In November 2019, Senator Elizabeth Warren led colleagues in introducing the Senate companion to a House resolution urging the U.S. Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp series honoring women veterans of the Armed Forces and calling for the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp series be issued.
  • In April 2019, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Susan Collins, Angus King, and Steve Daines re-introduced the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, a bill to honor women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status. The bill would recognize former Cadet Nurses' service to our country and provide them with honorable discharges, ribbon and medal privileges, and certain burial privileges.
  • In December 2018,Senators Elizabeth Warren, Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the U.S Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, a bill to honor women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status.

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