CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 38Introduced by Senator Grove(Coauthor: Senator Menjivar)March 10, 2025 Relative to Womens Military History Week. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 38, as introduced, Grove. Womens Military History Week.This measure would recognize Women Warriors by proclaiming the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Womens Military History Week in California, recognize the hard-fought contributions of women to the military and freedom, and encourage Californians to honor the courageous sacrifices that women have made since the historic lifting of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Women have served bravely in every major United States conflict since the American Revolutionary War, but their courage and service have gone unrecognized. Our current servicewomen would be unable to serve without the precedence, persistence, determination, and unyielding resilience of the incredible strides of women of previous generations; andWHEREAS, Approximately 300,000 women in uniform have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Women have served in intelligence gathering and as combat pilots, field artillery officers, chaplains, special operations civil affairs officers, and even members of the ultra-secretive Delta Force; andWHEREAS, During the Civil War, women disguised as men fought on both sides. Women also served as spies and medical personnel. Three of the most famous women were Dr. Mary Walker, a physician and the only woman ever awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; Clara Barton, who served at the siege of Petersburg and founded the American Red Cross; and Harriet Tubman, who was a volunteer nurse, spy, and scout for the Union Army; andWHEREAS, Cathay Williams was the first and only documented African American woman to enlist in the United States Army as a Buffalo Soldier in 1866 and Carmen Contreras-Bozak was the first Latina to serve in the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942; andWHEREAS, Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester became the first woman in the United States Army since World War II to earn a Silver Star for combat valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom, after leading her service members on a counterattack of anti-Iraqi forces. Her actions saved the lives of numerous convoy members; andWHEREAS, Over 400 women have been killed in combat since World War I and over 90 women have been identified as prisoners of war since World War II; andWHEREAS, January 24, 2025, marked the 12th anniversary of the groundbreaking decision overturning a 1994 Pentagon rule that restricted women from all combat-related roles, including artillery, armor, and infantry; andWHEREAS, While approximately 18 percent of the total United States military is made up of women, 10 have held the rank of four-star general, exemplifying the payoff for hard work that comes to people who do their best work in each and every role they take on, regardless of gender; andWHEREAS, The United States militarys first female four-star general, Army General Ann E. Dunwoody, cracked the militarys brass ceiling in 2008, when she was awarded her fourth star and named commander of the Army Materiel Command, the unit that equips, outfits, and arms United States service members; andWHEREAS, While women were barred from assignment to direct ground combat units, they were attached to such units and increasingly tasked with handling issues around the local populace. Their success and performance directly led to initiatives that resulted in a broader implementation of females in Special Operations Forces for years to come; andWHEREAS, Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent, a Navy cryptologic technician who spoke seven different languages and was assigned to several special operations and secretive units, contributed directly to the capture of hundreds of enemy insurgents and severely degraded enemy combat capability. She was one of the first females to volunteer for and successfully pass the new Naval Special Warfare Direct Support Course; andWHEREAS, Beginning with Task Force Lioness and Female Engagement Teams (FETs) in the early 2000s, female service members conducted search and questioning of women to help end terrorist attacks and smuggling, which was deemed culturally inappropriate if performed by a male service member. The success of Task Force Lioness and FETs led to the creation of Cultural Support Teams (CSTs). From 201014, United States Special Operations Command specially assessed, selected, and trained CSTs, who were attached to special operations teams directly engaging in village stability operations, search-and-clear and tactical questioning of the female population of Afghanistan; andWHEREAS, Members of Task Force Lioness, FETs, and CSTs became a loophole for female service members to operate alongside the most highly trained, and exclusively male, forces on the battlefield, yet were considered enablers and not direct action assaulters; andWHEREAS, In June 2019, then Brigadier General Laura Yeager, a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot, assumed command of the California National Guards 40th Infantry Division, becoming the first woman to command a United States Army infantry division; andWHEREAS, More than 9,000 female troops have earned Combat Action Badges during modern combat operations, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan, and hundreds more have earned valor awards, including the Silver Star, the Armys third-highest valor award; andWHEREAS, It is recognized that women have always been capable of serving in combat and that it is policies like the 1994 ban on women in combat that have precluded women from serving; andWHEREAS, Since the ban was lifted, women are now training for and serving in infantry, armor, short-range field artillery units and occupations, and the number receiving their Ranger tabs continues to grow. Moreover, women in all services are also now eligible to serve as Special Operations Forces; andWHEREAS, The Women in Military Service for America Memorial, at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, is the only major national memorial honoring all women who have defended America throughout history. Their patriotism and bravery are a part of our nations heritage and are now recognized; andWHEREAS, The over 3,000,000 women who have served in or with the armed forces since the American Revolution have contributed immensely to the strength and resilience of our armed forces; andWHEREAS, Our military exists to serve and protect all people in the United States, to defend the United States Constitution, and to fight for our freedom; andWHEREAS, From the Revolutionary War to modern-day humanitarian efforts, women in our military have led the way for progress, despite decades of obstacles, ultimately serving in positions of leadership and combat roles; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes Women Warriors by proclaiming the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Womens Military History Week in California; and be it furtherResolved, That the Legislature recognizes the hard-fought contributions of women to our military and our freedom, and encourages Californians to honor the courageous sacrifices that women have made since the historic lifting of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 38Introduced by Senator Grove(Coauthor: Senator Menjivar)March 10, 2025 Relative to Womens Military History Week. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 38, as introduced, Grove. Womens Military History Week.This measure would recognize Women Warriors by proclaiming the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Womens Military History Week in California, recognize the hard-fought contributions of women to the military and freedom, and encourage Californians to honor the courageous sacrifices that women have made since the historic lifting of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 38
Introduced by Senator Grove(Coauthor: Senator Menjivar)March 10, 2025
Introduced by Senator Grove(Coauthor: Senator Menjivar)
March 10, 2025
Relative to Womens Military History Week.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 38, as introduced, Grove. Womens Military History Week.
This measure would recognize Women Warriors by proclaiming the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Womens Military History Week in California, recognize the hard-fought contributions of women to the military and freedom, and encourage Californians to honor the courageous sacrifices that women have made since the historic lifting of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013.
This measure would recognize Women Warriors by proclaiming the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Womens Military History Week in California, recognize the hard-fought contributions of women to the military and freedom, and encourage Californians to honor the courageous sacrifices that women have made since the historic lifting of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, Women have served bravely in every major United States conflict since the American Revolutionary War, but their courage and service have gone unrecognized. Our current servicewomen would be unable to serve without the precedence, persistence, determination, and unyielding resilience of the incredible strides of women of previous generations; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 300,000 women in uniform have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Women have served in intelligence gathering and as combat pilots, field artillery officers, chaplains, special operations civil affairs officers, and even members of the ultra-secretive Delta Force; and
WHEREAS, During the Civil War, women disguised as men fought on both sides. Women also served as spies and medical personnel. Three of the most famous women were Dr. Mary Walker, a physician and the only woman ever awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; Clara Barton, who served at the siege of Petersburg and founded the American Red Cross; and Harriet Tubman, who was a volunteer nurse, spy, and scout for the Union Army; and
WHEREAS, Cathay Williams was the first and only documented African American woman to enlist in the United States Army as a Buffalo Soldier in 1866 and Carmen Contreras-Bozak was the first Latina to serve in the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester became the first woman in the United States Army since World War II to earn a Silver Star for combat valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom, after leading her service members on a counterattack of anti-Iraqi forces. Her actions saved the lives of numerous convoy members; and
WHEREAS, Over 400 women have been killed in combat since World War I and over 90 women have been identified as prisoners of war since World War II; and
WHEREAS, January 24, 2025, marked the 12th anniversary of the groundbreaking decision overturning a 1994 Pentagon rule that restricted women from all combat-related roles, including artillery, armor, and infantry; and
WHEREAS, While approximately 18 percent of the total United States military is made up of women, 10 have held the rank of four-star general, exemplifying the payoff for hard work that comes to people who do their best work in each and every role they take on, regardless of gender; and
WHEREAS, The United States militarys first female four-star general, Army General Ann E. Dunwoody, cracked the militarys brass ceiling in 2008, when she was awarded her fourth star and named commander of the Army Materiel Command, the unit that equips, outfits, and arms United States service members; and
WHEREAS, While women were barred from assignment to direct ground combat units, they were attached to such units and increasingly tasked with handling issues around the local populace. Their success and performance directly led to initiatives that resulted in a broader implementation of females in Special Operations Forces for years to come; and
WHEREAS, Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent, a Navy cryptologic technician who spoke seven different languages and was assigned to several special operations and secretive units, contributed directly to the capture of hundreds of enemy insurgents and severely degraded enemy combat capability. She was one of the first females to volunteer for and successfully pass the new Naval Special Warfare Direct Support Course; and
WHEREAS, Beginning with Task Force Lioness and Female Engagement Teams (FETs) in the early 2000s, female service members conducted search and questioning of women to help end terrorist attacks and smuggling, which was deemed culturally inappropriate if performed by a male service member. The success of Task Force Lioness and FETs led to the creation of Cultural Support Teams (CSTs). From 201014, United States Special Operations Command specially assessed, selected, and trained CSTs, who were attached to special operations teams directly engaging in village stability operations, search-and-clear and tactical questioning of the female population of Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, Members of Task Force Lioness, FETs, and CSTs became a loophole for female service members to operate alongside the most highly trained, and exclusively male, forces on the battlefield, yet were considered enablers and not direct action assaulters; and
WHEREAS, In June 2019, then Brigadier General Laura Yeager, a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot, assumed command of the California National Guards 40th Infantry Division, becoming the first woman to command a United States Army infantry division; and
WHEREAS, More than 9,000 female troops have earned Combat Action Badges during modern combat operations, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan, and hundreds more have earned valor awards, including the Silver Star, the Armys third-highest valor award; and
WHEREAS, It is recognized that women have always been capable of serving in combat and that it is policies like the 1994 ban on women in combat that have precluded women from serving; and
WHEREAS, Since the ban was lifted, women are now training for and serving in infantry, armor, short-range field artillery units and occupations, and the number receiving their Ranger tabs continues to grow. Moreover, women in all services are also now eligible to serve as Special Operations Forces; and
WHEREAS, The Women in Military Service for America Memorial, at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, is the only major national memorial honoring all women who have defended America throughout history. Their patriotism and bravery are a part of our nations heritage and are now recognized; and
WHEREAS, The over 3,000,000 women who have served in or with the armed forces since the American Revolution have contributed immensely to the strength and resilience of our armed forces; and
WHEREAS, Our military exists to serve and protect all people in the United States, to defend the United States Constitution, and to fight for our freedom; and
WHEREAS, From the Revolutionary War to modern-day humanitarian efforts, women in our military have led the way for progress, despite decades of obstacles, ultimately serving in positions of leadership and combat roles; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes Women Warriors by proclaiming the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Womens Military History Week in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the hard-fought contributions of women to our military and our freedom, and encourages Californians to honor the courageous sacrifices that women have made since the historic lifting of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.