Sens. Cruz, Warren, Blackburn Announce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring World War II Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) today 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.
Additional cosponsors include Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said:
“On today’s 246th anniversary of the U.S. Navy, we rightfully honor the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of the tens-of-thousands of women who voluntarily answered the call to serve our great nation in WWII. As the father of two daughters, I am proud to join Sens. Warren and Blackburn on this bipartisan resolution ensuring America’s early female sailors are memorialized for generations to come.”
Sen. Warren said:
“Tens of thousands of women bravely stepped forward to serve our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II—we owe them our gratitude. Today, on the Navy’s birthday, Senator Blackburn and I are calling on our colleagues in Congress to honor these women for their work and their perseverance through this resolution.”
Sen. Blackburn added:
“Nearly 400 women of the Volunteer State valiantly answered the call to serve their nation during WWII. Their sacrifice—and that of countless others across the nation—ensured victory for our allied forces. This bipartisan resolution honors their legacy and ensures their bravery is not forgotten.”
BACKGROUND
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the WAVES on July 30, 1942, when he signed the Navy Women’s Reserve Act into law. While women had served in the U.S. Navy’s enlisted ranks in a variety of positions during World War I, legislation passed after World War I limited women to serve as nurses until the creation of the WAVES. By the end of World War II, more than 400,000 women had served the United States in military capacities, with every U.S. Navy aviator who entered combat receiving some part of his training from a WAVE.
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