PRINTER'S NO. 2775
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2361
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, HENNESSEY, POLINCHOCK, HAMM, MIHALEK,
HILL-EVANS, KULIK, M. MACKENZIE, R. MACKENZIE, GUENST,
HOHENSTEIN, KINSEY, SCHMITT, LONGIETTI, JAMES, O'MARA,
MENTZER, MILLARD, GILLEN, ROZZI, PICKETT, GUZMAN, INNAMORATO,
DRISCOLL, WEBSTER AND FARRY, MARCH 8, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 8, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Title 38 (Holidays and Observances) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in veteran recognition, providing for
Women Veterans Day.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 38 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 1304. Women Veterans Day.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) While women have served in the American military
since before we became a nation, they were not officially
recognized as military members or veterans until 1948.
(2) Women were originally relegated to serving in the
civilian fields of nursing, laundering, mending clothing and
cooking.
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(3) Despite this segregation, many women served in war
zones alongside their male compatriots, including some women
who dressed as men during the Civil War to fight on the front
lines.
(4) The first woman to enlist in the United States Armed
Forces was Loretta Walsh, who enlisted in the Navy in 1917.
(5) During World War I, approximately 35,000 women in
the United States officially served as nurses and support
staff.
(6) During World War II, approximately 400,000 women in
the United States served in support positions, including
140,000 women who served in the Women's Army Corps performing
critical jobs, such as military intelligence, cryptography
and parachute rigging.
(7) Nearly 500 women were killed by enemy fire during
World War II.
(8) The first Women Veterans Day was held on June 12,
2018, marking the 70th anniversary of the groundbreaking
Women's Armed Services Integration Act (Public Law 80-625, 62
Stat. 356), signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on
June 12, 1948.
(9) That Federal law enabled women to serve as
permanent, regular members of the United States Army, Marine
Corps, Navy and the recently formed Air Force.
(10) Throughout the years, the role of women continues
to grow in all branches and phases of operations of the
United States Armed Forces.
(11) Currently, women serve freely alongside men in any
branch or role they desire and comprise a substantial portion
of new recruits, active duty members and reserve components
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of the United States Armed Forces.
(12) Women Veterans Day is not considered a separate day
for only women veterans, but a tribute to a groundbreaking
day when women were acknowledged as essential to the war
effort and could serve as permanent, regular members of
the United States Armed Forces.
(b) Designation.--June 12 of each year is designated as
Women Veterans Day in this Commonwealth.
(c) Proclamation.-- The Governor shall issue annually a
proclamation encouraging residents of this Commonwealth to
observe Women Veterans Day and recognize the contributions of
all women veterans and the sacrifices they made.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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