BILL ANALYSIS Ó ACR 108 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING ACR 108 (Mathis) As Introduced January 4, 2016 Majority vote ------------------------------------------------------------------ |Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Rules |11-0 |Gordon, Chang, | | | | |Brough, Burke, | | | | |Campos, Cooley, | | | | |Jones, Mullin, | | | | |Rodriguez, Waldron, | | | | |Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARY: Proclaims the week of March 21 to March 27, 2016, inclusive as Women's Military History Week in California and encourages Californians to recognize, among other things, the contributions of women to our military and our freedom and the historic lift of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings: 1)January 24, 2016, marks the third anniversary of the lift of the ban on women in combat, which overturns a 1994 Pentagon ACR 108 Page 2 rule that restricted women from artillery, armor, and infantry, among other combat roles, even though in reality women have frequently found themselves in combat to Iraq and Afghanistan . 2)Former United State Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta initiated the lift of the ban on women in combat in 2013 and on December 3, 2015, current United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter directed the full integration of women into all military branches. Since the ban was lifted, three women have already made history by being the first to graduate from the United States Army Ranger School, the Army's premier combat leadership course. 3)Approximately 300,000 women in uniform have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and these female members have earned more than 10,000 combat action badges and Bronze Stars, respectively, and at least 12 Bronze Stars with Valor. 4)As a country based on freedom and opportunity, regardless of creed, race, gender, or sexual orientation, we must demonstrate the same opportunity in our armed forces, while maintaining the same standard of excellence our military has set. Opening up combat roles to women will add to the military excellence, not subtract from it. Analysis Prepared by: Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800 FN: 0002550 ACR 108 Page 3