BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 108|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 108
Author: Mathis (R), et al.
Amended: 2/23/16 in Senate
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Read and adopted, 1/19/16
SUBJECT: Women's Military History Week
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution proclaims the week of March 14 to March 20,
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 lifting of the ban on women in combat on January
24, 2013.
Senate Floor Amendments of 2/23/16 make technical,
non-substantive changes and add coauthors.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1)January 24, 2016, marks the third anniversary of the lifting
of the ban on women in combat, which overturns a 1994 Pentagon
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
ACR 108
Page 2
initiated the lifting 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 lifting of the ban,
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.
This resolution proclaims the week of March 14 to March 20,
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 lifting of the ban on women in combat on January
24, 2013.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified1/27/16)
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
ACR 108
Page 3
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
OPPOSITION: (Verified1/27/16)
None received
Prepared by: Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
2/24/16 15:19:24
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