BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
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108 (Mathis)
As Amended February 23, 2016
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(January 19, |SENATE: | 39-0 |(March 3, 2016) |
| | |2016) | | | |
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(adopted by unanimous vote)
Original Committee Reference: RLS.
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
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 .
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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.
The Senate amendments make technical changes to the resolution
and add coauthors.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
Analysis Prepared by:
Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800 FN:
0002626
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