March 25, 2022

Duckworth Urges Swift Consideration of Her Bipartisan Bill Honoring Women on the Home Front During WWII

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — As Women’s History Month comes to a close, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called for swift committee consideration of her bipartisan Women Who Worked On the Home Front World War II Memorial Act. This legislation, which Duckworth introduced with U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mike Braun (R-IN), would establish a new commemorative work in Washington, D.C., to honor the contributions of the estimated 18 million women who helped keep our nation’s economy and society running during World War II. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee.

In part, Duckworth wrote in a letter to Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Joe Manchin (D-WV) today: “These women—many of whom had no expectation of working outside the home—answered the call during a global crisis to work as pilots, engineers, taxi drivers, letter carriers, code breakers, manufacturers and more. It is time that we recognize the decisive roles that they played during World War II and give honor to their service where it is long overdue.”

In conclusion, Duckworth wrote: “Chairman Manchin, as Women’s History Month draws to a close, I urge you and your colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to swiftly move S. 1814 through committee consideration.”

The Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act would also recognize the important role these women played in expanding economic opportunity for future generations of women. Between 1941 and 1945, the female portion of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent. U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-01) sponsored bipartisan companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 Full text of the letter is available here and below:

 Dear Chairman Manchin: 

I write this Women’s History Month to draw your attention to a fitting bill referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: S.1814, the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act, which I re-introduced on May 25, 2021. This bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Senators Blackburn (R-TN), Braun (R-IN) and Feinstein (D-CA) and would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a new commemorative work here in Washington, D.C., to honor the nearly 18 million women who supported our country’s economy and society through their contributions to war efforts during World War II. Companion legislation was passed by the House of Representatives on December 8, 2021, with a decisive final vote tally of 425-1.  

These women—many of whom had no expectation of working outside the home—answered the call during a global crisis to work as pilots, engineers, taxi drivers, letter carriers, code breakers, manufacturers and more. It is time that we recognize the decisive roles that they played during World War II and give honor to their service where it is long overdue. We should also acknowledge the groundbreaking path laid by these women for generations to follow, as this marked a pivotal point in history for women in the workforce.  

Chairman Manchin, as Women’s History Month draws to a close, I urge you and your colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to swiftly move S. 1814 through committee consideration. It would be a great honor to women across our country to see this bill advance. There is not a more appropriate time than now to codify the authorization to create a commemorative work in honor of these brave women. Let our 117th Congress be the first to make permanent and visible the legacy of their strength and resilience. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration, and I look forward to our working with you on this important request. 

Sincerely, 

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