Pennsylvania HR 548: A Resolution recognizing June 12, 2026, as "Women Veterans Day" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3504
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 548
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY HADDOCK, GUENST, MAJOR, MIHALEK, BRENNAN, SOLOMON,
PROBST, CONKLIN, WAXMAN, PIELLI, HAMM, VENKAT, RIVERA,
DOUGHERTY, GALLAGHER, HOHENSTEIN, SCHWEYER, ARMANINI, HOWARD,
JAMES, DEASY, M. MACKENZIE, T. DAVIS, O'MARA, PASHINSKI,
VEROBISH, HILL-EVANS, STEHR, DELOZIER, MADDEN, HANBIDGE,
BANTA, DELLOSO AND STEELE, JUNE 2, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JUNE 2, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing June 12, 2026, as "Women Veterans Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Each year, June 12 is celebrated as "Women Veterans
Day" in recognition of the signing of the Women's Armed Services
Integration Act on June 12, 1948; and
WHEREAS, The Women's Armed Services Integration Act gave
women the right to serve as permanent, regular members of the
military; and
WHEREAS, Women have served many roles in the United States
military, even since the Revolutionary War, with the number of
women in service increasing during World War II and onwards due
to policy changes in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s; and
WHEREAS, Women have been able to participate in all combat
roles since 2015 and currently serve in every branch of the
military; and
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WHEREAS, The National Center for Veterans Analysis and
Statistics' population model in 2023 estimated that there are
2.1 million women veterans, and women veterans comprise about
11% of the United States' veteran population; and
WHEREAS, According to the Governor's Advisory Council on
Veterans Services, Pennsylvania is home to nearly 70,000 women
veterans as of 2023; and
WHEREAS, The percentage of women veterans out of the total
United States veteran population is projected to increase, and
women are one of the fastest growing veteran demographics; and
WHEREAS, Women experience higher rates of military sexual
trauma than men, with one out of three women veterans enrolled
in the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) having
reported experiencing military sexual trauma; and
WHEREAS, The 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual
Report found that the suicide rate among women veterans
increased by 24.1% from 2020 to 2021, compared to a 6.3%
increase in the male veteran suicide rate during the same
period; and
WHEREAS, Women veterans are less likely than their male
counterparts to use their earned benefits, with only 44% of
women veterans enrolled to receive VA health care; and
WHEREAS, It is clear that women veterans face unique
challenges as they transition from service to civilian life; and
WHEREAS, These findings also demonstrate the need for trauma-
informed care and greater education on the resources available
to women veterans; and
WHEREAS, Nonprofit organizations and the Governor's Advisory
Council on Veterans Services recognize the need for more
research into the physical and mental health impacts of military
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service on women; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has the responsibility to recognize
the contributions of women veterans and continue to improve
their access to health care, housing and other transition
resources; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize June
12, 2026, as "Women Veterans Day" in Pennsylvania.
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