Political Quotes

“I rise today having submitted a resolution honoring the 40th anniversary of women attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Forty years ago, in 1975, Congress proudly authorized women to attend military service academies. That act of Congress, created a milestone in our military history, setting the national stage for women's equality. On July 6, 1976, the very first class of women entered the U.S. Naval Academy. Four years later, the graduating class of 1980, commissioned 55 women. Since then, more than 4,800 women, including this year's graduating class of 2016, have graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and have transcended traditional military roles for women. Women have had to fight every single day and in every single way to be able to advance ourselves. Today, women make up 27 percent of the U.S. Naval Academy's student body, the highest in the school's history. This year, midshipmen were admitted from every state in the U.S., as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Naval Academy continues to evolve, depicting our Nation's diversity, and promoting equality. Our country is stronger today because women have advanced in the military. There are 2.2 million women serving in our military, serving with their male counterparts in leadership capacities that now include combat occupations.…”