January 16, 2025

Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray in Introducing Resolution Recognizing the Service of Women in Combat

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Patty Murray (D-WA) and 19 other Senators in introducing a resolution honoring the service of women in combat roles in the U.S. Armed Forces. The resolution comes as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense (DoD), Pete Hegseth, continues to face scorching criticism for, among many other things, his long record of denigrating women servicemembers who bravely serve our nation in combat roles. The resolution can be viewed on the Senator’s website.

“Contrary to what Pete Hegseth has said repeatedly, women have always made our military stronger and are more qualified to serve in their roles than Pete Hegseth is to serve as Secretary of Defense,” said Senator Duckworth. “There is no U.S. military as we know it without the incredible women who have earned their places in their units by going through the same rigorous physical testing and training that men do. I’m proud to co-lead this resolution with Senator Murray to honor our women warriors and make clear that any nominee who doesn’t understand the essential value of female servicemembers is not qualified to lead our military.”

“Our military is made up of dedicated service members, including women serving in combat roles, who risk their lives for our country.  To disparage the commitment and sacrifice of women serving in our Armed Forces is upsetting and unbecoming of a potential leader of our nation’s military,” said Senator Durbin. “Because Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth refuses to acknowledge the sacrifices of women in the military, I hope this resolution makes it clear that our nation is proud of and grateful for the women who have volunteered to serve our country in uniform.”

Along with Duckworth, Durbin and Murray, the resolution is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Since Donald Trump tapped Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense, Duckworth has remained one of Hegseth’s sharpest critics. Today, Duckworth delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor slamming Pete Hegseth for his lack of experience and qualifications to lead the Department of Defense. This week, Duckworth and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)—a fellow combat Veteran and member of SASC—penned an op-ed underscoring that Pete Hegseth lacks the merits to be our next Defense Secretary. Last month, Duckworth joined her fellow SASC members in sending a letter to Susan Wiles, President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Chief of Staff, about whether Pete Hegseth’s attitudes toward women and allegations of sexual assault and harassment disqualify him to be the next Secretary of Defense.

-30-