Senate Standing Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs

Good afternoon, everyone. The Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs will begin in 60 seconds.

You never know who's gonna show up. Yeah.

Okay. Once again, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs will begin. And we have two resolutions on the agenda today, and we will begin. We're still waiting for others to come in, and who'll be able to come in and come out, so excuse the rotation of people. So before we hear the the presentation, let's establish a quorum. Madam Secretary.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. So we will begin as a subcommittee. And now we'll have the first resolution and welcome Senator Cabaldon. And I'd like to go ahead and let everyone know exactly how we're gonna do this. So Senator, begin and then we'll call for witness and so on. Go right ahead.

Mr. Chairman, thank you so much, and members of the committee as well. This resolution, SJR 14, urges California's Congressional Delegation to support federal legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to members of the United States Army Nurse Corps and the Navy Nurse Corps who served during World War II.

Now, I have a whole bunch of remarks, which I am not going to read, because I can't do a better job in explaining the reason, the importance, the impact of this resolution than brigadier general from the United States Air Force, Ruth Wong, who's retired, on behalf of the resolution today. So I would defer my comments, and with your indulgence, Mr. Chairman, would defer to our witness.

And to your witness, General Wong, please begin.

Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to testify for this very important resolution. I am testifying in unequivocal support of the World War II Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act. My testimony speaks to these unsung heroes. Both men and women served in the war, and the nurses were no exception.

They were among the first women who answered our nation's call and volunteered, wanting to serve by helping nurse soldiers, sailors, and aviators who needed their attention, whether it be at home or in the battlefield. Many came right out of nursing school who were not prepared to accept the challenges of harsh living with long hours and significant personal risk. They worked 12-hour days or longer, caring for heavy casualties. One nurse wrote, casualties were more severe than any we have ever seen.

Almost every patient who was brought to the operating room had at least one extremity amputated. The Army nurses served in the battlefield without the benefit of tent floors, running water, electricity, and hospital equipment. Kerosene lanterns and flashlights were used for light. Those serving in Europe endured constant bombardment by buzz bombs, some injuring or killing hospital personnel and patients.

An experiment by the War Department ordered the construction of a general hospital close to the fighting lines as possible and also a triage system implemented to separate the walking wounded from the severely injured. Yes, there was discrimination too, even in the throes of war.

Male officers were living in tents far from the frontlines where there were no collapsing buildings or flying glass. The nurses were housed in multiple level buildings subject to collapse, many scoring direct hits. Navy nurses operated in combat zones aboard hospital ships, offshore hospitals, and some became pioneering flight nurses. Many served in the Pacific Theater, evacuating wounded sailors and marines from Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Eleven Navy nurses were captured in the Philippines, enduring three years as prisoners of war.

With a shortage of medical doctors, Navy nurses often acted as department heads, performing administrative duties in addition to nursing duties. They did it all. Getting on with their life after the war wasn't easy. One nurse said, I ducked under a table at the sound of a champagne cork popping. A sudden clap of thunder or door slamming created the same situation, always ending in tears, a luxury I wasn't allowed at work overseas.

Although these nurses returning home were greeted as heroines, many faced challenges reintegrating. Some dealt with trauma and a lack of public understanding, yet many successfully built careers using their vital wartime medical experience. We shouldn't forget that others had unrecognized trauma, especially those serving years as POWs. My own return from the Persian Gulf War serving as an Air Force flight nurse and commander of an aeromedical evacuation unit left me with some of the reintegration challenges.

Because the Persian Gulf War was the first war televised around the world, many people thought it was just a movie and those serving were actors. I can tell you, when you wear chemical gear every night for a month and fly into combat zones where Scud missiles were propelled, it certainly is not a movie. I found some civilians were insensitive and not understanding of what we endured.

I can assure you, the war experience never leaves you. Despite the lack of immediate recognition compared to combat troops, the World War II nurses transformed to nursing. They proved women could operate on the front lines, work in a demanding and challenging setting, and do what was needed to be done.

A profound shift in nursing also occurred, from traditional caretaking into a respected clinical and academic profession. World War II created a demand for massive educational expansion and established nurses as critical, autonomous experts in healthcare. The World War II nurse pioneers created a legacy of excellence for those of us who followed in the profession.

The World War II nurses demonstrated frontline heroism, endured severe hardships, and 200 of them died in the line of duty from enemy fire, aircraft crashes, or illness. These unsung heroes overcame discrimination, their sacrifice long overlooked, and their recognition long overdue.

Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal would ensure that their sacrifice, compassion, and dedication are permanently remembered by our nation. This is why we must award the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the United States Army Nurse Corps and Navy Nurse Corps who served during World War II. We owe them our gratitude. Thank you.

Thank you. We will now move on to the lead witnesses in support. And there's no one else. Any support witnesses that would like to come up to the microphone, you're welcome. While you're doing that, let's go ahead and establish a quorum. Would you go ahead and-- Madam Secretary, let's take the roll once again.

[Roll call].

And we have a quorum, ladies and gentlemen. We'll continue. Any other speakers who would like to speak on support of the Senate Joint Resolution 14, you're welcome to come to the mic. Okay. If none, then any opposition to the bill? You're welcome to come to the mic. See none, questions or comments from our senators? Senator Grove.

I wanna say thank you very much for bringing this forward. It's hard to believe that they have not been recognized up until 2026. This is kind of ridiculous that this was, I would hope, an oversight and not something that was purposeful. As the first female veteran that's ever been elected to the State Legislature, I think that this is not only admirable, but well-deserved, so thank you, sir, for bringing it forward. I'd love to be a co-author as well if that's possible.

Good. And Senator Cabaldon, with that, would you like to close?

Only to add, because General Wong said better than anything I could say about the story and how compelling this need is, and to Senator Grove in particular, for whatever reason, these nurses, mostly women, have been overlooked by history. Not in their communities. The folks coming back home knew who they were, what they had done, but it is the duty and the obligation of the federal government to do the same. This resolution, it is not an idle exercise.

There are two pieces of legislation pending in the Congress and that-- one in the House and one in the Senate. This resolution simply seeks to put the weight of the California Legislature behind those efforts so that we can finally seek the recognition that these nurses deserve. And with that, I would ask for an aye vote.

Well, thank you. Let me go ahead and and comment myself. Again, I'd like to thank you. Senator Grove, you had mentioned you were the first female elected to the Senate and also the Military Veterans Committee as well. Is that true?

Yes.

Right? Both.

Correction. It's the-- so the first female veteran elected to the California State Legislature. I served in the Assembly first.

Oh, I see. Okay. Good. Well, congratulations. Your sensitivity to this bill is so meaningful and we'd like to thank you for your input. And mine, of course, is to thank you, Senator, for bringing SJR 14.

Many people understand the sacrifices made by the soldiers and sailors and marines who served during World War II, but far less attention has been given to the women in the Army Corps and the Navy Nurses Corps who stood by our men and women and all those who served during the combat, who cared for them and helped bring them home mentally, some challenged, and some, obviously, physically.

More than 73,000 women answered the call. They provided life-saving care in combat zones aboard hospital ships, as you had mentioned, during evacuation missions, and even became prisoners of war. The nurses served under dangerous and exhausting wartime conditions. They comforted the wounded, treated the dying, and played a vital role in saving so many lives.

Today, only a handful of these World War II nurses, veterans are believed to still be living, and it is so important, as General Wong had presented, that they'd be recognized, not just here in the State of California, but throughout the nation and especially in the state-- in our nation's capital. So with that, we do have a motion. Senator McNerney, thank you. And Madam Secretary, call the roll.

[Roll call].

Okay. And our count?

It's three to zero, but it's on call.

Three ayes and three zeros. That'll-- we'll keep that on call for the others to come in. And with that, Senator Choi, I know you gotta get to committees as most of us do, so we'll bring you up.

Thank you, chairman and the members. I'm pleased to present SJR 17, which honors the Republic Of Korea veterans, who fought alongside American troops during the Vietnam War and then later became United States citizens. More than 320,000 South Korean soldiers served in Vietnam, making the Republic Of Korea our nation's largest ally in that conflict.

SJR 17 simply urges Congress and the president to allow states to extend burial and memorial benefits in state veterans cemeteries to serve to these veterans who left Korea to stand shoulder to shoulder in Vietnam with the American service members. These Korean veteran soldiers are now at the very end of their life and many are passing away in this country.

And they deserve to be recognized, having fought shoulder to shoulder with the American soldiers in Vietnam in the battlefield. And, it'll be fitting to allow them to be buried along in the state or federal cemeteries. Congress has already extended certain medical and home loan benefits to veterans of other allied countries, not necessarily Korean veterans. As the analysis states, SJR 17 does not expand eligibility or create a new state benefit.

It asks simply the federal government to clarify whether states may honor these veterans without risking federal cemetery funding. I respectfully ask for your I vote on this important resolution.

Thank you, Senator, for your presentation. We'll now move to lead witnesses in support, if we have any in the room. Okay. Any in support for the opposition?

I see none. And comments from our senators.

Move the bill.

Got a motion to move the bill. Thank you, Senator Grove. And with that, Senator Choi, would you like to close?

I would appreciate recognizing their service along with the US soldiers side by side, which is very, very important for the aging veterans who served together with the US soldiers.

Well, thank you, Senator Choi. This resolution highlights the important truth, no doubt, when our nation sends service members to harm's way and we begin to work together with our allies. And as you mentioned, no stronger ally was in Vietnam more so than the South Korean soldiers. As, someone who served with the 82nd Airborne, I could tell you the men and women who have become our allies and serve with our men and women in in various missions throughout the world, they should never be forgotten.

And your commitment to this bill is amazing.

And, the dangers that the veterans served side by side, no doubt, hardships, but it gave us a sense of commitment in duty, honor, and country to serve. And this is a narrow and respectful request to honor specific group of veterans who stood with the United States in war, later becoming United States citizens. And we're grateful for their contribution. So we have a motion and, Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

[roll call]

Okay. And we have three to zero.

We have three to zero, bill on call, and with that, we'll stand by for the others to come in.

Thank you, Chair and members.

Okay. Thank you.

Open up the roll on the first resolution, presented by Senator Cabaldon. Call the roll.

This motion is to be adopted, SJR 14. [Roll call].

Okay. The next one was SJR 17 by Senator Choi. Call the roll.

Motion to be adopted on SJR 17. [Roll call].

Good. Thank you, Tom.

Thank you.

The Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs is open once again for roll call on SJR 14, SJR 17. And Madam Secretary, call the roll.

The motion is adopted on SJR 14. [Roll call]. The motion is adopted on SJR 17. [Roll call].

Very good. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here this afternoon and supporting our veterans. The votes are out. Five / zero for Senate JR 14 and Senate JR 17. So, thank you once again for everyone participating. Thank you.