releases: https://tsongas.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1631
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://tsongas.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1631 | Tsongas applauds Department of Defense announcement opening all combat jobs to women | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | MA | Niki Tsongas | T000465 | tsongas.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON December 3, 2015 Today, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the Department of Defense will open all military combat jobs to women. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-3), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus and the Air Force Caucus, has long called for this change and released the following statement. Todays announcement is welcome and long overdue news to the countless servicewomen who have selflessly and courageously served their nation around the globe. This is a milestone on the path to equality in our armed forces and recognizes the significant role women are already playing on the battlefield; fighting and sacrificing on behalf of their country. Todays announcement places everyone on equal footing, whereby future opportunities for advancement are no longer limited. The military has finally realized that a culture of mutual respect is critical to weeding out discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.No longer is it acceptable for the military to treat women as second-class citizens and ignore the potential talent and skill offered by half of the American population. More women entering into combat means more women rise through the ranks to take on leadership roles, and gain the important status and power to better advocate for important issues that affect all servicemembers. This progress is a proclamation of equality to every member of the armed forces that will open more doors than we have even begun to imagine. But as the doors open to servicewomen and a greater talent pool is tapped, the military must find ways to support all those who wear the uniform. This necessitates addressing womens health matters and developing equipment and policies that increase womens safety and success on and off the battlefield. Supporting military women is essential to building the strongest military possible. From a practical standpoint, the Army spends millions of dollars training women to do a job. Without adequate support, resources and health care options, many women may choose to leave the military at the end of their enlistments, at great cost to the military and denying the military their talents. Congresswoman Tsongas has long advocated on behalf of the growing number of women in the military, and supported the militarys efforts to recruit and retain women within the services. She has taken a leading national role on critical issues such as womens health, gender-specific body armor and gear, addressing the epidemic of sexual assault within the armed forces, and more. #### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |