Summary

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 275249
Story Slug Women Aviators (1991)
Location WASHINGTON, DC
Format TVD
Date 7-25-1991
Archive Time 4:15
TRT 4:24
Supers Senator William Roth / (R) DE Sen. Edward Kennedy Barbara Ward Lazarsky / WW II Air Force Pilot
Video Description Footage from event
Script (SUGGESTED TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO) 00:03 We are here today to talk not about gender but about excellence. We are here to talk not about whether we are to have women pilots flying combat missions, but whether we want the best pilots flying combat missions, the readiness and preparedness and the risks they will take in the future. Amendment I will introduce with Senator Kennedy does not perform major surgery on the composition of our armed forces. I would like in it instead do pinpointed laser surgery. This bill is very precise. We simply remove the congressionally imposed restrictions which prevents women from flying combat aircraft, and in doing so, we give women the chance, the chance to compete for their positions, for these positions, nothing more and nothing less. When we discuss our defense, Cape of end, Senator Roth for his leadership on the issue, he has been the real leader on a matter of enormous importance for the art from flying combat aircraft by 1948 laws that are no longer relevant in today's world. Congress should repeal these archaic and arbitrary combat exclusions. Women should have an equal opportunity to pursue any military specialty for which they are qualified, no soldier, sailor, pilot or Marine, should be denied the opportunity to serve in any military position solely because she is a woman. Barriers based on sex discrimination are falling in every other profession. The armed forces should be no exception. The changing nature of Modern Warfare means that old distinctions are obsolete. The danger from combat now extends. Women were not accepted then on their ability, I think they should be. Now, there is a Commission proposed, I understand, to make a study of the ramifications of putting women in military combat airplanes. I Since I have first flown with the military in early 1943 see absolutely no need for a study the dacoits defense Advisory Committee for women in the services. But the information has been out there. We don't need a new commission. In fact, I think it's an insult to women who have flown, who have flown military combat type airplanes, and who have died in the Gulf, even though perhaps they weren't pilots, they've given their lives they were in combat, even though, if they weren't in combat, the combat situation of being able to shoot back. I certainly hope that this amendment passes. I support it entirely. Most of my group of world war two pilots support it. And I wish you well assisting our 03:19 policies pertaining to women of services. The committee currently consists of 38 women and men from all over the country. We come from varied backgrounds and areas of expertise on the roles of women in the military. One of our duties of travel to continuously visit military installations throughout the United States. Additionally, the executive committee and through the years, we've spoken with literally 1000s of servicemen. In fact, we just returned from a visit from Senator Kennedy myself. Senator Kennedy is this position. So why do you think laws for women in military and wider descriptions imposed on all sorts of women under Department defense. Thank you.
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Keywords

Female
World War Two
Ted Kennedy
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