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Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Kay Granger (TX-12) today introduced a bipartisan bill to authorize the National Mall as the location for the memorial honoring the women who worked on the home front during World War II. The Women Who Worked on the Home Front Memorial Location Act is the next legislative step needed after Congress passed bipartisan legislation in 2022 authorizing the establishment of a memorial. Under current law, an act of Congress is required to place a commemorative work on the National Mall. This bill advances a decade-long effort to properly honor the more than 18 million trailblazing women – known as Rosie the Riveters – who worked as riveters, pilots, engineers, electricians, mechanics, code breakers and more—most of which women had been previously told they were incapable of.
 
“Our Rosies answered the call when our nation needed them most, redefining the role of the American woman and opening the door wider for generations to come,” said Dingell. “This bill will take us one step closer to ensuring our Rosies receive the recognition they deserve, and I am honored to lead legislation to honor their service and commitment to America and their unwavering ‘can do’ spirit. We will always be thankful for their strength, bravery, and lasting impact on our nation.”
 
“It’s long past time we honor the important contributions women made during World War II,” said Granger. “Through this monument, visitors to Washington, D.C. will learn of the great sacrifices American women made to ensure that the service members on the front lines had everything they needed to succeed. I am proud to lead this legislation that will honor their efforts and help ensure better representation for women in our nation’s capital.”
 
“The contributions of these women in both winning the war and opening doors for future generations of women merit recognition on our nation’s National Mall. Without it, the full story of WWII is missing,” said Raya Kenney, CEO and Founder of the National Memorial to the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation. “We applaud the introduction of the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Memorial Location Act, and we urge Congress to swiftly pass this bill to authorize the memorial to be built within walking distance to the existing WWII memorial.”
 
During WWII, the percentage of women in the workforce rose to nearly 37%. The lasting labor impact of the working women of WWII is clearly demonstrated in today’s U.S. workforce, which is nearly 58% women.
 
Earlier this year, President Biden issued an executive order on recognizing and honoring women’s history acknowledging the need for the country to do more to recognize how women have shaped U.S. history, including on federal lands.
 
Dingell has long worked to ensure the Rosies’ work and legacy is honored and remembered, hosting a group of 11 Rosies on a visit to the Capitol last year. She also helped pass the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Rosies. The original Rosie the Riveter, Rose Will Monroe, moved to Michigan to build B-24 bombers at Willow Run in Ypsilanti.