Press Release
April 30, 2008
Susan Davis Purple Heart Bill Becomes Law
Inequity in Military Order of the Purple Heart membership is eliminated
WASHINGTON – The Purple Heart Family Equity Act (H.R. 1119), sponsored by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), was signed into law by President Bush. The law expands eligibility for associate membership in the Military Order of the Purple Heart to allow the inclusion of all spouses.
According to the Federal Charter of the Order, male members of the Order are allowed to invite their wives to join with limited membership benefits. However, because of how the Charter is written, female members of the Order are prohibited from inviting their husbands.
The Order had requested a change to its Federal Charter, which can only be done by an act of Congress, to include spouses of both sexes. Davis responded by introducing H.R. 1119 along with Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO).
“The women of the Armed Forces who have won the Purple Heart defending our nation will now get the full honors and benefits of membership in the Order,” said Davis, Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee. “I appreciate the President signing this bill. I thank all my colleagues who supported the bill as it made its way through the legislative process.”
In 1932, the Military Order of the Purple Heart was formed with the mission of fostering a positive environment among wounded veterans as well as to provide services to all veterans and their families.
The first woman to be awarded the Purple Heart was First Lt. Annie G. Fox. She was awarded this distinction in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor where she made the ultimate sacrifice for her country.