Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) hailed the news Wednesday that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will lift the ban on women serving in combat, calling the move “an historic step for equality.”
“This is an historic step for equality and for recognizing the role women have, and will continue to play, in the defense of our nation,” Murray said in a statement. “From the streets of Iraqi cities to rural villages in Afghanistan, time and again women have proven capable of serving honorably and bravely. In fact, it’s important to remember that in recent wars that lacked any true front lines, thousands of women already spent their days in combat situations serving side-by-side with their fellow male servicemembers. I commend Secretary Panetta and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for their decision and look forward to working with them on quickly implementing the end of this ban.