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AJR 35

Relating to: proclaiming May 16, 17, and 18, 2025, Syttende Mai Weekend.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Margaret Arney and 16 co-sponsors

Designates March as Women Veterans Month in New Jersey and urges the Governor to issue annual proclamations recognizing and observing women veterans.

Report correctly enrolled on 5-16-2025
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Bill Summary · AJR 35

Summary of AJR 35 (New Jersey)

AJR 35 is a joint resolution introduced in the New Jersey Assembly that designates March of each year as “Women Veterans Month” in New Jersey and requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the month.

Purpose and Intent

  • Create a formal designation and annual observance of March as Women Veterans Month in New Jersey.
  • Honor and remember women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in past and present conflicts, and encourage recognition by public officials and citizens.

Key Provisions

  1. Designation
    • March of every year would be designated as “Women Veterans Month” in New Jersey.
    • The designation honors all women veterans who have served honorably for the State and the United States since the Revolutionary War.
  2. Governor’s Proclamation
    • The Governor is respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation recognizing March as Women Veterans Month.
    • The proclamation should call on public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
  3. Effective Date
    • The joint resolution takes effect immediately.

Background and Context (as presented in the bill)

  • The resolution emphasizes the long history of women serving in the U.S. military, from roles in the Revolutionary War onward (nurses, cooks, support roles, etc.).
  • It notes modern service, including women in World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and more recent conflicts, and references the 2015 DoD policy change allowing women in combat roles.
  • Provides demographic context:
    • Approximately 15% of active-duty personnel are women; about 17% of active-duty officers.
    • Service-specific shares: ~19% (Air Force), 18% (Navy), 14% (Army), 8% (Marines).
    • In New Jersey: women constitute about 18% of the NJ Army National Guard and 23% of the NJ Air National Guard.
    • National projection discussed (historical): women in the military rising toward 20% by 2020; NJ-specific figure cited: 25,678 women veterans in New Jersey.
  • Mentions that former Governor Chris Christie proclaimed March 2016 as “Women Veterans Month.”

Affected Parties

  • Women veterans in New Jersey (recognition and visibility).
  • Public officials and state agencies that would be encouraged to observe the designation.
  • Government and civilian residents of New Jersey, through observance activities and programs.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the Assembly on January 9, 2024.
  • Referred to: Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  • Next steps: If approved by both houses and signed by the Governor, March would be designated as Women Veterans Month in subsequent years, with annual proclamations as called for in the resolution.
  • Immediate effect: The resolution states it takes effect immediately.

Fiscal and Policy Implications

  • The measure is commemorative in nature and does not authorize spending or create new programs in itself.
  • Any observed activities or programs would be contingent on future actions by state agencies or public bodies, but no specific funding is authorized in the text of AJR 35.

Overall, AJR 35 seeks to honor and raise awareness of women veterans in New Jersey by designating March as Women Veterans Month and urging annual gubernatorial proclamations and observances.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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