FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 16, 2025
CONTACT: Raya Kenney
Raya Kenney advocates to recognize Rosie the Riveters’ contributions to WWII on the National Mall
Washington, D.C. — Today, Raya Kenney, founder and executive director of the WWII Women’s Memorial Foundation, testified before the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee in support of bipartisan legislation authorizing the National Mall as the location for the memorial honoring the service and sacrifice of the 18 million American women who worked on the home front during WWII.
“These women served as the backbone of the war effort and many directly contributed by building planes, tanks, munitions, and other equipment needed by American troops,” said Raya Kenney, CEO and Founder of the WWII Women’s Memorial Foundation. “As General Eisenhower said, ‘The contribution of the women of America, whether on the farm or in the factory or in uniform, to D-Day was a sine qua non of the invasion effort.’”
In March, U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Russ Fulcher (R-ID), along with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), introduced the bipartisan, bicameral World War II Women’s Memorial Location Act (H.R.2290/S.1088) to authorize the National Mall as the location of the memorial. Congress originally authorized the memorial in 2022, and Kenney’s testimony today on the location marks another important milestone toward properly honoring America’s Rosies in our nation’s capital.
“This bill advances a decade-long effort to properly honor the more than 18 million trailblazing women who became known as Rosie the Riveters,” said Representative Dingell. “I'm proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and help complete the story of World War II in our nation's front yard.”
“[W]ith millions of men overseas in this World War II era, American women popularly known as the Rosies stepped into the roles traditionally held by those men,” said Representative Fulcher. “Despite their monumental contributions, we still lack an independent prominent memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring these patriots.”
Kenney said she “strongly believe[s] that the Memorial honoring the millions of American women of WWII should be dedicated within walking distance of the WWII Memorial, just as the Vietnam Women’s Memorial was dedicated yards away from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.” She emphasized the necessity of the legislation, as the National Park Service and other relevant entities may not consider the National Mall as the location without congressional authorization.
“Much like today’s veterans, we must honor their contributions to America and not allow their stories to be lost,” Kenney said. “Today, as we near the 80th anniversary of our victory in WWII and the 250th birthday of this great nation, it is time to ensure the service and sacrifice of the American women of WWII are eternally etched into our collective memory.”
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About the World War II Women’s Memorial Foundation
Among the primary goals of the World War II Women’s Memorial Foundation is to increase awareness of the vital roles women played in supporting our country during trying times. The World War II Women’s Memorial Location Act authorizes the World War II Women’s Memorial Foundation to build a commemorative work on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to honor the women who worked on the home front during WWII.
For updates on the memorial, visit WWIIWomenMemorial.org. Media inquiries should be directed to info@whfnmf.org or homefront@rokksolutions.com.