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A resolution recognizing September 20, 2025, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day".

USA119th CongressSRES-408| Senate 
| Updated: 9/18/2025
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (18)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This Senate Resolution designates September 20, 2025, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day" to honor and celebrate the significant contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals who have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces. It explicitly regrets the profound harm inflicted upon LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans through decades of discriminatory policies, including the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and various bans on transgender service. The resolution highlights how "other than honorable" and "dishonorable" discharges, issued based on sexual orientation and gender identity, prematurely ended careers, subjected individuals to trauma, and unjustly denied them earned benefits and the honor of military service. It notes that these past policies continue to cause dignitary harm to affected veterans. The resolution also acknowledges recent reversals of progress, such as the reinstatement of bans on transgender servicemembers and the halting of gender-affirming medical procedures and hormone therapy by early 2025. Furthermore, the resolution strongly urges the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to implement policy changes that restore justice and rectify wrongs caused by government-sponsored discrimination. It calls for increased outreach to LGBTQ+ servicemember and veteran communities to ensure access to benefits. Critically, it urges both departments to guarantee that transgender veterans and servicemembers, along with their families, have access to a full range of healthcare, including gender-affirming care , and specifically requests the removal of gender-affirming surgery exclusion from the Veterans Affairs Medical Benefits Package.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

SRES 118-824
A resolution recognizing September 20, 2024, as "National LGBTQ+ Veterans Day".
Sep 18, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Sep 18, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738-6739: 2)
Sep 18, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738)
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    SRES 118-824
    A resolution recognizing September 20, 2024, as "National LGBTQ+ Veterans Day".


  • September 18, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 18, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738-6739: 2)


  • September 18, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738)

Armed Forces and National Security

A resolution recognizing September 20, 2025, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day".

USA119th CongressSRES-408| Senate 
| Updated: 9/18/2025
This Senate Resolution designates September 20, 2025, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day" to honor and celebrate the significant contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals who have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces. It explicitly regrets the profound harm inflicted upon LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans through decades of discriminatory policies, including the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and various bans on transgender service. The resolution highlights how "other than honorable" and "dishonorable" discharges, issued based on sexual orientation and gender identity, prematurely ended careers, subjected individuals to trauma, and unjustly denied them earned benefits and the honor of military service. It notes that these past policies continue to cause dignitary harm to affected veterans. The resolution also acknowledges recent reversals of progress, such as the reinstatement of bans on transgender servicemembers and the halting of gender-affirming medical procedures and hormone therapy by early 2025. Furthermore, the resolution strongly urges the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to implement policy changes that restore justice and rectify wrongs caused by government-sponsored discrimination. It calls for increased outreach to LGBTQ+ servicemember and veteran communities to ensure access to benefits. Critically, it urges both departments to guarantee that transgender veterans and servicemembers, along with their families, have access to a full range of healthcare, including gender-affirming care , and specifically requests the removal of gender-affirming surgery exclusion from the Veterans Affairs Medical Benefits Package.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

SRES 118-824
A resolution recognizing September 20, 2024, as "National LGBTQ+ Veterans Day".
Sep 18, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Sep 18, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738-6739: 2)
Sep 18, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738)
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    SRES 118-824
    A resolution recognizing September 20, 2024, as "National LGBTQ+ Veterans Day".


  • September 18, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 18, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738-6739: 2)


  • September 18, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738)
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (18)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted