Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives David Joyce, R-Ohio., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., today introduced a resolution honoring the 125th anniversary of the Army Nurse Corps. The Army Nurse Corps was established on February 2, 1901, marking the entry of the first nurses and the first women into the United States military. The Army Nurse Corps has served with honor and distinction in every major conflict since its inception, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the conflicts in the Balkans, and the War on Terror.
In May 2025, Senators Wicker and Merkley introduced the Bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act. Senators Wicker and Merkley and Representatives Joyce and Bonamici serve as co-chairs of the Senate and House Nursing Caucuses.
To read the full text of the resolution, click here.
“The Army Nurse Corps have been essential to our defense personnel and U.S. health care system. As a nation, we are grateful for their commitment to the well-being of our soldiers and for their dedication to the United States. I commend the commitment, skill, and sacrifice of Army nurses throughout history and their continuous vital contributions to our service members,” said Senator Wicker, Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus.
“From battlefields to hospitals and clinics, army nurses provide critical care to patients during their moments of greatest need,” said Senator Merkley, Co-Chair of the Senate Nursing Caucus. “With our bipartisan resolution, we honor these heroes for their dedication to making the world a better place and commit to ensuring they can continue this essential work for future generations of brave servicemembers.”
“For 125 years, the Army Nurse Corps has provided invaluable care to our men and women in uniform. Whether it was the beaches of Normandy or the jungles of Vietnam, Army Nurses answered the call to serve and have since saved countless lives in the process,” said Representative Joyce, Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus. “This resolution recognizes the vital role that these heroes play in our military operations and national security, as well as the sacrifices they have made throughout history to care for our troops. I want to thank Chairman Wicker for his support for this resolution in the Senate, and I am proud to pay tribute to our brave Army Nurses in Congress.”
“On February 2nd we celebrated 125 years of the Army Nurse Corps providing care to military members, veterans, and their families. I have profound appreciation for the current and former nurses who have served their country bravely and continue to provide life-saving care. I will continue to work in Congress to provide pathways to and support for nursing professionals,” said Representative Bonamici, Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus.
“As a retired Army colonel and a certified nurse-midwife, I have seen firsthand how the Army Nurse Corps embodies service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to those we serve,” said ACNM CEO Michelle Munroe, DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “For 125 years, Army nurses have been the backbone of military medicine, caring for soldiers and families in moments of profound vulnerability, often under extremely challenging conditions. This anniversary is not just a milestone in our history; it is a testament to the courage, skill, compassion, and pride that Army nurses bring to every mission.”
“Congratulations to the Army Nurse Corps on 125 years of extraordinary service. This milestone invites us to honor a remarkable branch of nursing that helped shape our nation and build the foundation of modern healthcare,” said ANA President Jennifer S. Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Military nursing stands among the earliest formalized specialties, forged by those who cared for the wounded on the frontlines of America’s major conflicts. The American Nurses Association salutes the Army Nurse Corps—its leadership, its mission, and our shared commitment to advancing nursing research, professional standards, and humanitarian and disaster response. Here’s to your legacy of service, your impact on the nursing profession.”
“The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) would like to thank Representatives Dave Joyce, Bonamici, Calvert, Fleischmann and Kiggans and Senators Merkley and Wicker for introducing this important resolution recognizing the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Army Nurse Corp,” said AANP President Valerie J. Fuller, PhD, DNP. “The Army Nurse Corp has not only ensured that our men and women on the front lines have access to lifesaving care as they fight for our country, but it has also shaped generations of nurse and nurse practitioner leaders.”
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