Congressman Cleaver’s Bill to Honor WWI “Hello Girls” Passed by House of Representatives

(Washington, D.C.) - This week, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2025 (NDAA), which included the Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Act-bipartisan legislation that was introducedby U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Sam Graves (R-MO), and Sharice Davids (D-KS). The Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Actwould award the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress, to more than 220 American women who served as essential telephone operators with the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I. Known as the "Hello Girls," the women were the first female soldiers to be officially deployed to a combat zone in American history and were instrumental in the allied war effort throughout WWI.

"After years of hard work to ensure these patriotic women receive the recognition they deserve for their sacrifice to the country, I'm thrilled that my legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Hello Girls will soon become law," said Congressman Cleaver. "As someone whose uncle was a Tuskegee Airman, I know firsthand how important these recognitions are to the families of those who defended our freedom, and I'm thankful that the descendants of the Hello Girls will receive formal appreciation from a grateful nation for their loved one's service to the United States when we needed them most."

"The Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, also known as the Hello Girls, played an indispensable role in linking American troops during World War I," said Congressman Graves. "When General John J. Pershing identified that communication failures were hindering the war effort, he recognized the need for skilled operators. These courageous women stepped forward and served with exceptional honor. However, their contributions were overlooked for many years, and it wasn't until 1977 that they were formally recognized as veterans. I'm thrilled that we were able to get this included in NDAA and honor their legacy with the Congressional Gold Medal they so richly deserve."

"On behalf of the United States WWI Centennial Commission, I want to commend the Congress for moving forward toward righting this century-old wrong by recognizing our first women soldiers with this superb salute," said Daniel Dayton, Executive Director, United States World War I Centennial Commission. "The Commission also salutes the 'army' of Hello Girls descendants, major veterans associations, and volunteers for their unwavering support of this effort on behalf of the Signal Corps women who served in The War That Changed the World."

"The women of the WW1 U.S. Army Signal Corps, nicknamed Hello Girls, volunteered to do their bit to support the Doughboys and to save Europe because they had language skills to offer to become bilingual telephone operators for the AEF," said Catherine Bourgin, Grandaughter of Edmee LeRoux, WW1 U.S. Army Signal Corps. " My grandmother and all her fellow women soldiers changed the course of history for all American women by demonstrating that women soldiers could perform essential military duties as well as, and even better than, their male counterparts and changed the course of modern warfare with their effective management of high-speed tactical communications. During their sixty-year fight for their veterans status and benefits, they showed leadership and determination while establishing a foothold for future generations of women to serve in the U.S. military. As a granddaughter of a Hello Girl, Edmee LeRoux, I'm overjoyed to have contributed to the Hello Girls campaign team effort for this once in a lifetime honor of a Congressional Gold Medal. I wish to thank Representatives Cleaver, Graves, Davids, and Mace for their leadership by recognizing America's first women soldiers with the nation's highest civilian honor."

"I am excited to see the trailblazing Hello Girls get closer to being honored with the Congressional Gold Medal," said Carolyn Timbie, Granddaughter of Hello Girls Chief Operator Grace Banker. "I eagerly await the Senate to vote on this so we can celebrate and finally recognize these forgotten patriots of World War I. My grandmother, Grace Banker, and all of the Hello Girls have waited long enough for their day of recognition."

Formally known as the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators, the Hello Girls were recruited by General John J. Pershing in 1917 as the first group of women to hold non-medical positions in the U.S. Army. With telecommunication in battle still relatively new at the time, General Pershing was looking for experienced individuals that could improve communication on the front lines. As the telephone operator field was dominated by women at the time, General Pershing made the decision to form the specialized unit comprised solely of women for the first time in American history. It was required that the women be bilingual in both French and English so that they could effectively communicate and coordinate with French and American forces. By the end of the war, the Hello Girls had connected over 26 million calls in support of the war effort, and even continued to serve in Europe to organize the return of American forces following the armistice.

First introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Cleaver in 2019, passage of the Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Actis the final outstanding recommendation of the WWI Centennial Commission (WWICC). The WWICC was created under the World War I Centennial Commission Act, which was introduced by Congressman Cleaver in recognition of the centennial of WWI and to honor the veterans who served during the global conflict. Since the creation of the WWICC, Congressman Cleaver has securedmillionsof dollars in federal funding to support its mission, including the creation of a World War I Memorialin the nation's capital to go along with the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City.

The Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Actis endorsed by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, AMVETS, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National World War I Museum and Memorial, Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars, Women in Military Service for America Foundation, Military Women's Memorial, and the Fort Gordon Historical Museum Society. The Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Actwas also introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Margaret Hassan (D-NH) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

The NDAA, including the Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Act, will now go to the U.S. Senate, before being signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Official text of the Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Actis available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.