The role of women in the United States armed services became an important political topic in 1991.

[3] Representative Patricia Schroeder (D-CO1) and Beverly B. Byron (D-MD6) then convinced the House Armed Services Committee to amend the House bill under consideration for military appropriations for 1992 and 1993 to allow combat roles for military women.

[6] The Congressional conference committee chosen to reconcile the House and Senate versions of bills for 1992-1993 military appropriations (of which Sen. Nunn was a member) included creating the Commission in the approved 1992-1993 military appropriations law.

Assignment: Women's roles in the armed services of other nations; women's roles in domestic law enforcement; the issue of prisoner of war Commission members: Cockerham (Chair), Finch, Moskos

Assignment: Social and cultural issues, with a focus on the family; concerns about parenthood and child care affecting "deployability"; analysis of the surveys done for the Commission Commission members: O'Beirne (Chair), Draude, Hogg, White