Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)· Introduced April 2, 2026

To amend title 10, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, to codify and clarify gender neutral standards for members of certain Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

H.R. 8175 · House bill Armed Forces and National Security

A Democratic bill with 38 Democratic cosponsors · See all 38 cosponsors

Last activity April 2, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

Introduced
In Committee

What this bill would do

H.R. 8175 aims to establish and clarify gender-neutral standards for members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. The bill prohibits excluding members from assignments, career fields, or occupational specialties based on gender. It requires the Secretary of Defense to provide annual reports on occupational standard changes and member separations. Additionally, the bill modernizes occupational performance standards to be based on a scientifically rigorous process. It also mandates the submission of a review regarding the operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units.

Yes· 3 of 8

Scored +10
Would women be better off under this?
Removes gender-based barriers to military assignments and career fields, significantly increasing opportunity.
Scored +10
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?
Explicitly prohibits the exclusion of military members from any assignment or career field based on gender.
Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Mandates annual reports to Congress on occupational standard changes and involuntary separations.