Legislation will address unique needs of women veterans provide improved care for Military Sexual Trauma and explore the effects service in Iraq and Afghanistan has had on female veterans
(Washington D.C.) Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee introduced major bi-partisan legislation to prepare the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the influx of women veterans who will access care there in the coming years.
Senator Murrays bill the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009 will address many of the unique needs of female veterans particularly those women who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is the lead co-sponsor of the legislation and has also played a vocal role in ensuring the VA meets the unique needs of female veterans.
Women have stepped up to serve at unprecedented levels" said Senator Murray. Which means the VA is now faced with unprecedented challenges in caring for them as they return home. This bill addresses the unique challenges women face by providing specialized care for the visible and invisible wounds of war. As more women begin to transition home and step back into lives as mothers wives and citizens the VA must be there for them."
Women serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and performing dangerous missions throughout the world make up an important and growing segment of our veteran population. The number of women veterans receiving care through the VA is expected to double in less than five years" said Senator Hutchison. Our bill will help improve access to quality health care services for women who have bravely served in our armed forces."
Generations of women have served honorably in all of this countrys major conflicts. These women have earned the right to expect the same high quality health care services and benefits as their male counterparts" said Dave Gorman Executive Director of Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
While significant progress has been made in recent years to remove institutional barriers that often discourage women veterans from seeking assistance at VA facilities more needs to be done. The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act will help ensure these women have equal access to VA benefits and services. DAV is proud to have worked on this legislation with Senator Murray who has proven herself time and again to be a steadfast and effective champion for all of Americas veterans."
Senators Murray and Hutchisons bill was co-sponsored by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Ron Wyden (D-OR) Tim Johnson (D-SD) Susan Collins (R-ME) Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Lisa Murkowski (D-AK) Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
Among other things the legislation introduced today will:
• Require the VA to implement a program to train educate and certify VA mental health professionals to care for women with sexual trauma
• Require the VA Secretary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the barriers women are facing in accessing care at the VA.
• Authorize a report to Congress on the effects the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have had on the physical mental and reproductive health of women who have served there.
• Require the VA to begin a pilot program that provides child care to women veterans that seek mental health care services at the VA.
• Require the VA to begin a pilot program that provides readjustment counseling to women veterans in group retreat settings.
Senators Murray and Hutchison introduced similar legislation last year in the 110th Congress which passed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee before the Senate session ended.
For Detailed Information on the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009 visit:
http://murray.senate.gov/veterans/women-vets-2009.pdf
