(Washington, D.C.) – On Tuesday, March 31st, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) will be joined by female Iraq War combat veterans to discuss the unique experiences of women veterans and legislation designed to prepare the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to care for them. The women veterans attending the press conference were part of a group known as “Lioness” soldiers who were attached to all-male combat units for the purpose of defusing tensions with Iraqi women and children. Like many other women veterans from a war without front lines, these women experienced combat first-hand. They are part of the influx of women veterans that the VA will face in the coming months that have unique needs.
Senator Murray and Rep. Herseth Sandlin have introduced similar bi-partisan legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives that will prepare the VA for the many women veterans who will access care there in the coming years.
Read a summary of Senator Murray’s Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009.
WHO: U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD)
U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Major Anastasia Breslow
Rebecca Nava
Shannon Morgan
Staff Sgt. Ranie Ruthig
(Read more about these women veterans.)
WHAT: Press Conference on Women Veterans Bill
WHEN: Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
2:45 PM EST/11:45 AM PST
WHERE: Senate Visitors Center – SVC – 212
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