(Washington D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) comprehensive
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 has
passed the Senate and House of Representatives. Senator Murray’s 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. The women veterans bill, which is included in S. 1963, The
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, is expected to be
signed into law by President Obama in the coming days.
“This is a big victory for women veterans who have
stepped up to serve at unprecedented levels,” said Senator Murray. “And
it is a major step forward in helping the VA to meet the challenge of serving
them when they walk through their door. 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.”
“Generations
of women have served honorably in all of this country’s 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 America’s
veterans.”
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.
See more
detailed Information on the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act.
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