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News
from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For
Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449
HERSETH
SANDLIN WORKS TO MEET GROWING NEEDS OF WOMEN VETERANS
Introduces
Bill To Ensure VA has Authority, Flexibility to Provide Health Care
Services to Women Who Served in OIF/OEF
November
8, 2007, Washington, D.C. –
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin this week introduced the Women Veterans
Health Care Improvement Act, a bill to expand and improve VA health
care services for women who have served, particularly those who served
in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF).
Herseth Sandlin,
who serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “This
bill responds to a specific and growing need to provide health care
services for women veterans, especially those who served in Iraq and
Afghanistan.” She noted that more than 177,000 women have served
our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 2001 and nearly 27,000
are currently deployed in these wars.
She continued, “More
women are answering the call to serve, and more women veterans need
access to services that they are entitled to when they return. We must
do everything we can to meet this new challenge of serving the needs
of women veterans.”
Among other things,
the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act calls for a study of
health care for women veterans who served in OIF and OEF, a study of
barriers to women veterans seeking health care, enhancement of VA sexual
trauma programs, enhancement of PTSD treatment for women, expansion
of family counseling programs, and establishment of a pilot program
for child care services. Further details are listed below.
Herseth Sandlin
worked closely with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in crafting
this bill. “With more and more women in the military, and many
now serving in combat situations, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement
Act is absolutely essential to ensuring that VA is prepared for the
rising number of women veterans coming into the system,” said
David W. Gorman, Washington Headquarters Executive Director of DAV.
This legislation will require VA to provide comprehensive medical care
services that are uniquely suited to their particular needs, especially
those veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Gorman added,
“DAV is grateful to Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin for her foresight
and leadership on veterans’ issues. Since coming to Congress,
she has been a champion for all veterans and DAV looks forward to working
with her to help enact this important legislation.”
Herseth Sandlin
added, “With the upcoming recognition of Veterans’ Day,
now is a perfect time to work to ensure that the VA has both the authority
and the flexibility it needs to respond to and serve those who have
served us.”
Women Veterans Health
Care Improvement Act Summary:
1. Study
on Health of Women Veterans from OEF/OIF
- Requires the
VA, in collaboration with DoD, to contract with a qualified outside
entity for a long term health study of women who served in OEF/OIF.
The study will include information on the general health, mental health,
reproductive health, and mortality of such women veterans.
- The final report
will include a detailed description of the findings and recommendations
for administrative and legislative action.
2. Study
on Barriers to Women Seeking VA Health Care
- Requires the
VA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the barriers to comprehensive
health care by the VA.
- The study will
survey women veterans who seek or receive health care services from
the VA.
- Possible barriers
to VA health care for women veterans: perceived stigma of seeking
mental health care services, long driving distance, availability of
child care, comprehension of services available, perception of personal
safety and comfort of women veterans at VA medical centers, sensitivity
of health care providers and staff to issues that affect women.
- Requires a report
outlining the description of the findings and recommendations for
administrative and legislative action.
3. Assessment
of Women’ Health Care Programs at the VA
- Requires the
VA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all health care services
and programs provided by the VA for the health care needs of women
veterans.
- The assessment
shall include the study of specialized programs for women with PTSD,
for women who are homeless, for women who require care for substance
abuse or mental illnesses, and for women who require pregnancy care.
- The VA will be
required to develop a program to improve the provision of health care
services to women. In addition, the VA shall project resource and
staffing requirements to meet the health care needs of women veterans.
4. Enhance
VA Sexual Trauma, PTSD, and Family Counseling Programs
- VA’s sexual
trauma, PTSD, and family counseling programs would be enhanced through
requirements for consistent training for care of women veterans.
- Requires the
VA to report to Congress on the counseling and care provided by these
programs.
5. Pilot
Program for Child Care for Women Veterans
- Requires the
VA to carry out a child care pilot program in three Veteran Service
Networks for two years.
- Possible forms
of child care assistance: stipend for child care centers, development
of partnerships with private agencies, collaboration with facilities
or programs with other Federal departments.
6. Pilot
program for women veterans newly separated from service for counseling
in retreat settings.
- Requires the
VA to carry out a pilot program to evaluate the feasibility of providing
counseling and transition adjustment assistance for women veterans
who are newly separated from active duty service in a group retreat
setting in which counseling is made available in consecutive period
of days.
- The VA shall
carry out the pilot program in five sites.
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Congresswoman
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats
committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is
co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the
profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three
committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’
Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin
was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee
on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
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