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The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 (Blue Water and Blue Sky Veterans) - Click Here
Heinrich Introduces Bill To Help Military Families
Extend Health Care Coverage To Their Children
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) has introduced H.R. 4923, the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act, a bill that would increase the maximum age to 26 at which our troops and military retirees are allowed to provide health coverage to their dependent children. Click for Full Story
NEWS FROM…
CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2010
Contact Kristal DeKleer at (202) 225-9756
http://veterans.house.gov
House Passes Bills Package to Eliminate Homelessness, Provide Job Opportunities and Protect Home Ownership for Veterans
Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve seven measures this week that would improve benefits and services to veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Click for Full Story
NEWS FROM…CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
http://veterans.house.gov
House Affirms Commitment to Nation’s Veterans, Men and Women in Uniform
Washington, D.C. – On June 8, 2009, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that H.R. 466 passed the House of Representatives.
H.R. 466 – The Wounded Veteran Job Security Act (Doggett)
H.R. 466 seeks to expand the protections of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to include veterans with service-connected disabilities who seek an excused leave of absence from work to obtain medical attention.
Chairman Filner provided the following statement in support of H.R. 466: “Recognizing the special needs of injured veterans and openness to work with these men and women is a crucial step that allows our veterans the ability to heal and remain gainfully employed. Today we have thousands of business owners who have taken the initiative of providing our injured men and women with workforce protections of seniority, status, retention, and pay as well as other rights and benefits determined by employment. Unfortunately, there is still room for improvement and this bill seeks to bridge that gap. I thank my House colleagues for reaffirming our nation’s commitment to care for our service members, veterans and their dependents by supporting H.R. 466.”
Senators introduce Woman Veterans legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Julia Wanzco (Snowe)
March 16, 2009 202-224-1304
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Bill to Prepare VA for Rapidly Growing Number of Women Veterans
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in announcing bipartisan legislation to prepare the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the influx of women veterans who will access care there in the coming years. 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.
"With over 10,000 women veterans in Maine, and almost two million across the United States each are patriots that have answered our nation's call, and it is essential the nation be there for them when they return to the home front and their families," Senator Snowe said. "I am honored to join with my colleagues to introduce this bill today that rightfully recognizes and addresses issues with which many of these veterans and their families are managing today."
"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 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.
In addition to Senators Murray, Hutchison and Snowe, the legislation 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). |
