On May 6, the House Veterans’Affairs Subcommittee on Health heard testimony on a bill (H.R. 3849) to provide permanent authority for the secretary of Veterans Affairs to continue to operate a counseling and treatment program for veterans who experienced sexual trauma or sexual harassment in the military. The program was established as part of the Women Veterans Health Programs Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-585), and is set to expire on December 31, 2004.
In his opening remarks, Chair Rob Simmons (R-CT) declared, “I strongly support this bill.” Ranking Member Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), who sponsored the legislation, stated, “The time is ripe to make this program permanent.” Rep. Rodriguez noted that thousands of veterans have benefited from counseling since 1992, and pointed to the need for the bill at a time when women play an increasing role in the military.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Deputy Secretary Gordon Mansfield said that the Veterans Administration (VA) “strongly supports making the treatment authority permanent.” He added, “The number of women veterans seeking VA counseling and treatment for military sexual trauma continues to increase at a substantial rate…VA must therefore be able to provide needed sexual trauma counseling and related health care to these current and future veterans without any lapse in program authority.”
Marsha Four of the VA Advisory Committee on Veterans Affairs agreed. “By making this permanent,” she said, “the message is sent (1) that the pain these veterans suffered, and continue to suffer, as a result of their military sexual trauma is recognized and validated, and (2) that access to treatment will be available under this special treatment authority regardless of the veteran’s eligibility for VA’s general medical benefits package or enrollment priority category.”
Ms. Four noted that, of the 1,761,591 veterans screened for military sexual trauma between March and October 2002, “one in twenty women veterans reported experiencing military sexual trauma.” She highlighted the “far-reaching consequences” of military sexual trauma, such as mood swings, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and homelessness. “Out of a cohort of 443 homeless women veterans in the VA homeless women veterans pilot program, 38 percent reported they had been sexually harassed in the military and 43 percent reported they had been raped on active duty,” Ms. Four stated.
The subcommittee also heard testimony on legislation (H.R. 4020) to establish a program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist the states in hiring and retaining nurses at state veterans homes, and a bill (H.R. 4231) to provide for a pilot program in the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve recruitment and retention of nurses.
