On May 23, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing on pending veterans’ health care legislation, including two measures affecting women veterans. S. 1384, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) secretary to ensure that VA domiciliary care programs meet the safety needs of women veterans. S. 882, sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), would establish a pilot program to facilitate the transition from military to civilian life, with women servicemembers as one of the target groups.
In his opening remarks, Chair Akaka said, “The Committee has done much oversight work and held various hearings, and the legislation before us is a culmination of those activities.” Referring to S. 1384, he said that the bill “would make a number of changes to the funding for homeless programs; expand programs to aid in the transition to civilian life for both incarcerated veterans and servicemembers being discharged from the military; and improve domiciliary care for women veterans.”
Vietnam Veterans of America Deputy Director for Policy and Government Affairs Bernard Edelman voiced his support for S. 1384, stating, “[A]s highlighted in the 2006 recommendations made by the [VA] Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, a survey of homeless women veterans showed that fewer women veterans are seeking services in VA domiciliary settings and residential treatment facilities because of concerns about safety, privacy, and what is a male-dominated environment. Ideally, separate area/space designed for women veterans will support this need. Flexibility in design will allow appropriate utilization of space. We also advocate that all VA domiciliary settings be evaluated with regard to gender-specific needs related not only to safety and security, but also to positive therapeutic environments and successful treatment modalities.”
Also testifying were VA Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health Gerald Cross; Paralyzed Veterans of America National Legislative Director Dennis Cullinan; Disabled Veterans of America Assistant National Legislative Director Joy Ilem; The American Legion Health, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission Deputy Director Shannon Middleton; The Wounded Warrior Project National Policy Director Meredith Beck; Suicide Prevention Action Network USA Executive Director Jerry Reed; and John Booss of the American Academy of Neurology.
