This past Memorial Day we paused to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. In order to fully honor these sacrifices, we must make sure that those who currently serve in our country’s defense, and those who have done so in the past, receive the best possible care. I have recently had the honor of visiting with Mainers serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I was humbled by their commitment to the mission and all the sacrifices they have made to serve this nation.
We have come a long way over the last few years in improving the services and resources devoted to caring for our service members and veterans. But there remains much work to do.
I recently held a hearing in the subcommittee that I chair, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, on a bill entitled the “Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act.” This legislation would improve and expand health care for women veterans. I am pleased to report that we amended the bill and passed it out of our committee.
The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act authorizes funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a study on the barriers faced by women veterans in accessing care in the VA health care system and an assessment of VA’s health care programs for women. The bill would also provide graduate medical education and training for mental health professionals at the VA caring for veterans suffering from military sexual trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The legislation also authorizes the VA to provide short-term medical care for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity care and provides for a child care pilot program so that the lack of child care no longer serves as a barrier to accessing care at the VA.
We must ensure that women veterans have a voice and that their needs do not fall by the wayside as we explore ways to improve health care services for our veterans overall. Passing this bill into law will help identify and breakdown barriers faced by women veterans in accessing care within the VA health care system.
After the markup of the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, I held a hearing that examined the underreported and too frequently undervalued role of family caregivers of severely injured veterans. The hearing explored the extent of the VA’s current programs in support of caregivers, including ongoing caregiver pilot programs and respite care services. We also heard directly from the families of severely injured veterans who are being cared for at home about the challenges faced by caregivers and the critical need for supportive services. Their testimony was extremely moving and very informative.
Identifying gaps in supportive services for family caregivers is the first step toward addressing this issue. I recently introduced a bill “Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act of 2009” (H.R. 2342), which would establish a family caregiver program for veterans seriously injured while on active duty or on training for the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. I look forward to further hearings on this issue. It’s clear that caregivers contribute greatly to the lives of our veterans and many of them could benefit from training and increased support from the VA.
Whether it’s improving health care for women veterans or providing support for family caregivers, we must not forget our shared commitment to our nation’s heroes.
We have come a long way over the last few years in improving the services and resources devoted to caring for our service members and veterans. But there remains much work to do.
I recently held a hearing in the subcommittee that I chair, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, on a bill entitled the “Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act.” This legislation would improve and expand health care for women veterans. I am pleased to report that we amended the bill and passed it out of our committee.
The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act authorizes funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a study on the barriers faced by women veterans in accessing care in the VA health care system and an assessment of VA’s health care programs for women. The bill would also provide graduate medical education and training for mental health professionals at the VA caring for veterans suffering from military sexual trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The legislation also authorizes the VA to provide short-term medical care for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity care and provides for a child care pilot program so that the lack of child care no longer serves as a barrier to accessing care at the VA.
We must ensure that women veterans have a voice and that their needs do not fall by the wayside as we explore ways to improve health care services for our veterans overall. Passing this bill into law will help identify and breakdown barriers faced by women veterans in accessing care within the VA health care system.
After the markup of the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, I held a hearing that examined the underreported and too frequently undervalued role of family caregivers of severely injured veterans. The hearing explored the extent of the VA’s current programs in support of caregivers, including ongoing caregiver pilot programs and respite care services. We also heard directly from the families of severely injured veterans who are being cared for at home about the challenges faced by caregivers and the critical need for supportive services. Their testimony was extremely moving and very informative.
Identifying gaps in supportive services for family caregivers is the first step toward addressing this issue. I recently introduced a bill “Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act of 2009” (H.R. 2342), which would establish a family caregiver program for veterans seriously injured while on active duty or on training for the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. I look forward to further hearings on this issue. It’s clear that caregivers contribute greatly to the lives of our veterans and many of them could benefit from training and increased support from the VA.
Whether it’s improving health care for women veterans or providing support for family caregivers, we must not forget our shared commitment to our nation’s heroes.
