Wounded Warrior Project, Congressional Members, and Veterans Affairs Officials Discuss Women Veteran Needs
WASHINGTON — Last week Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Chief Program Officer Jennifer Silva and Vice President of Connection and Wellness Tracy Farrell hosted discussions with VA Chief of Staff Tanya Bradsher, VA Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Kayla Williams, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6). Topics covered a range of women veterans’ issues, including military sexual trauma and access and improvements at VA facilities.
Watch the event here.
Bradsher and Williams outlined how VA is adapting to support women veterans as the percentage of women obtaining health care at a VA facility grew 76% since 2010. “Improving our programs and services for women veterans are among Secretary Denis McDonough’s top priorities, and I’m committed to helping him change the culture of VA to ensure that women will want to choose VA for all their health care needs,” said Bradsher.
Williams said VA is working to address recommendations by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. “Our ultimate goal is to lead the nation in preventing sexual harassment and assault, employing trauma-informed interventions to support survivors, and forming coalitions to raise awareness both for prevention and response,” she said.
Representatives Houlahan and Sherrill shared how their experiences as female service members inform their work in Congress.
“My experience with an active-duty parent, and also a military member myself, helped me understand that there is diversity of opinion and diversity in experience,” said Houlahan. Sherrill said, “We really need to make sure that women veterans feel part of the veteran community. And we need to continue to work on more legislation…so that women have, for example, childcare when they go to seek medical services.”
Women are one of the fastest-growing demographics in military service and the veteran community. WWP released research from its first Women Warriors Initiative Survey earlier this year, showing that women veterans face additional challenges to their male counterparts in transitioning to civilian life, accessing care, and receiving quality care that meets their needs.
Learn more about how WWP works with our nation’s leaders to improve the lives of wounded veterans and their families.
Contact: Mattison Brooks, Communications Specialist, mbrooks@woundedwarriorproject.org, 202.969.1120
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more.