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For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Waxman (202) 872-4860 office (310) 963-4847 cell mwaxman@hydeparkcomm.com

SUPPORTED BY DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS> www.dav.org

Disabled American Veterans Hails Historic Legislation Addressing Health Care Needs of Women Veterans

Veteran's Group Launches Stand Up for Veterans National Grassroots Initiative to Improve Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 28, 2008 – The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) applauds Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in addressing the unique needs of our women veterans by announcing the planned introduction of the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act this spring.  Reps. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) and Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.), introduced similar legislation in the House late last year.  These groundbreaking bills were developed in consultation with the DAV, which today is launching a nationwide legislative initiative to fully meet the health care needs of all America’s veterans.

“It’s crucial we start looking seriously at the health care needs of all women veterans,” said Joe Violante, DAV’s national legislative director. “Once they walk off that battlefield, whether in Iraq, Afghanistan or a previous conflict, many women veterans are facing yet another battle here at home when it comes to accessing health care services that are suited to their needs.”

Both the House and Senate bills seek to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) ability to assess and treat women who have experienced military sexual trauma, increase the use of evidence-based treatment practices, and call for a long-term study on the gender-specific health challenges facing women veterans, particularly those exposed to combat conditions.

"It's troubling that we don’t even know what we don’t know when it comes to potential health implications for women serving in a combat zone," said Joy Ilem, DAV’s assistant national legislative director. "We definitely need more research on the unique health care needs of women veterans. Thankfully, there is now legislation that would address this problem with a call for an in-depth study of the issue."

Stand Up for Veterans Initiative

In addition to encouraging support for women veterans’ legislation, DAV launched a new nationwide initiative today in Washington, D.C. to educate the public and members of Congress on the health care needs of all veterans.

The initiative, Stand Up for Veterans (www.standup4vets.org), addresses four main areas in veterans’ health care:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Mental health challenges (which includes women’s health, PTSD, and substance abuse)
• Family caregivers
• Funding reform

The campaign will engage lawmakers throughout the year on the challenges facing veterans and their families, and offer legislative solutions to meet the health care needs of our veteran population.

As part of this effort, hundreds of veterans are in Washington, DC to meet with members of Congress and gather signatures for a national petition urging the federal government to provide needed health care assistance to disabled veterans.

"Our mid-winter conference (March 2-5) comes at a critical time when veterans’ health care issues are front and center in both parties this election season," said Violante. "We hope our in-person visits with members of Congress will reinforce the need to take action this year on legislation to meet the health care needs of veterans injured in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as those from prior eras and conflicts."

Thousands of our military service personnel and veterans are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious wounds and permanent disabilities. Millions more veterans from prior wars also have been disabled in military service. The Department of Defense and VA must meet their needs and have sufficient programs, services and benefits to help them recover and rehabilitate themselves and their lives.

About Disabled American Veterans

Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families.

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