23.18: Women Veterans
Caring for Women Veterans Other Information:
There are 1.7 million women veterans, a number that is increasing every day. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that
was built to care for World War II veterans is not ready to handle the influx of women veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Barack Obama has introduced legislation to force the Pentagon and VA
to better track the newest generation of veterans -- including the number of women veterans -- so that the VA can better plan
their care. Obama also introduced legislation to fight homelessness among veterans, with a special focus on treating women
who may have been victims of sexual trauma. Along with Senator Claire McCaskill, Obama has co-sponsored legislation to provide
funding for additional caseworkers and mental health counselors, a women's mental health treatment program, and a comprehensive
mental health study of returning soldiers. As president, Barack Obama will fight to ensure that women can get the care they
deserve at the VA.
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