Vietnam-Era Women Veterans

Damn Do I Like What The VA Is Finally Doing and Under Sec. Shinseki, commonsense, critical thought and intelligence reign!

Secretary Shinseki Announces Study of Vietnam-Era Women Veterans

Comprehensive Study Will Help VA Provide High-Quality Care

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a comprehensive study of women Veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War to explore the effects of their military service upon their mental and physical health.

"One of my top priorities is to meet the needs of women Veterans," said Secretary Shinseki. "Our Veterans have earned the very best care. VA realizes that women Veterans require specialized programs, and this study will help VA provide high-quality care for women Veterans of the Vietnam era."

The study, which begins in November and lasts more than four years, will contact approximately 10,000 women in a mailed survey, telephone interview and a review of their medical records. ..>>>>>

This will only help the Women Veterans of today, especially those who have served in our ongoing Two occupations!

Outside The Wire

The newest episode to the reports from the online series In Their Boots

Three women service members return from Iraq and Afghanistan to find they face a new battle—a battle to treat their wartime injuries.



American Women Veterans this is their Facebook site page.

This is their New Site Page: American Women Veterans

American Women Veterans is the nation's preeminent Women Veterans organization dedicated to being the voice of Women Service Members and Veterans. They welcome veterans and supporters from all branches and eras. They foster a continued desire to serve our country and our comrades by raising awareness of women veterans' issues in military, civilian and veterans' affairs. They strive to enlighten, engage and empower women veterans from all services and eras!

Two Important Veterans Congressional Hearings

Yesterday, 5.19.09 in the morning, at the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs there were two important hearings. In the morning there was this Gulf War Illness Research: Is Enough Being Done?

This is an issue rarely mentioned since Gulf War I, just like ours, Agent Orange, the country, government, and possible business ties to, are pushed into the dark, and silence of denial, as those who served in these theaters suffer, as do their families.

If you would like to watch and listen to you can click on this link to bring up the House Player for the archived hearing, you should be able to read the opening statements at the above site link.


Yesterday afternoon this hearing followed the one above, another very important hearing, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care: The Crown Jewel and Best Kept Secret

As the subject title of the hearing states, The Crown Jewel and Best Kept Secret, especially coming out of the previous incompetent administration and congresses, but especially the administrations of these agencies built on political appointies who bring in their own political ideology administrations to run them, and the last decade has brought about the same that was found by us returning from Vietnam, only now we've had Two Theaters of Occupation they sent Soldiers into.

If you would like to watch and listen you can click on this link to bring up the House Player for the archived hearing, and you should be able to read the opening statements at the site link above.


While at the House Veterans Site I caught a hearing that is scheduled for today, 5.20.09, The Growing Needs of Women Veterans: Is the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs Ready?

Their is no information, other than the subject title of the hearing, at the site. Nothing on who may be testifying nor if it will be streamed, it is a Full Committee Hearing. It takes place at 10AM this morning and isn't listed on C-Span nether. Now yesterday afternoons hearing also wasn't listed to be streamed but it was as many went over to check and it came on. If you want to see if it will be you can use this link for the Player at 10am, I'm going to check, and hopefully they will be streaming this important hearing as well!!

UpDate: The hearing today, just above, was streamed but in audio so will probably be archived in same at same link. But one of the women soldiers, now veteran, who testified has a post up at VetVoice:

The Growing Needs of Women Veterans: Is the VA Ready? by: Kayla Williams author of "Love My Rifle More than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army"

This morning, I was honored to speak on the Hill. I've touched on some of the same themes before, and will continue to push the importance of addressing the needs of women veterans. I'd love to hear your .........

"The Lonely Soldier"

The Diane Rehm Show - NPR

Show date 4.01.09 - second hour

Helen Benedict: "The Lonely Soldier" (Beacon)

Guest host: Susan Page

More American women have fought and died in Iraq than in any war since World War II. A Columbia journalism professor reports on their struggles and challenges.
Guests

Helen Benedict, A novelist and journalism professor at Colombia University.

Kaye Whitley, director of the Defense Department's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office

To Listen: This brings up WMPlayer

Helen Benedicts Book: "The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq"

Change of Culture at VA Called For

From: Veterans for Common Sense

During Confirmation Hearing for New Veterans Secretary

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) questioned Retired General Eric Shinseki, President-elect Barack Obama's nominee to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs, about challenges facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and an outspoken leader in fighting for veterans' benefits and care, discussed changing the overall culture at the VA, improving care for women veterans, and working to make the VA a more proactive agency. Secretary-Designate Shinseki"s nomination is expected to be voted on by the full Senate as part of a package of Obama administration nominees on January 20th.

January 14, 2009 - Murray invites Secretary-Designate Shinseki to visit Washington state veterans facilities

Calls for proactive approach to meeting long-term challenges, better care for women veterans, and warns against increased fees and co-pays for veterans

Listen Now:

Senator Murray's Opening Statement


Senator Murray asks about changing the culture at the VA


Senator Murray asks about improving care for female veterans and invites Secretary-Designate Shinseki to visit VA facilities in Washington state
Senator Murray is the author of legislation that would expand and improve health care services to women veterans, particularly women who have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Changing the Culture

Senator Murray began her questioning of Secretary-Designate Shinseki by highlighting some of the major failures that the VA has attempted to downplay under the Bush administration and how he would work to change the culture at the VA.

"Over the past 8 years, the VA has developed a track record and culture of downplaying some potentially embarrassing internal issues," said Senator Murray. "Whether it's budget shortfalls or inaccurate suicide data, and this has come at the expense of the veterans we're serving."

Senator Murray went on to ask Secretary-Designate Shinseki how he will go about building a VA that "focuses on providing for veterans needs rather than avoiding public relations disasters."

Listen to Murray's question on changing the culture at the VA and Secretary-Designate Shinseki's response.


My added note

Any reports you may read or hear about as to how this previous administration, and the republican controlled congress as they wage two conflicts, raised the funding for Military Care and Veterans Care are Not Truthful Statements!

Extra monies were needed, desperately, as we had returning Soldiers of Both Occupations returning and needing costly treatments, that's where any extra money went!

The same thing happened after 'Nam leaving Veterans from before lacking while also not injecting enough money to care for the returning Vets.

Reason we've also seen, once again, the attempts to denie claims under false rhetoric and accusations to those seeking their needed care!