Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-639-6405/202-374-6491
[email protected]
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees is calling on Congress to address systemic deficiencies in the services provided to female veterans across the Department of Veterans Affairs by passing the Deborah Sampson Act.
“With more women joining the military today than ever before, it’s critically important that the medical services and benefits provided to our female veterans at VA facilities nationwide meet their unique needs and circumstances,” AFGE National Vice President for Women and Fair Practices Jeremy Lannan said.
“Today, unfortunately, the availability of gender-specific services across VA facilities is uneven, and women veterans receive varying levels of coverage depending on individual locations,” Lannan said. “We can and must do better to ensure that all veterans are treated equitably and receive the care and services they have earned.”
AFGE strongly supports passage of the Deborah Sampson Act (HR 3224, S 514), which would ensure that women veterans can access comprehensive, gender-specific services at VA facilities. The House version of the bill, which was approved by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Oct. 29, incorporates and builds upon 16 other proposed bills that address VA services for women veterans.
“As a veteran myself, I have seen firsthand the need for the VA to improve the services it offers to female veterans,” said AFGE member Stephanie Graf, who serves on the union’s Human Rights Committee. “This legislation is long past due, and Congress needs to pass these commonsense solutions without delay.”
While passage of this legislation is vitally important, AFGE also stressed the need for the VA to fill the nearly 50,000 staff vacancies across the country. These vacancies are making it harder for the VA to ensure that all veterans have timely access to health care and benefits that address their unique needs.
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