Schwartz on Veterans Care

from the inbox:

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz continued her commitment to addressing the needs of America’s service members, veterans and their families by voting for legislation today that provides solutions to the major challenges facing these brave men and women.

The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act will:

ü Provide support to family and others who care for disabled, ill or injured veterans;
ü Enhance health services for the 1.8 million women veterans, including care for newborns for the first time in history;
ü Expand mental health services for veterans and health care access for veterans in rural areas; and
ü Prohibit co-payments for veterans who are catastrophically disabled.

“Every day mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, grandparents and friends are living with the pain of having their loved one overseas and in harm’s way,” Schwartz said. “When soldiers do come home, they are often faced with deteriorating health issues and trouble overcoming the strains of war. This legislation will make it easier for families and veterans to deal with the challenges they face and will provide them with the health care they need and deserve.”

For the last three years, this Congress has been committed to providing better care for our veterans, troops and military families, including passing the New GI Bill, building more military child care centers and providing better military family housing, and making important investments to strengthen quality veteran’s health care.

The legislation passed by the House today builds on that commitment by providing support services for families and other caregivers of veterans including education on how to be a better caregiver, counseling and mental health services, and a stipend for those living with severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

For the first time in history, this legislation will remove existing barriers to women veterans seeking health care, providing up to seven days of care for newborn children of women veterans and enhancing treatment for sexual trauma for women at the VA.

The bill also improves health care for veterans living in rural areas by expanding transportation to local VA hospitals and clinics.

The legislation is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Projects and the National Military Family Association.