This week lawmakers introduced a bill addressing the need for veterans to access legal services, with a specific focus on female veterans. Military veterans have told the Department of Veterans Affairs that one of the top challenges they face is accessing legal services.
According to an article published by Stripes.com, “The Improving Legal Services for Female Veterans Act would require the VA to partner with at least one outside organization to provide legal services, such as preventing eviction or foreclosure and help with child support issues. Those were among the most common unmet needs in a 2017 Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Group for Veterans (CHALENG for Veterans) survey.”
The article continued by saying that an excess of more than 345,000 women have deployed since Sept. 11, 2001. As the number of women in the military has increased, so has the number of female veterans seeking care and legal support services from the VA.
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild is amongst one of the female House lawmakers that introduced the bill, saying “There is no question that the government has a duty and responsibility to take care of our veterans when they return home from sacrificing for our country — but women veterans face unique challenges that the Department of Veterans Affairs isn’t currently equipped to help them with,”.
Amongst the bill’s female co-sponsors, and part of the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus, are Pennsylvania Reps. Madeleine Dean, of the Montgomery County-based 4th District; Mary Gay Scanlon, who represents the Delaware County-based 5th District; and Chrissy Houlahan, of the Chester County-based 6th District.
To learn more about this important news affecting female veterans, click HERE.
Relevant pages: Veterans Disability