"If we are to change the outcomes that women veterans are experiencing today and increase their access to health care, we must look to the roots of the problems and not just triage the results."
"no woman should endure sexual harassment of any kind when she is seeking her health care and no veteran should ever have her service considered less valuable because of her gender or minority status."
"Accessing the VA needs to be easier. We want an opt-out rather than opt-in process, not just for women, for all veterans."
"Most troubling is the widespread incidence of sexual violence in the ranks, an epidemic that disproportionately affects women."
"Despite centuries of honorable service, the women who serve our country are still treated as second class servicemembers and veterans."
"I think this is, you know, a veteran women's me-too moment and I think we have to really make it into a movement."
"I think what we have learned today has been extensive, and I think the conclusion is that women continue to face sexism and discrimination and inequities in the system, in a system that was originally..."
"I think today's meeting is just a terrific start for all of the issues that we need to continue to drill down on until we really do determine solutions."
"Women veterans need to have greater access to positions of leadership at the VA."
"I have also introduced legislation, H.R. 1779, that would authorize Medal of Honor recipients to dedicate an individual to receive the special pension upon their death."
"When living servicemembers are awarded the Medal of Honor, they receive a special pension in recognition of their heroism, but when those Medal of Honor recipients are deceased, their loved ones recei..."