Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6961, as amended, the Dignity for MST Survivors Act, introduced by Representative Mrvan. The importance of caring for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma cannot be overstated. By virtue of the bill's name, Representative Mrvan seeks to ensure that MST survivors are given the respect and honor they deserve. Words have meaning and power, and how we discuss MST can be retraumatizing for survivors. Careful thought must be given to the way in which the VA communicates with veterans who have MST claims. This bill takes great care to address the language included in claims denial letters so veterans are not retraumatized when receiving what may be troubling news. This legislation requires the VA to consult with stakeholders to identify the appropriate language to include in these letters. Additionally, the Board of Veterans' Appeals does significant work, including the processing of appeals for MST. Given the extremely sensitive nature of these claims, board members must be adequately trained to review these cases. Therefore, this legislation includes an annual training element and requires that if board members do not meet this annual training requirement, they will not be assigned MST cases. As has been noted in other MST-related bills, the training and development of contract medical providers is essential to conducting MST compensation exams.…”