Political Quotes

“I would like to take a moment today to recognize the dedication of women service members and women veterans in celebration of Women's History Month. Women have played an important role in our Nation's military from the time of our Founding Fathers. Today, women make up 15 percent of the Active-Duty military and 18 percent of Guard and Reserve forces. Our women soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen have served courageously in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have played a variety of roles ranging from convoy leaders to fighter pilots to field medics. I am inspired by their bravery and their dedication to our country. Already women make up nearly 10 percent of the veteran population, a proportion that Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, expects to grow over the next decade. VA has already come a long way in addressing the unique health needs and challenges that women face. A generation ago, VA would have been the last place that we would associate with women's health, but just this past January, VA marked an important milestone in caring for women veterans. In Salt Lake City, UT, a woman veteran not only received all of her prenatal care from VA but also delivered a beautiful baby girl under the care of her VA obstetrician. Yet, for all of its recent progress, VA still must do more to ensure that women veterans are receiving the care that they need and deserve.…”