May. 24, 2022
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today unanimously approved legislation authored by Rep. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) to establish a Task Force on Women Veterans’ Health Care in Pennsylvania.
The task force would study prominent issues facing female veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and alcohol and substance abuse.
“The study is needed so Pennsylvania can apply for additional federal funding to support women veterans’ health care services in the Commonwealth,” said Pennycuick. “However, more importantly, we need as a state to do a better job of assessing and treating women veterans for their unique set of health needs, and this task force will help us achieve that goal.”
Pennycuick noted that women veterans often have different needs and issues when it comes to their health care.
“From how they process and deal with trauma and other mental health issues to obvious different physical needs, women veterans are not being adequately served under the current male-focused health care model,” said Pennycuick. “With more than 71,000 female veterans in the Commonwealth, we need to do better.”
The task force, as outlined in
House Resolution 129, would be comprised of women veterans who are Commonwealth residents; representatives from the health care provider community; various state agency secretaries; and advocates with expertise in health care, mental health care and the treatment of addiction.
The study would need to be completed by June 30, 2023.
Representative Tracy Pennycuick
147th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717-772-9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
reptracypennycuick.com