FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 29, 2005

CONTACT: Linda Bennett @ 202/225-9756

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/welcome.htm

 

Evans Releases Military Sexual Trauma Report 
Suppressed by Administration 

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL), the Ranking Democratic Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, today decried the Bush Administration for attempting to hide a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) study and report on military sexual trauma among National Guard and Reserve forces.  Despite the Bush Administration’s refusal to release it, Evans obtained the long overdue report that was originally due by March 2001.  Evans has repeatedly requested the report and had been told it is under review at the Office of Management and Budget. 

The VA report indicates that across National Guard and Reserve components the estimated prevalence of any military sexual trauma (MST) among females is 60% and among males is 27%.  MST includes sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape.  The report also states the estimated prevalence for rape among females is 11% and among males is 1.2%.              

“The women and men who have suffered military sexual trauma deserve our respect, compassion and commitment to provide them with ready access to counseling and treatment.  I am releasing the report, which I have obtained through other sources, to shine a light on a serious problem that the White House wants to hide in the shadows,” explained Evans. 

Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME), the Ranking Democratic Member of the Health Subcommittee said, “Congress needs to make sure that VA has the resources it needs to reach out to veterans who have experienced this trauma but who have not sought treatment.  The VA must help these veterans overcome any perception of a stigma which may be a hurdle to seeking counseling or treatment.”   

VA claims to have budgeted $13 million for FY 2006 to provide outpatient mental health care for MST for National Guard and Reserve members.  The report, however, estimated that the annual cost to provide healthcare, including mental healthcare for MST and associated conditions of recently separated Reserve and National Guard members would be $20 million. 

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) said “The Executive Office of the President seems to care more about hiding the truth about military sexual trauma rather than putting forward a budget to help women and men who have suffered military sexual assault and rape.  Now that we have the report, Congress must not be as callous to these servicemembers.  We must fund outreach and treatment programs for MST and post-traumatic stress disorder at the Vet Centers and VA hospitals.” 

The report is available at: http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/press/109th/pdf/mstreport.pdf 

###