Good morning.  I would like to thank everyone for attending today’s hearing on military sexual trauma. 

I am happy to join my colleagues, DAMA Subcommittee Chairman Hall and our Ranking Members Mr. Brown and Mr. Lamborn, in holding this joint hearing. 

Servicemembers who experience military sexual trauma and are brave enough to speak out about their experiences are often marginalized and for many, it means the end of their military career while their offenders often times remain unscathed.  We must do better by the women and men who experience military sexual trauma. 

Last May, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a roundtable discussion with women veterans representing veteran service organizations and their auxiliary organizations.  During the roundtable discussion, military sexual trauma was a commonly cited concern and the participants expressed their frustration with the shortage of appropriate health care providers to treat veterans with military sexual trauma. 

I am proud to say that just last month, S. 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, was enacted as Public Law 111-163.  This landmark legislation included important provisions from H.R. 1211, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, which was introduced by Ms. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.  Among the key provisions, VA would be required to provide training and certification for VA mental health care providers on caring for veterans suffering from sexual trauma and PTSD.

As we build a VA for the 21st century, we must ensure that it embraces the growing and unique needs of our women veterans.  I am pleased to join my colleagues in the DAMA Subcommittee to explore ways that we can better support veterans with military sexual trauma.

I look forward to hearing the testimonies of our witnesses today.