Press Releases

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), and Vice Chair Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa), released the following statements after the Committee published the bipartisan Women Veteran Task Force report, which was prepared by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs majority and minority staff, to memorialize the task forces’ findings and policy recommendations for issues the whole Committee can address to improve the delivery of care, benefits, and services to women veterans.

Earlier this year, Chairman Bost reauthorized the bipartisan Women Veteran Task Force to host a series of roundtable discussions both in DC and outside the beltway on the various day-to-day issues women veterans face. During the six-month period, the task force Members met with several women veterans, advocacy groups, and stakeholders to discuss a wide-range of topics including barriers to disability benefits, underemployment among women veterans, safety for women in VA facilities, and more. Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) served as Chairman and Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) served as Co-Chair of the task force for the 118^th Congress.

“I owe a huge thank you to my colleagues, Rep. Radewagen and Rep. Brownley, for the good work they poured into the bipartisan Women Veteran Task Force over the last six months. Under Rep. Radewagen’s leadership as Chair, the task force held a handful of roundtables and spoke with dozens of women veterans to gain vitally important insight into what today’s female veterans struggle with,” said Chairman Bost. “These unique challenges include transitioning from the military, facing underemployment in the workforce, feeling safe in VA medical centers, and running into barriers when seeking disability benefits and medical treatment. We know that women are the fastest growing group of veterans, which is why I was proud to reauthorize the task force in the new Republican majority to ensure that they have access to the good care and services they have earned after they leave the military. As Chairman, I look forward to taking the successes of the task force into the rest of this Congress to continue fighting for the brave women who have and will serve our nation in uniform.”

“It was an honor and pleasure, as well as humbling, to work on the issues affecting the lives and futures of our women Veterans, hearing directly from them, identifying problems and solutions, and taking part in this uniquely important Task Force. I so appreciate the opportunity to share these goals with Committee Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Takano, and Task Force Co-Chair Julia Brownley, a longtime leader on these efforts. Most of all, I’m inspired by our women Veterans, who overcome challenges while bringing leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, team building and aspirations to communities all over America, and certainly in American Samoa where we take pride in our many Veterans,” said Task Force Chairman Aumua Amata Radewagen.