Bill Text: HI SCR5 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Programs and Services for Women Veterans and Women on Active Duty

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-04-02 - (H) Referred to PBM, FIN, referral sheet 58 [SCR5 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SCR5-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3018

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 5

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 5 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE HAWAII OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WOMEN VETERANS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services to develop comprehensive programs and services to address the needs of women veterans.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office Of Veterans Services; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawai‘i State Democratic Women's Caucus; and Hawai'i Women's Coalition.

 

     Your Committee finds that there is a growing need to improve veterans services to address the specific needs of women veterans in such areas as medical and mental health care, child care services, housing, and financial assistance.  Women suffering from sexual trauma perpetrated by fellow military members have special needs and those needs have not been sufficiently addressed by the leadership of the military.  A 2008 RAND study found that female veterans are suffering double the rates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder for their male counterparts, and 71 percent of those female veterans report that service members sexually assaulted them.

 

     Your Committee further finds that veterans suffer from severe post-traumatic stress disorder not only from their experiences in wartime, but also from their experiences as victims and survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other gender-based violence.  In order to address these very specific harms, those who provide support services to our veterans must be equipped with gender-sensitive programming and services for female veterans who return home.  

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by urging for the inclusion of women who serve on active duty to also receive services. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 5, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 5, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

 

		____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair