Regular Session 2021-2022 House Resolution 0129 P.N. 2003

PRINTER'S NO. 2003

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

129

Session of

2021

INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, FARRY, DeLISSIO, RYAN, POLINCHOCK,

HILL-EVANS, ISAACSON, GUENST, COOK, HAMM, N. NELSON, SCHLEGEL

CULVER, HOHENSTEIN, SOLOMON, MIZGORSKI, McNEILL, WEBSTER,

R. BROWN, INNAMORATO, CIRESI, SAINATO AND GILLEN,

AUGUST 5, 2021

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 5, 2021

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Establishing the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care in

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of

Veterans Affairs, the projected veteran population nationwide is

18,000,000, with women making up an estimated 8% of that

population; and

WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau estimates the

percentage of female veterans between 2010 and 2040 will

increase from 9% in 2010 to 17% in 2040; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of

Veterans Affairs, as of September 2018, this Commonwealth was

home to approximately 836,000 veterans, including 615,000

wartime veterans from World War II through the Gulf War; and

WHEREAS, Females comprise approximately 46,000 of the wartime

veterans; and

WHEREAS, The number of women veterans will increase with the

end of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom;

and

WHEREAS, Women veterans often face unique challenges in

transitioning from active duty to civilian life; and

WHEREAS, The challenging needs facing women veterans can

often be overlooked when providing services to a large veteran

population; and

WHEREAS, Ensuring the availability of specialized services

for physical and mental health, including treatment of post-

traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military

sexual trauma and alcohol and substance abuse, tailored to the

specific needs of women veterans is essential to ensure that our

returning veterans receive proper care; and

WHEREAS, Establishing a task force to study the issues facing

women veterans and to make recommendations to the Governor and

the General Assembly will provide much-needed information and

insight from those who address the issues on a daily basis;

therefore be it

RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania establish the Task Force on

Women Veterans' Health Care; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

consist of 17 members who shall be appointed as follows within

25 days after the adoption of this resolution by both chambers:

(1) Two members of the Senate, one appointed by the

President pro tempore and one appointed by the Minority

Leader of the Senate.

(2) Two members of the House of Representatives, one

appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and

one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of

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Representatives.

(3) Thirteen members appointed by the Governor as

follows:

(i) the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs

of the Pennsylvania National Guard;

(ii) the Secretary of Health;

(iii) the Secretary of Human Services;

(iv) the Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs;

(v) four women veterans who are residents of this

Commonwealth;

(vi) a representative from the health care provider

community in this Commonwealth who has experience in

providing health care to returning women veterans;

(vii) a representative from the Commonwealth's

mental health care provider community with experience in

providing mental health care treatment to returning women

veterans;

(viii) a representative from the Commonwealth's

substance abuse and addiction treatment provider

community with experience in providing substance abuse

and addiction treatment to returning women veterans;

(ix) a representative from a Commonwealth advocacy

group that represents the interests of sexual assault

victims with experience in providing services to women

veterans who have suffered military sexual trauma,

including harassment or abuse;

(x) a representative from a county veteran's court;

and

(xi) the chairman of the State Veterans' Commission;

and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

study the health care needs of women veterans, including:

(1) quality of and access to mental health services,

including services and treatment for post-traumatic stress

disorder and traumatic brain injury;

(2) in-patient treatment availability;

(3) adequacy and availability of appropriate women

veterans' health care within the Federal health care system

and this Commonwealth; and

(4) adequacy, quality of and access to services

providing for the identification and treatment of military

sexual trauma, including sexual harassment or abuse;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

identify other needs relating to the provisions of women

veterans' health care services and make recommendations to the

General Assembly and the Governor to address those needs; and be

it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

consult with Federal, State and local entities in completing the

study, including:

(1) The Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.

(2) The United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(3) The County Commissioners Association of

Pennsylvania.

(4) The Pennsylvania Municipal League.

(5) The Pennsylvania Medical Society.

(6) The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of

Pennsylvania.

(7) Veterans organizations or other organizations or

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associations that advocate for women veterans;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

elect one of its members to serve as chairperson; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

conduct its business as follows:

(1) The physical presence of nine members constitutes a

quorum of the task force.

(2) Action of the task force shall be authorized or

ratified by a majority vote of its members.

(3) A member not physically present may participate by

teleconference or video conference.

(4) The following shall apply:

(i) The task force shall meet as necessary, but no

fewer than five times prior to September 30, 2022.

Additional meetings may be called by the chairperson as

necessary.

(ii) The chairperson shall schedule a meeting upon

written request of eight members of the task force.

(iii) The first meeting shall be convened within 45

days of the adoption of this resolution by both chambers

at a time and place established by the Governor.

(iv) The task force shall hold public hearings as

necessary to obtain the information required to conduct

its review.

(v) Members may not receive compensation but shall

be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses

incurred in service of the task force;

and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the Department of Health and the Department of

Military and Veterans Affairs provide staff support to the task

force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, upon request of the Task Force on Women

Veterans' Health Care, a State agency assist the task force in

the completion of its duties, including, to the extent permitted

by law relating to confidentiality, furnishing information and

advice to members of the task force necessary to perform their

duties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

have the following powers:

(1) To examine and analyze the current delivery of

health care services to women veterans at the Federal and

State level.

(2) To review and analyze law, procedures, practices and

rules relating to delivery of health care services to women

veterans.

(3) To hold public hearings for the taking of testimony

and the requesting of documents.

(4) To administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses

appearing before the task force at the request of the

chairperson;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

have the following duties:

(1) To accept and review written comments from

individuals and organizations.

(2) To make, by September 30, 2022, a final report to

the Governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(3) To include in the report under paragraph (2)

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recommendations to:

(i) improve the delivery of health care services to

women veterans; and

(ii) implement necessary changes in State statutes

and practices, policies and procedures relating to the

delivery of health care services to women veterans.

(4) To make reports as follows:

(i) The task force may file status reports and

updates with the Governor, the Senate and the House of

Representatives as it deems appropriate.

(ii) A report under this paragraph shall be adopted

at a public meeting.

(iii) A report under this paragraph shall be a

public record under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6,

No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care

expire October 31, 2022; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

the President of the United States, the Secretary of Veterans

Affairs, presiding officers of each house of Congress and each

member of Congress from Pennsylvania.

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