Regular Session 2021-2022 House Resolution 0129 P.N. 2640

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2003

PRINTER'S NO. 2640

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, GILLEN AND

C. WILLIAMS, AUGUST 5, 2021

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED,

JANUARY 24, 2022

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Establishing the Task Force on Women Veterans' Health Care in

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania WITHIN THE JOINT STATE

GOVERNMENT COMMISSION.

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 60,000 of the

wartime veterans; and

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WHEREAS, The number of women veterans will increase with the

end of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom,

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND THE REMOVAL OF THE UNITED STATES

ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL FROM AFGHANISTAN; 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 HEALTH, SUCH AS

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGICAL CARE, CANCER SCREENINGS, FAMILY

PLANNING AND INFERTILITY TREATMENTS, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH,

INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 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 WOMEN VETERANS RECEIVE PROPER AND

ADEQUATE 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 DIRECT THE JOINT STATE

GOVERNMENT COMMISSION TO 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

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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

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 CHAIR OF THE STATE

VETERANS' COMMISSION AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM:

(1) the health care provider community in this

Commonwealth who has experience in providing health care

to returning women veterans;

(vii) a representative from (2) the Commonwealth's

mental health care provider community with experience in

providing mental health care treatment to returning women

veterans;

(viii) a representative from (3) the Commonwealth's

substance abuse and addiction treatment provider

community with experience in providing substance abuse

and addiction treatment to returning women veterans;

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(ix) a representative from (4) 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; AND

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

and

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

and be it further

(5) A COUNTY VETERAN'S COURT;

AND BE IT FURTHER

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

study the health care needs of women veterans, including, BUT

NOT LIMITED TO:

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

including services and treatment for post-traumatic stress

disorder and traumatic brain injury, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

AND MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA;

(2) in-patient treatment availability;

(3) adequacy and availability of appropriate women

veterans' health care within the Federal VETERANS AFFAIRS

health care system and this Commonwealth, AS WELL AS THE

INTERACTION AND RECOGNITION OF THE NEEDS OF WOMEN VETERANS BY

PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; 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

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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,

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION,

consult with Federal, State and local entities in completing the

study, including, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

(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

associations that advocate for women veterans.

(8) ANY INDIVIDUAL THE TASK FORCE IDENTIFIES AS HAVING

RELEVANT, SALIENT AND TIMELY EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE VETERANS

AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR WOMEN IN PENNSYLVANIA;

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.

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(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

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:

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(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: THAT THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT

COMMISSION:

(1) To accept ACCEPT and review written comments from

individuals and organizations.

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

REPORT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY JUNE 30, 2023, to the

Governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

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

recommendations to:

(i) improve the delivery of health care services,

INCLUDING PREVENTATIVE, MAINTENANCE AND ACUTE CARE, AS

WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES to women veterans; and

(ii) implement RECOMMEND 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:

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(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 MENTAL HEALTH

SERVICES TO WOMEN VETERANS;

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 A COPY OF THE REPORT REQUIRED UNDER

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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