BETLHELHEM, Pa. - Improving legal services for female veterans is the focus of a new law spearheaded by Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild.
Wild says women veterans have challenges that Veterans Affairs isn’t equipped to deal with, and that this “critical legislation” will help remedy.
“The idea is to focus on the 10 highest unmet needs which are child care, dental care, legal assistance for child support issues, legal assistance to prevent eviction and foreclosure,” Wild says, “My bill will require the Veterans Administration to partner with at least one nongovernmental organization to provide legal services specifically to women veterans.”
While visiting troops in Afghanistan, Wild made a point to speak with women. That’s when she realized the need for the bill.
“People in the military are not really complainers. If somebody doesn't recognize a need that they have they are not going to go asking for it or demanding it,” she says.
According to Iraq and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, nearly 350,000 women have been deployed since 9/11. The number of women seeking care by Veterans Affairs has increased 80%.