Assembly Resolution No. 1264

BY: M. of A. Rules (Hunter)

URGING the New York State Congressional delegation
to pass the peer support counseling program for
women veterans, H.R. 4635/S.2402

WHEREAS, The federal legislation to provide peer support counseling
program for women veterans would direct the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) to ensure that the veterans peer counseling program
includes a sufficient number of peer counselors for women veterans; and

WHEREAS, The counselors may be VA employees and may have the
expertise in (1) gender-specific issues and services, (2) VA services
and benefits, and (3) employment mentoring; and

WHEREAS, Under this federal measure the VA would be required to (1)
emphasize facilitating peer-to-peer for women veterans who suffered from
sexual trauma while in the Armed Forces, have post-traumatic stress
disorder or suffer from another mental health condition, or are
otherwise at risk of becoming homeless; (2) conduct program research;
and (3) coordinate with community organizations, state and local
governments, institutions of higher education, local business
organizations, and legal organizations; and

WHEREAS, Research has shown that women exposed to combat or military
sexual trauma react differently than their male counterparts; female
veterans commit suicide at nearly six times the rate of other women; and

WHEREAS, A 2014 report by the Disabled American Veterans (DVA) found
serious gaps in every aspect of programs that serve women veterans
including health care, employment, finance, housing, social issues and
the eradication of sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, There is indications that women veterans may lack access to
valuable peer support opportunities once they are separated from
military service to civilian life, which can lead to increase in mental
and physical health problems; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to pass
legislation to expand access to peer counseling for female veterans
within the VA system, H.R. 4635/S.2402; and be it further

RESOLVED, The copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the
State of New York.