FOUNDATION.

>> WOMEN ARE ACTUALLY MORE LIKELY TO BE SUICIDAL THAN MEN AS THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE MORE SUICIDAL THAN WOMEN WHO DID NOT SERVE IN THE MILITARY, MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN MAN WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND MORE LIKELY TO BE UNEMPLOYED THAN MEN WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

>> Bonnie: HELLO I AM BONNIE ERB .

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY".

THIS WEEK IN HER CONTINUING SERIES ON WOMEN THOUGHT LEADERS, THE SERVICEWOMEN AND WOMEN VETERANS CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

LET ME START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HOULAHAN.

TELL ME ABOUT THE WOMEN VETERANS CAUCUS.

HOW DID IT COME ABOUT AND WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?

>> SURE.

TO SERVICEWOMEN'S VETERAN CAUCUS AND CAME ABOUT WITH THE REALIZATION THAT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE IN CONGRESS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY DOUBLED IN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX MONTHS.

WENT FROM 2bßß.

WITH THAT REMARKABLE EXPANSION OF AN INNER FORCE AS WE REALIZED THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO SERVE US , OUR NATION, IS ALSO INCREASING RAPIDLY.

THE RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN, ACTIVE-DUTY CAREER, WHEN A TRANSITION POTENTIALLY TO PRESERVE STATUS WERE TO BE VETERANS, IT'S AN INCREASING ISSUE AND PART OF OUR POPULATION IS VETERAN AND SERVICE PREPPING FOR THE PRISON POPULATION.

WE STARTED THE CAUCUS BECAUSE WITHOUT ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND LOOKED AT IN A HOLISTIC WAY.

TENDS TO BE JUST VETERANS OR JUST SERVICEWOMEN AND NOT A COMBINED PICTURE.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, REPRESENTATIVE SHERRILL?

>> I LOVED THE IDEA.

CHRIS IS AN AIR FORCE VETERAN, I'M A NAVY VETERAN BUT WE HAVE LEARNED TO WORK TOGETHER.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT WAS WONDERFUL TO ENTER THIS CLASS AND TO HAVE ANOTHER NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATE LIKE LORRAINE, TULSI GABBARD.

TO COME IN WITH THIS REALLY STRONG GROUP OF WOMEN WHO WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO BEING A WOMAN IN THE ARMED FORCES OR WOMAN VETERAN WHICH -- SOMETIMES THOSE ARE UNIQUE, THERE ARE UNIQUE ISSUES PRESENTED THERE WITH SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS EXCITED IS TO START TO DO.

>> IMPORTANTLY, THE CAUCUS IS MORE THAN 50 STRONG.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A WOMAN OR VETERAN TO BE PART OF THE CAUCUS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SERVE IN THE ARMED SERVICES OR VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND BE THINKING ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES FOR WOMEN SERVICE MEMBERS.

>> AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY AS FAR AS WOMEN VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ARE CONCERNED, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE RIGHT NOW?

>> I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY SAY THERE IS A SINGLE ISSUE .

I THINK SOME OF THE MOTIVATION FOR STARTING THIS CAUCUS IS THERE ARE MANY ISSUES.

ONE OF THE MOTIVATIONS FOR ME STARTING IT WAS WHEN I WAS ACTIVE-DUTY, I HAD MY FIRST CHILD.

I FOUND I HAD SIX WEEKS OF LEAVE FOR MY FIRST CHILD BUT I ONLY HAD A SIX MONTH WAITING PERIOD TO GET MY BABY INTO THE BASE CHILD CARE.

I LITERALLY WOULD'VE PAID ALL OF MY INCOME TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD CHILDCARE OUTSIDE OF THE OPIUM ECONOMY BECAUSE I WAS STATIONED AT AN EXPENSIVE AREA SO ISSUES OF CHILD CARE, ISSUES OF HEALTHCARE THAT ARE UNIQUE TO WOMEN, THERE IS JUST A GAMUT OF ISSUES WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT.

LOOKING AT OUR CAREER TRAJECTORY AND MAKING SURE WE SEE OURSELVES IN HIGHER PLACES AND LOOK UPWARDS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WILL GO WITH OUR CAREERS IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

>> SO I STARTED TO SIT WITH WOMEN'S VETERANS ROUNDTABLE DURING MY CAMPAIGN.

THEY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WAITING ROOM AT THE VA BEING A GAUNTLET, REALLY, PROBLEMS WITH NOT GETTING A MAMMOGRAM AND HAVING TO GO OUTSIDE TO GET A MAMMOGRAM AND THEN THE VA DID NOT PAY FOR IT IN TIME, THEIR CREDIT WAS LIFTING.

ALL KINDS OF ISSUES TO WOMEN VETERANS.

APPOINT AN AMENDMENT IN THE BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN OUR PARENTS GO TO GET THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED AND WE KNOW OUR VETERANS ARE HAVING A RISING INCIDENCE OF SUICIDE RATES, THEY CAN OF CHILDCARE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT POST DRAMATIC STRESS OR MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT, YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CHILD THERE.

PEOPLE ARE MISSING APPOINTMENTS, NOT MAKING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE ALSO JUST HAVE, INSIDE THE SERVICES, WE KNOW WHAT THE SERVICE ACADEMIES THEY ARE NOT ATTACKING THE SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN A WAY WE WANT THEM.

THEY ARE NOT BRINGING THE NUMBERS DOWN IN A WAY WE WANT THEM TO BRING THEM DOWN.HEIR DIFFERENCES EVEN IN OUR GROUP ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT DO THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE ADDRESSING AND TALKING ABOUT .

>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT'S SENATOR JELL-O BRAND HAS DEALT WITH.

I BELIEVE THERE WAS LEGISLATION APPROVED, CORRECT?

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

ILITARY HAS NOT BROUGHT THE NUMBERS DOWN STILL.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ATTACK -- >> IT'S A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

NOT JUST THE SERVICE ACADEMIES.

I WAS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY RECENTLY, MY ALMA MATER, TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

I WAS ON A PANEL NOT JUST FOR THE SERVICE ACADEMIES BUT FOR ALL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES NATIONWIDE.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT FOR MANY, MANY REASONS, THE NUMBERS KIND OF ARE DIFFICULT TO BRING DOWN.

I THINK SOME OF THAT IS WHO HANDLES IT, WHO IS -- WHAT IS THE KIND OF COURT OF JURISDICTION, WHERE DO PEOPLE GO AWAY IN THE UNIVERSITIES FOR EXAMPLE.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE NOT HANDLED IT WILL.

THEY NEED TO GO OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.

SO WE JUST PASSED IN THE MDA, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT AND RESET ON THE HOUSE AND SERVICES COMMITTEE.

WE JUST PUT IN PLACE A TRIAL PERIOD FOR SPECIAL COUNSELOR TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS TO HAVE SOMEONE BE ABLE TO -- >> TO GIVE IT A TRIAL BALLOON TO SEE IF IT'S HELPFUL.

MIKIE IS RIGHT.

IT'S AN EPIDEMIC, NOT JUST IN THE SERVICE AND ACADEMIES, BUT IN THE NATION IS LARGE.

SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IF ANYTHING, IT'S GETTING WORSE.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE PECULIARITIES OF THE MILITARY WHERE IT MIGHT MAKE IT A LITTLE HARDER, FOR EXAMPLE, ON A SUBMARINE.

IT SEEMS TO ME IT WOULD BE PRETTY -- WITH A SMALL SPACE, IT WOULD BE -- AND SPREAD OUT CREW ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT MIGHT BE EASY ON A SUBMARINE TO TRAP SOMEBODY IN A CORNER AND ASSAULT THEM>> I OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SERVE IN A SUBMARINE, SO I CANNOT COMMENT ON THAT.

I SERVED IN UP A SITUATION WHERE ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF THE MOST JUNIOR PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS AN OFFICER, BECAUSE MY BASE WAS FULL OF MOSTLY OFFICERS.

SO EVERY ONE OF US HAS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE ON WHAT THE MILITARY WAS LIKE, WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A YOUNG WOMAN OR WOMAN OF SERVICE.

pSO I THINK MIKIE IS RIGHT.

EACH ONE OF US HAS A DIFFERENT STORY TO TELL IN PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN WE SIT TOGETHER TO TRY TO ADDRESS HOW WE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS> AGAIN, YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT WAYS -- DO YOU THINK ALL OFFICERS SHOULD GO THROUGH SEXUAL ASSAULTS TRAININGS SO THEY KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS FAIRLY WHEN THEY COME BEFORE THEM?

>> I THINK ALL OF US SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF SENSITIVITY TRAINING IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS -- >> OR EVEN JUST RULES, YOU KNOW.

YOU DO THIS AND THEN YOU DO THAT.

>> OF COURSE.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING AS WE IN THE MILITARY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS.

I GRADUATED IN 1994.

TWO YEARS PRIOR, '92, WITH A SCANDAL IF YOU RECALL THAT OF THE WOMEN BEING ASSAULTED IN A CONVENTION, CONVENTIONS FOR SOME OF OUR AVIATORS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THE MILITARY HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO ADDRESS.

I CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE AT A COMMAND WITH A GREAT COMMANDING OFFICER WHO TAKES THIS SERIOUSLY, WHO IS INVESTED IN ENSURING EVERYONE IS VALUED AND HAS A GREAT WORKPLACE, YOU SEE GREAT RESULTS.

SOMETIMES YOU SEE THAT AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.UR MILITARY OFFICERS -- AT LEAST THEY DID WHEN I WAS THERE -- SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT TRAINING.

WE ARE WORKING HARD NOT JUST TO TRAIN THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE BUT TO TRAIN MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED FORCES TO KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY'VE BEEN ASSAULTED OR HARASSED, TO KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THAT AND WHO TO GO TO.

>> IN THE NDA, AS MIKIE MENTIONED, WE HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM AT THE ACADEMIES BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN AMENDMENT WHERE IF YOU OBSERVE SOMETHING, YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

INVESTIGATION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD PETITE INTO MAKING SURE PEOPLE WHO ARE OBSERVERS OF THAT SORT OF AN ASSAULT RESPONSIBLE TO IT WHICH I BELIEVE THEY MIGHT NEED TO BE.

>> IS THERE ANYWAY, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE PERHAPS SCREENING PEOPLE WHO APPLY TO BECOME -- TO JOIN THE SERVICES, TO MAKE SURE -- OR ARE THEY ALREADY SCREENED TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF RECORD OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR?

>> THIS IS THE POPULATION --, AN ISSUE OF OUR NATION.

IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF BEING ABLE TO SCREEN FOR THAT .

IF WE HAVE THE SOLUTION, WE WOULD'VE SOLVED IT BOTH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND ALSO MILITARY.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SORT THROUGH AND BE ABLE TO SOLVE.

IT IS A CHRONIC ISSUE, BUT I THINK IMPORTANTLY THE ISSUE OF THE SERVICEWOMEN, WOMEN'S VETERANS CAUCUS IS THAT IT'S BEYOND THAT ISSUE.

BEING WOMAN IS SERVICE IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU FEEL SAFE ON THE JOB BUT ALSO ABOUT YOUR ACCESS TO MAMMOGRAMS, YOUR ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, ALSO FOR ME -- I WAS ACTIVE-DUTY BUT MY HUSBAND WAS NOT.

HE NEVER SERVED IN MILITARY, NEVER KNEW ANYONE WHO HAD.

BEING THE ONE WHO WAS ACTIVE-DUTY AND HAVING THE SPOUSE WHO IS THE TRAILING SPOUSE BEING MALE IS A DIFFERENT SET OF SITUATIONS AS WELL.

SO IT'S JUST A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT SERVICEWOMEN ARE CONFRONTING.

>> LAST CHECK, I HEARD THE MILITARY SERVICES WERE 15 PERCENT FEMALE.

IS IT MORE THAN THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT 18 PERCENT NOW, CLOSE TO 20 PERCENT NOW.

THE OFFICER CORPS, I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT IN THE LISTED GROUP.

THE EXPECTATION IS IT WILL RISE SOMEWHERE CLOSER TO 30 PERCENT IN THE NEXT DECADE OR SO.

WOMEN ARE 51 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION AND WOMEN VETERANS AND WOMEN OF SERVICE WILL BECOMING INCREASINGLY A LARGER POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING.

>> WHEN I GRADUATED FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY, UNDER 10 PERCENT OF MY CLASS WAS WOMEN.

NOW I BELIEVE IT'S UP TO ADD LEAST 23 PERCENT.

I KNOW A FRIEND OF MINE , HIS SON GOT IN THE ACADEMY AND HIS DAUGHTER WENT TO THE MERCHANT MARINE CANOPY.

IT WAS SO HARD FOR HER BECAUSE ABOUT 10 WOMEN FROM HER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS AT APPLY TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY.

TO SEE THAT KIND OF INTEREST, TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION KIND OF COMING UP, IT'S REALLY FOR -- I THINK FOR A LOT OF US, WOMEN'S VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AND SEE SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM, YOU KNOW, WHO'S MADE IT THROUGH THE RANKS, LITERALLY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY TOO CAN BE SITTING IN THE SEAT.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

MIKIE AND I ARE A FEW YEARS APART, BUT EVEN IN HER COUPLE YEARS , BEING YOUNGER THAN ME, THE SERVICE WAS DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF ACCESS THAT SHE HAD TWO DIFFERENT JOBS THAT WERE NOT OPEN TO ME.

WE ARE MAKING ENORMOUS PROGRESS.

>> THE MILITARY IS KNOWN OBVIOUSLY IS A PLACE WHERE ONE CAN ACQUIRE AMAZING SKILLS, BUT THE SHOULD THERE BE EVEN GREATER EFFORT MADE TO TRAIN WOMEN TO GIVE WOMEN EXTRA SKILLS THEY MAY NEED FOR SOLID EMPLOYMENT WHEN THEY LEAVE THE SERVICES>> I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE SERVICEWOMEN AND VETERANS CAUCUS IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WOMEN ARE ACTUALLY MORE LIKELY TO BE SUICIDAL THAN MEN AS THEY LEAVE THE MILITARYHEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE MORE SUICIDAL THAN WOMEN WHO DID NOT SERVE IN THE MILITARY, MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN MEN WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND MORE LIKELY TO BE UNEMPLOYED THAN MEN WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

SO IT'S REALLY AN ISSUE.OME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN BE THINKING ABOUT IS, WHY IS THAT?

WHY IS IT WHEN SOMEONE EXITS MILITARY THEY DON'T NECESSARILY FIND A LANDING SPOT?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THEY DO?

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THEM AND THEIR SKILLS VERSUS THE MALE COUNTERPARTS?

I ARGUE PROBABLY NOTHING.

IT MAY BE JUST A MATTER OF HOW THAT WOMAN IS PRESENTING HERSELF, HOW SHE'S MARKETING HERSELF .

THAT'S FOR MEN AS WELL.

I THINK A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE GET OUT OF THE MILITARY AND THEY HAVE A RESUME IT'S BEAUTIFUL WITH ENORMOUS SET OF SKILLS AND VERY RELEVANT TO CIVILIAN ECONOMY.

BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MARKET THAT.HEY ARE USED TO ACRONYMS IN THE MILITARY OR WHAT THIS VALICENTI CODE TELLS THEM THEY KNOW HOW TO DO.

BUT CIVILIANS DON'T SPEAK LIKE THAT.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN AND MEN CAN TRANSITION TO THE CIVILIAN ECONOMY.

>> I WILL ASK YOU IN A SECOND, BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE SUICIDAL.

IS THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT RESPONSES TO EXPOSURE TO PTSD?

>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN SAY THAT.

I KNOW THAT WHAT WE CAN SAY IS RIGHT NOW WOMEN DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH THE VA IS FOR THEM, BACK TO MIKIE'S POINT.

THEY FEEL LESS THAN WELCOME IN THE VA AND MAYBE NOT BEING SOCIALIZED TO THAT HELP FROM THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR THEM AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE EARLY ON WITH HIS CAUCUS WERE ABLE TO DO WAS TO SAY, LISTEN, THE AIR FORCE HAS A PROGRAM THAT TAKES FOUR HOURS OF TRAINING AS A WOMAN TRANSITIONING FROM ACTIVE-DUTY TO BEING A VETERAN, TELLS HER ABOUT THE BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HER.

THAT PROGRAM DEMONSTRABLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT SHE WILL ACCESS VA AND WHETHER OR NOT SHE WILL BE MORE OR LESS LIKELY TO BE SUICIDAL OR TO SEEK HELP.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM WORKING IN THE AIR FORCE AND OUR GROUP SAID, HEY, HOW ABOUT NAVY, THE ARMY , CAN YOU TAKE THIS PROGRAM THAT'S WORKING AND MAKE IT WORK FOR OTHER PEOPLE FOR MORE WOMEN?

HOPEFULLY IT WILL END UP WITH FEWER WOMEN FEELING ISOLATED.

>> IN YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TRAINING QUESTION I ASKED.

>> IT WAS A INTERESTING QUESTION.

WE LOOKED AT THAT.

HOW CAN WE ENSURE WOMEN SERVICE MEMBERS CAN SUCCEED AS WOMEN VETERANS?

CHRISSY IS RIGHT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T IDENTIFY AS VETERANS WHEN THEY LEAVE IN THE SAME NUMBERS AS MEN DO.

TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE CONNECTION, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING MONEY INTO OUTREACH SO THAT THE VETERANS ASSOCIATION CAN REACH OUT TO THE WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY, TO BRING THEM AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROPERTY THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE.

WE ARE ALERTED TO THE FACT THAT IT'S HARD FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN TO GET ACCESS TO HOMELESS SHELTER.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT DEVELOPERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO PARTICULARLY WANT TO PROVIDE HOMELESS SHELTERS FOR WOMEN OF CHILDREN OR FAMILIES.

I THINK THAT CAN HELP WITH SOME OF THE HOMELESS PROBLEMS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT YOU ARE HEARING PROBABLY IS THAT IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE THIS CLASS OF WOMEN, NOT BECAUSE WE BRING THESE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AND WE BRING PARTICULAR CONCERNS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN CONGRESS THAT YOU CAN HANDLE AND SOMETIMES SOME OF THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY GET A BIT LOST.

I THINK THIS COMMITTEE REALLY BRINGS TO THE FOREFRONT SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES RELATED TO OUR WOMEN SERVICE MEMBERS AND WOMEN VETERANS.

>> YOU MENTIONED CHILDCARE, YOU DID TOO.

>> ARE BOTH MOMS.

>> DOES THE MILITARY BUDGET ALLOW FOR CHILD CARE, SOMETHING THAT 20 YEARS AGO OPPONENTS OF WOMEN IN THE SERVICES WOULD BASICALLY HAVE CRAWLED UNDER A ROCK FROM THERE, DOESN'T REALLY EXIST MUCH ANYMORE BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE PROVEN TO BE WRONG.

HEY DID USED TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE MILITARY IS NOT SET UP TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE, IT'S A HUGE EXPENSE, WHY SHOULD WE SPEND MONEY ON THIS AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, A NEW BATTLESHIP?

>> THE MILITARY IS COMPETING WITH CIVILIAN ECONOMY AS WELL.

WE ARE IN A PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE EVERYBODY WAS IN THE MILITARY HAS VOLUNTEERED TO BE THERE.

WE ARE NOT IN THE PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE EVEN FILLING THE BILLETS WE HAVE.

WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK WHICH INCLUDES WOMEN, MEN, ALL OF US CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND WE ALL HAVE CHILDREN.

WHETHER WE ARE WOMEN, ACTIVE-DUTY OR MEN ACTIVE-DUTY.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS FAMILY ISSUES SUCH AS CHILDCARE.

IN THE NDAA, WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS PUT IN WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT WHERE YOU WE SHOULD HAVE MORE ACCESSIBILITY ON THE OPEN ECONOMY, WE NEED TO BE BETTER SERVED AT CERTIFYING AND SUBSIDIZING CHILDCARE CENTERS AVAILABLE IN THE OPEN ECONOMY.

I THINK WE HAVE A YEAR-LONG WAITING LIST.

IT'S NOT GOTTEN BETTER SINCE I WAS A YOUNG MOM.

IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL TOO TO OUR DEPLOYING FORCES.

THE NAVY IS GENERALLY IN ALL DEPLOYABLE FIRST.

YOU CANNOT HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, PARENTS DEPLOYING, NOT KNOWING THEIR KIDS ARE BEING TAKING CARE OF AT HOME.

SO IT'S CRITICAL TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY SO WE CAN HAVE THE BEST READINESS, SO WE CAN HAVE THE BEST WAR FIGHTERS POSSIBLE.

>> THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, I ACTUALLY HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS AN ALJ, DECIDING CASES WHEN BENEFITS ARE DENIED BY THE VA. SHE SAYS SHE ALWAYS RULES -- JUST ABOUT ALWAYS RULES IN FAVOR OF VETERAN COMING FROM MILITARY FAMILIES.

OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS THAT WOMEN HAVE THAT THE VA IS NOT MEETING?

>> I HAVE THE VA IN MY COMMUNITY IN COATESVILLE AND THEY HAVE bÃÃTHEY DO NOT HAVE A FULL-TIME OB/GYN ON STAFF.

SO TWO DAYS A MONTH WITH THE OB VISITS OUR SITE.

IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, YOU CAN GO AND HAVE AN EXAM OR WHATEVER YOU NEED.

BUT THAT -- OTHER 29 DAYS OF THE MONTH, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING FOR THEM.

THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL TO PHILADELPHIA IF THEY CAN AND NEED TO MAYBE PAY OUT OF POCKET IF THEY CAN.

YEAH, THERE'S AN ACUTE NEED RIGHT THERE WHERE WE ARE NOT SERVING WOMEN AND PARTICULARLY SPECIFIC HEALTH NEEDS.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER WITH THAT.

MIKIE BROUGHT UP MAMMOGRAMS.

ALMOST EVERYONE IN CIVILIAN SECTOR HAS ACCESS TO 3D MAMMOGRAM TECHNOLOGY THROUGH HEALTHCARE.

THE VA DOES NOT PROVIDE THAT NOR DOES TRICARE WHICH IS THE SYSTEM THAT MY MOTHER IS ON.

MY MOM IS A NAVY WIFE, MY DAD SERVED NAVY CAREER.

SHE AND MY DAD ARE ON TRICARE.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT MODERN TECHNOLOGY THAT MOST OF US HERE DO.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> IS CERTAINLY ECHO WHAT CHRISSY HAS TO SAY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE GET A BIT OF PUSHBACK IN OUR COMMUNITIES FROM ARE THE Ab I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THE POPULATION TO SUPPORT A MAMMOGRAM.

YET, WE HEAR FROM SO MANY OF THE WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY, WE WOULD LOVE TO USE THAT!

THEY DON'T HAVE ONE BUT WE ARE NOT GOING THERE.

IT'S A CHICKEN AND EGG TYPE ISSUE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO ADDRESS.

THAT'S THE KIND OF ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE WE ARE HERE TO POINT OUT BECAUSE WOMEN ARE THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION OF VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS WE HAVE SEEN.

SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE TIME TO START WEIGHING IN ON CRITICAL ISSUES.

>> WHAT'S THE SITUATION SECURELY OVERSEAS, WOMEN DEPLOYED TO BECOME PREGNANT WITH ABORTION, YOU KNOW, AT BASIS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN AFGHANISTAN?

I KNOW THERE ARE RELIGIOUS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO THINK THAT ABORTION SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

HOW -- >> I CANNOT TALK TO THAT SITUATION.

I'M NOT SURE THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION OR LAW IS.

THERE WAS A CONVERSATION DURING OUR NDAA MARKUP ABOUT THE ISSUE, PARTICULARLY WITH RELATIONSHIP TO PLAN B, WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING IS AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS AUTHORIZED.

I DON'T KNOW -- I THINK THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT WHETHER IT pWOULD BE CODIFIED INTO LAW.

I FRANKLY DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT ENDED UP IN TERMS OF WHERE -- >> THERE MIGHT BE AN AMENDMENT.

I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE.

THIS IS A GREATER PROBLEM THAN SIMPLY AN ARMED FORCES.

THINGS LIKE HIDE AMENDMENT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY THE FULL CAUCUS.

SO WE ARE LOOKING TO ADDRESS ACCESS TO ABORTION RIGHTS, ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL FOR WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

OUR SERVICEWOMEN IN PARTICULAR CAN HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME ACCESSING THOSE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT SOMETIMES YOU WERE STATIONED IN OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACES, CAN BE STATIONED IN DIFFERENT STATES THAT WORK HARD NOT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE.

SO IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT FOR OUR WOMEN, SERVICEMEMBERS BUT SOMETHING I THINK IS A BROADER ISSUE THAN SIMPLY AN ARMED FORCES.

>> WHAT ABOUT PENSIONS, MILITARY PENSIONS?

WHERE IS THE LAW ON THAT?

IS THE LAW CORRECT AS FAR AS YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EITHER BEING IN THE MILITARY WIFE AND ACCESS TO PART OF THE HUSBAND'S PENSION AND THE DIVORCE?

HOW DID THOSE THINGS WORK OUT?

>> THAT'S A BIG TOPIC.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS MY DAD WAS CAREER NAVY, MY GRANDFATHER WAS CAREER NAVY.

I CAN TELL YOU THE MILITARY PENSION IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT AND PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION, SOMETHING THEY DEPEND ON.

MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY MOM ALSO DEPENDS ON, BEING RELIABLE, NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SUBJECT TO ANY SORT OF NEGOTIATION POST SEPARATION FROM THE MILITARY.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ANECDOTAL INFORMATION ABOUT SITUATIONS OF DIVORCE AND THAT SORT OF THING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE FOLKS ARE SERVING.

IT IS TRUE SERVICE.

THEIR COMPENSATION IS CERTAINLY MUCH LESS THAN WHAT WE GET ON THE CIVILIAN ECONOMY.

THE BENEFITS THEY GET ON THE BACKEND ARE MUCH, MUCH LESS THAN WHAT, FRANKLY, I BELIEVE THEY DESERVE AS BEING THE DAUGHTER OF A SERVICEMEMBER.

>> ONE OF THE BENEFITS IS THE G.I.

BILL.

WE JUST CELEBRATED THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE G.I.

BILL, THE SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT HAVING THE PEN THAT WAS USED TO SIGN IT INTO LAW BY FDR AND HOW IMPRESSED SHE WAS.

THAT SOMETHING I THINK HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO OUR SERVICEMEMBERS, AND SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN WALKED BACK A LITTLE BIT WHICH WE ARE FIGHTING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, THAT OUR SERVICEMEMBERS HAVE DISPELLED BENEFITS.

>> LAST THING I WOULD SAY TO THE SERVICEWOMEN, CAUCUS ISSUES, IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION AND KNOWING WHAT IT IS OUR YOUR BENEFITS, WHETHER IT'S YOUR PENSION OR ACCESS TO VA, WHETHER YOU CAN TRANSFER SOME OF YOUR BENEFITS, I AM JUST LEARNING THAT.

THE FACT THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM ACTIVE-DUTY INTO BEING A VETERAN, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT.

WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT SO HARD FOR OUR SERVICEMEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THEY HAVE BENEFITS TO ACCESS.

>> THEY HAVE TIME FOR THE EXITS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER YOUR TAX PROGRAM, BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO GET -- MY LAST DUTY STATION WAS IN LONDON.

IN THE MIDDLE OF GETTING MY HOUSE BACKED UP AND MOVING TO THE STATES, FILLING OUT MY PAPERWORK IN GETTING BACK TO THE STATES TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK TO DO THERE, I WAS BEING GIVEN THIS PROGRAM OF HOW TO LEAVE THE NAVY, ALL THE BENEFITS.

IT'S LIKE THIS AND THEN YOU GET OUT THREE MONTHS LATER AND FORGOTTEN IT ALL.

YOU'VE PAPERWORK JAMMED IN YOUR PARENTS' ATTIC BECAUSE YOU ARE MOVING AROUND AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT YOUR NEXT JOB, SO THAT IS WHY YOU THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT WE DO THAT KIND OF OUTREACH TO OUR VETERANS.

>> I LITERALLY NEVER LOGGED ONTO THE SITE THAT I APPARENTLY SHOULD HAVE LOGGED ON TO REGISTER MYSELF AS BEING A VETERAN UNTIL HE STARTED RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

WHEN I DID THAT, I REALIZE JUST HOW IMPENETRABLE THAT PROCESS IS.

I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A PRETTY SMART PERSON IN THE FACT THAT I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT -- >> I THINK YOU ARE REALLY SMART.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU SEEM TO BE VERY SMART.

>> THE PROBLEM -- IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT, THAT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE THEN.

>> WE TALK ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PROBLEMS WITH ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL.

WOULD YOU SAY THEY ARE STILL A LOT OF GENDER BIAS IN THE MILITARY?

DID YOU EXPERIENCE IT?

>> I CAN SAY THAT I EXPERIENCED IT.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE MILITARY AND I SUSPECT THAT IT'S PROBABLY A LOT LIKE WHEN I WAS IN -- THAT YOU HAVE COMMANDS THAT ARE RUN VERY WELL WHERE THERE IS VERY LITTLE, IF ANY, GENDER BIAS.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE COMMANDS THAT ARE NOT RUN AS WELL.

A LOT OF THAT STARTS AT THE TOP.

I THINK A LOT OF US ARE LOSING A LITTLE PATIENCE FOR THAT, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE SYMPTOMS HEARING THE SAME EXCUSES THAT I HAVE HEARD 20 YEARS AGO.

WE REALLY HAVE MOVED PAST THAT.

AS CHRISTIE SAID, WE ARE A FULLY VOLUNTARY FORCE.

THERE IS NO WAY OUR MILITARY CAN FUNCTION RIGHT NOW WITHOUT WOMEN WHO SERVE.

TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING TREATED, YOU KNOW, EVERY BIT AS WELL AS THE MEN WHO SERVE, I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH.

THIS HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.

VERY ENLIGHTENING.

CONGRESSWOMAN MIKIE SHERRILL OF NEW JERSEY, DEMOCRAT NEW JERSEY, AND CHRISSY HOULAHAN, DEMOCRAT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FIGHT FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN THE MILITARY SERVICES.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU, ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "TO THE CONTRARY".

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