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Lawmakers hear women veterans on healthcare gaps, suicide risk, rural access and federal policy changes
Summary
Multiple veterans, advocates and service‑organization leaders testified to the Assembly committee about gender‑specific health needs, rising suicide risk among women veterans, barriers in rural areas, military sexual trauma, and concerns about recent federal reversals on diversity and inclusion.
The Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee convened a hearing focused on the needs of women veterans, hearing testimony from veterans, service‑organization leaders and advocates who urged state action on gender‑specific health care, suicide prevention, rural access and protections for women veterans' history and benefits.
Brenda Sue Fulton, executive director of the Army Women's Foundation and a West Point graduate and former senior official at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, criticized recent federal personnel and policy changes that she said are erasing women from military history and undermining veterans' services. "This is the most anti‑veteran administration in American history," Fulton said in testimony, urging state officials to defend women veterans' history and benefits.
Lucy DelGaudio, an equity initiative specialist with YWCA Northern New Jersey Operation Sisterhood, described the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to military readiness and post‑service outcomes, and urged the committee to support state and community programs that fill gaps left by shifting federal policies. She noted that women veterans number over 27,000 statewide and that women now represent a growing share of the veteran population.
Edna Arissel Long, department commander for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of New Jersey, and long‑service veterans such as Minnie Austin and other witnesses described experiences including military sexual trauma (MST), difficulties obtaining gender‑specific care, and the social stigma that can keep women from seeking help. Testimony from a DAV representative summarized recent findings in the DAV report "Women Veterans, The Journey to Mental Wellness," citing higher suicide rates and elevated risks associated with menopause and reproductive mental health needs. "Women veterans have been forced to fit in a healthcare system designed for men," the DAV representative said.
Witnesses urged state action including requiring community care providers to meet VA training and quality standards, updating state materials to reflect veterans' suicide hotlines (including the 988 change), improving access to gender‑specific mental health services, and addressing transportation and broadband gaps that affect rural veterans' access to care. Gary Meyer, a veteran who testified earlier on other matters, also asked the committee to revisit proposed legislation on expungement for veterans with PTSD and MST.
Committee members responded to the testimony with commitments to pursue follow‑up work. Chairwoman Cleopatra Tucker thanked witnesses, said the committee has an open‑door policy for veterans, and asked staff and members to continue conversations and pursue possible legislation and outreach. Assembly members in the hearing urged additional meetings, local outreach and consideration of the bills and policy changes raised during testimony.
No committee votes were taken on substantive legislation during the hearing portion; witnesses and committee members agreed to continue work on proposals raised in testimony.
