From Left to Right: Congressmen Miller, McNerney, and Garamendi in
Conversation at their Women Veterans Fair on July 10, 2010.
Pittsburg, CA - Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA) last Saturday hosted a Women Veterans Fair with Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez, CA) and Congressman McNerney (D-Pleasanton, CA). They were joined by Dr. Irene Trowell-Harris, the Director of the Center for Women Veterans Barbara Ward, Deputy Secretary for Women and Minority Veterans at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, and representatives from veteran service organizations.
Workshops at the fair covered employment opportunities for veterans, what benefits are available, how to file a claim, and counseling services available to women veterans. Women veterans came from as far away as San Jose and Yuba City to network with each other while gaining valuable information on the assistance they can receive.
"The Women Veterans Fair was a great chance for our brave women veterans to learn about the benefits they have earned for their service to our country," Congressman Garamendi said, "I am glad so many were able to attend, and I hope they found the event useful."
"Their duty in the military was to protect America. My duty in Congress is to make sure that we provide all available assistance and care to our veterans and to make sure they know how to receive the benefits they’ve earned," Garamendi added.
Congressman Garamendi is proud to have voted for numerous bills expanding medical services and resources for our nation’s veterans. In May Congressman Garamendi voted for the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Act of 2010, which will enhance health services for 1.8 million women veterans, provide support services to caregivers, expand mental health services, and improve health care access for veterans in rural areas.
He has also recently supported six bills that passed in the House of Representatives, including the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010, which will provide a variety of services to help veterans who have lost their homes or are already on the street.