Phoenix, AZ – Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema made the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced expanded eligibility for mental health care related to sexual assault and sexual harassment:

“All survivors of sexual trauma deserve access to quality, comprehensive care,” said Sinema. “The VA’s expansion is an important step to improve care for survivors of military sexual assault and sexual harassment, and our office is ready to work with all who need help to access this available care and expanded services.”

Congresswoman Sinema supported the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, which became law, expanding VA’s authority to provide these services. The VA’s eligibility expansion enables veterans to obtain treatment for military sexual trauma (MST) that occurred during their military service. A member of the Congressional Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, Sinema has continually fought for survivors of military sexual trauma, cosponsoring the bipartisan Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment (SAVE) Act to give survivors of MST the option to seek care from outside medical providers and avoid bureaucratic barriers that often get in the way of receiving care.

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