Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) Elaine Luria (D-Va.), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), on Wednesday launched a new caucus aimed at addressing issues facing servicewomen and women veterans.
Houlahan will serve as chair of the bipartisan Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus and Luria, Sherill and Gabbard will be its vice chairs. The caucus has 51 members including 43 Democrats and eight Republicans.
“Now is the time to address the issues that plague our servicewomen and women veterans,” Houlahan said in a statement. “That is why we’ve launched the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus. We four women will lead from our lived experiences serving this country and are flanked by men and women, Republicans and Democrats.” {mosads}
“With increasing numbers of women serving in our U.S. military, our caucus will provide a platform to address issues related to their service as well as ensuring they get the care they need from the VA when they lay down the uniform,” Gabbard said in the statement. “I look forward to bringing the perspective gained through this experience to our caucus where we can be a voice for women serving now, and create a better future for those who will join our ranks in the years to come.”
The statement from Houlahan’s office mentioned several issues facing women veterans and servicewomen including high suicide rates, emotional trauma and military sexual trauma.
Houlahan served in the Air Force and Gabbard served in Hawaii’s Army National Guard. Luria and Sherrill both served in the Navy.
Gabbard has also launched a long-shot bid for the presidency. She faces more than 20 other people for the party’s 2020 Democratic nomination.