Economic opportunities for women

Veterans Talk

The House of Representatives recently held hearings on “Economic Opportunities for Women.” They discussed the different ways veteran women are affected by different programs throughout the Veteran’s Administration. In some areas such as education and employment, veteran women are represented more favorably than non-veteran women and male veterans. However, there are areas where veteran women are underserved such as veteran homelessness programs.

It is recognized that veteran women have been the fastest growing population of veterans and special attention must be paid to their specific needs. Results of this hearing are not available currently.

Other hearings on “Economic Opportunities” were 18 different pieces of pending legislation to improve veteran programs and strengthen protections. Many of the draft bills include expansion for homeless programs, small business enhancements, closing loopholes for predatory colleges, and an adjustment for enrollment into the Montgomery GI Bill.

Locally, Grimes County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4006 in Navasota and American Legion McCluskey Post 640 in Anderson are seeking new, qualified members. They remind you that there is much more clout in D.C. when the organizations have more members. If you are a veteran, check out both organizations and get involved. If you qualify to belong to the VFW, then you are qualified to belong to the American Legion. By the way, you can belong to both, as I do. Both have meetings just once a month and require no more than two to three hours of your time. Stop by the VFW hall and ask about joining or call 936-825-3666. For the American Legion, you need to call myself, Gary Williamson or Charlie Hopper.

Again, thank you Veterans for your service. May God bless Texas and the good old USA!

Carl Dry is a Korean War veteran, a former Grimes County Veterans Service Officer and the current VFW Post 4006 Commander.