Congresswomen with military service in their past, some of them forged on post-Sept. 11 wars, are hoping to create their own caucus to drive an agenda to support the nation's growing ranks of female service members. The still-forming Congressional Servicewomen & Women Veterans Caucus is part of this group's growing network of influence in national politics that includes efforts to recruit more female veterans to Congress. So is urgency: In the next 25 years, female former service members are expected to nearly double their population and will account for nearly 1 in 5 living veterans. Female veterans face different health-related challenges compared to their male counterparts, according to letters the future caucus members have sent to Army Secretary Mark T. Esper and Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer. ; and Gil Cisneros, D-Calif.Houlahan, Luria, Sherrill and Reps. Abagail Spanberger, D-Va., and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan were part of a record number of female veterans with military or intelligence experience who ran for Congress last year.

Source: Fox News May 15, 2019 05:15 UTC