Morano asks about Local Law 4 data trends by gender
Morano asks why male veterans contacted DVS for discharge upgrade assistance at higher rates than other genders. Mata attributes this to self-identification challenges and the need for better awareness campaigns, especially for women and LGBTQ+ veterans.
Local, in terms of some of the trends that we've seen with Local Law 4 of 2022,
after comparing data from all available reports on Local Law 4, we see that between fiscal year 2022 and 2025,
among male, female, and non-binary veterans, veterans identifying as male contacted DVS most frequently for discharge upgrade assistance.
Is there a reason male veterans contacted DVS at a higher rate rather than the rest of the population?
Again, it goes back to self-identification.
The first hearing that you did, which we're so grateful, was on women veterans.
Well, and I'm grateful as a woman veteran yourself for your participation in that.
When it comes to that, we have...
Along with Ms.
Smalls, I would say.
I do want to also highlight that Ms.
Smalls was also inducted in the Hall of Fame.
Oh.
Yes.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Thank you.
But I think it's like, for example, the perfect example here, right?
We need to make sure that we can bring that awareness that there's women veterans that serve that we have different types of backgrounds.
And I think it goes back to the LGBTQ plus component.
We need to do a better campaign awareness of that.
There's LGBTQ plus veterans that are currently serving and that they do a magnificent job.
So, again, it goes back to the campaign awareness and women are serving at a higher rate as well.
And we need to highlight those ones, too.