Michelle McCane for OK House District 72

The Oklahoma Democratic Veterans Federation strongly supports the election of Michelle McCane for Oklahoma House District 72. Michelle has family members in current service, and numbers many veterans among her family, friends and colleagues. Michelle understands that while all veterans and military families deserve timely access to appropriate support services, veteran women face additional barriers and challenges. She knows that female veterans are more likely to experience severe symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety. They also report three times the rate of sexual trauma. Despite being one of the fastest-growing demographics in the veteran community, women have greater difficulty getting gender-specific care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. They also experience higher rates of unemployment.

Michelle will champion legislative initiatives to broaden access to healthcare, education and employment, by funding matches and job training initiatives. She is committed to engaging with service members and veterans throughout her district and the state to better understand how to offer meaningful support. She will enhance awareness through town hall events and collaborate with the media to highlight veterans’ success stories. She will work to dismantle the taboo surrounding mental health issues by promoting available resources and fostering a culture in which no one, especially veterans, is stigmatized for seeking help.