Senate Committee Examines Health Bills for Women Veterans

On May 17, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing on several bills, including S. 681, the Deborah Sampson Act, and S. 804, the Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act of 2017.

S. 681

Sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), the legislation would establish a peer-to-peer assistance program for women veterans. Among other provisions, the bill would require medical facilities operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include at least one full-time or part-time women’s health primary care provider.

S. 804

Sponsored by Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), the measure would require every medical center operated by the VA to include a full-time obstetrician-gynecologist. In addition, the bill would require an examination of medical centers to ensure that they are able to meet the health needs of women veterans.

The following witnesses testified:

• Jennifer S. Lee, deputy under secretary for Health Policy and Services, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs;
• Louis Celli, director, National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, The American Legion;
• Kayda Keleher, associate director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars;
• Adrian Atizado, deputy national legislative director, Disabled American Veterans;
• Allison Jaslow, executive director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; and
• David Cox, national president, American Federation of Government Employees.