Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2102) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mammography screening for veterans who served in locations associated with toxic exposure.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2102
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act'' or the ``Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act''. SEC. 2. REVISION OF BREAST CANCER MAMMOGRAPHY POLICY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE MAMMOGRAPHY SCREENING FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN LOCATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TOXIC EXPOSURE.
(a) In General.--Section 7322 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The'' and inserting ``In General.--The'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``The'' and inserting ``Standards for Screening.--The''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``a record of service in a location and during a period specified in subsection (d),'' after ``risk factors,''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(c) Eligibility for Screening for Veterans Exposed to Toxic Substances.--The Under Secretary for Health shall ensure that, under the policy developed under subsection (a), any veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, was deployed in support of a contingency operation in a location and during a period specified in subsection (d), is eligible for a mammography screening by a health care provider of the Department.
``(d) Locations and Periods Specified.--(1) The locations and periods specified in this subsection are the following:
``(A) Iraq during following periods:
``(i) The period beginning on August 2, 1990, and ending on February 28, 1991.
``(ii) The period beginning on March 19, 2003, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Iraq.
``(B) The Southwest Asia theater of operations, other than Iraq, during the period beginning on August 2, 1990, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in such location, including the following locations:
``(i) Kuwait.
``(ii) Saudi Arabia.
``(iii) Oman.
``(iv) Qatar.
``(C) Afghanistan during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Afghanistan.
``(D) Djibouti during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Djibouti.
``(E) Syria during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Syria.
``(F) Jordan during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Jordan.
``(G) Egypt during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Egypt.
``(H) Lebanon during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Lebanon.
``(I) Yemen during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in Yemen.
``(J) Such other locations and corresponding periods as set forth by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry established under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).
``(K) Such other locations and corresponding periods as the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, may determine appropriate in a report submitted under paragraph (2).
``(2) Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act, and not less frequently than once every two years thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to Congress a report specifying other locations and corresponding periods for purposes of paragraph (1)(K).
``(3) A location under this subsection shall not include any body of water around or any airspace above such location.
``(4) In this subsection, the term `burn pit' means an area of land that--
``(A) is used for disposal of solid waste by burning in the outdoor air; and
``(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and manufactured for the burning of solid waste.''.
(b) Report on Breast Cancer Rates for Veterans Deployed to Certain Areas.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that compares the rates of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces deployed to the locations and during the periods specified in section 7322(d) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), as compared to members of the Armed Forces who were not deployed to those locations during those periods and to the civilian population.
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Mr. TAKANO. 2102.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2102, the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments Act, or SERVICE Act, introduced by Senator Boozman.
I applaud Dr. Miller-Meeks and Chairwoman Brownley for their initiative on this urgent issue and for introducing the House companion.
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that any veteran who was deployed in support of a contingency operation in specified locations during defined periods is eligible for a mammography screening by a VA healthcare provider. The specified locations are theaters of operations where burn pits are currently--or were previously--being used.
This bill also requires inclusion of other locations and time periods as determined by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.
Additionally, the SERVICE Act requires a report that compares breast cancer rates for veterans deployed to the specified locations, comparing data to other members of the Armed Forces who were not deployed during that period, and to the civilian population.
Many of us here today were lucky enough to have had the honor of meeting Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas; a fierce advocate, loving wife and mother, and an exemplary Marine Corps veteran, who served near a burn pit in Fallujah. Kate passed away last month after battling stage IV breast cancer.
She gave her last days to her fellow veterans, fighting for the passage of comprehensive toxic exposure legislation that would provide potentially lifesaving care crucial for similarly exposed veterans.
While I support this important and timely legislation, I also stress the urgency of passing the Honoring our PACT Act. It is time for our country to make good on its promise to toxic-exposed veterans.
It is up to us, Members of Congress, to fight for our Nation's veterans as they have fought for us. Our Nation's veterans do not have time to wait.
I support S. 2102, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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