Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bost for yielding me time to speak.

I rise today to express my support for S. 2533, the Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act. I am proud to co- lead the House companion of this important legislation with Congresswoman Brownley. I also thank Senators Tester and Boozman for their work in passing this bill.

As a doctor and as a 24-year female veteran, I understand just how significant access to mammogram screenings can be. The VA has estimated that among the women enrolled in VA healthcare, about 700 female veterans are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and the percentage of female veterans is only going to increase.

This bill will ensure that female veterans have the best access to high-quality care, especially for female veterans that live in rural areas who are disabled and who are paralyzed. This bill will also create a 3-year pilot program to provide telemammography screenings to female veterans and will upgrade the VA mammography imaging to three- dimensional breast imaging for VA hospitals. In addition, this bill will expand partnerships for care, research, and clinical trials with the NIH National Cancer Institute and the DOD.

Today, as a doctor and a former director of public health, I am proudly voting in support of the bipartisan and bicameral MAMMO for Veterans Act. This bill will enhance mammography and telemammography screenings, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 2533, Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act. I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote today and sending this bill to the President to become law.

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