Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1860, the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act, as amended, introduced by my colleague from Texas, Representative Sylvia Garcia.

Through VA's Breast and Gynecological Oncology System of Excellence, the VA oncology, surgical, and nursing specialists are already providing world-class care for these types of cancers directly through VA. The System of Excellence also helps connect veterans with care in the community when necessary.

A cancer diagnosis is always a difficult and complicated journey, and, unfortunately, all too common for veterans, in particular.

The VA's Breast and Gynecological Oncology System of Excellence is well positioned to handle the clinical aspects of coordinating veterans' cancer treatment, both at VA and its specialists in the community.

However, regardless of where individuals are receiving care, cancer treatment is often very complex and requires veterans to regularly see many different providers for various treatments, as well as different specialized labs and imaging centers.

Veterans may need assistance covering the expenses associated with traveling to receive care at another VA facility or in the community, obtaining medical records from community providers, ensuring that community providers' claims are paid on time, and accessing mental health services to help cope with the emotional aspects of their diagnoses.

This can be very difficult for patients to navigate, and our veterans deserve the highest levels of support throughout this time.

Representative Garcia's bill will strengthen the System of Excellence by requiring VA to appoint regional breast and gynecologic cancer care coordinators to assist veterans in navigating all of these aspects of their treatment. These trained professionals help ensure that patients can access resources available to them and that their providers are always updated on the patients' latest health updates.

Veterans deserve compassionate, well-coordinated care when dealing with their cancer journey, and I am glad to support this legislation to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1860, the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act of 2025, as amended.

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Mr. TAKANO. Garcia), my good friend and author of H.R. 1860. She serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1860, the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act of 2025, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.

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