Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act

Floor Speech

WOMEN VETERANS HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT -- (House of Representatives - June 23, 2009)

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1211, as amended, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs and for other purposes.

I appreciate the hard work of the gentlelady from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin) on this bill and in bringing it forward. Throughout history, women have played a vital role in supporting our national defense. Currently women make up 8 percent, about 8 percent of the total veteran population, and VA estimates that by 2020, women veterans will comprise about 10 percent of the veteran population.

Women are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population, and it's essential to make sure that VA is providing specialized programs and services to meet their unique physical and mental health needs.

I want to thank again my good friend and colleague, the gentlelady from South Dakota, for introducing this legislation, and I am pleased to have joined with her as an original cosponsor for H.R. 1211.

This legislation would expand and improve benefits and services for our female veterans, especially our newest generation of women veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VA would be required to conduct independent studies to look at the barriers women veterans face in obtaining VA health care, assist the services currently being provided, and develop a plan to better meet their needs.

In the past 5 years, there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of women veterans of child-bearing age enrolling in the VA health care system. H.R. 1211, as amended, would aid this population by authorizing VA to provide care to newborns of women veterans receiving maternity care through VA. Additionally, the bill would establish a pilot program to provide child care assistance for certain qualified veterans while they are receiving care at the VA.

Recognizing that the largest number of women veterans are serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the bill would also ensure that recently separated women veterans have a voice on the advisory committee on women veterans and minority veterans.

I urge my colleagues to support 1211, as amended.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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