summary
Introduced
02/04/2019
02/04/2019
In Committee
02/22/2019
02/22/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
To improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to severely wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their spouses or partners, and for other purposes. This bill addresses fertility treatments, counseling, and other health-related programs for veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide fertility treatments and counseling to covered veterans and active duty servicemembers or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of such veteran or servicemember. A covered veteran or service member is a severely wounded, ill, or injured former or current member of the Armed Forces who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty. DOD must establish procedures related to gamete retrieval and storage. Fertility counseling and treatment are included within authorized VA medical services. The VA may pay the adoption expenses (for up to three adoptions) for a covered member who is enrolled in the VA health care system. The VA must facilitate specified reproduction and infertility research conducted collaboratively by DOD and the Department of Health and Human Services. The VA shall enhance the capabilities of the VA women veterans contact center to respond to assistance requests and refer such veterans to federal or community resources. The bill permanently extends and expands a VA pilot program related to group reintegration and readjustment services for certain women veterans. The bill provides child care assistance to qualified veterans receiving (1) mental health care services or intensive health care services, and (2) readjustment counseling and related mental health services.
AI Summary
This bill, the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2019, aims to improve the reproductive assistance and adoption services provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for severely wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their spouses or partners.
The key provisions of the bill include:
1. Requiring the DOD and VA to provide fertility treatment and counseling, including assisted reproductive technology, to covered members of the Armed Forces and their spouses, partners, or gestational surrogates.
2. Establishing procedures for the DOD to retrieve and store gametes (reproductive cells) of members whose fertility may be jeopardized by an injury or illness.
3. Providing members of the Armed Forces the opportunity to cryopreserve (freeze) and store their gametes before deployment to a combat zone.
4. Requiring coordination between the DOD and VA on the provision of fertility treatment and counseling.
5. Expanding the definition of "medical services" in VA healthcare to include fertility treatment and counseling.
6. Authorizing the VA to provide adoption assistance, up to the cost of three adoptions, for severely wounded veterans.
7. Enhancing the VA's women veterans contact center to better assist women veterans in accessing healthcare and benefits.
8. Establishing programs to provide child care assistance for certain veterans receiving mental health or intensive health services from the VA.
Overall, the bill aims to improve access to reproductive, adoption, and child care services for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, particularly those who have suffered severe injuries or illnesses in the line of duty.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (48)
Rick Larsen (D)*,
Lisa Blunt Rochester (D),
Judy Chu (D),
Gil Cisneros (D),
Yvette Clarke (D),
Gerry Connolly (D),
Danny Davis (D),
Peter DeFazio (D),
Suzan DelBene (D),
Val Demings (D),
Debbie Dingell (D),
Michael Doyle (D),
Jared Golden (D),
Jahana Hayes (D),
Denny Heck (D),
Jim Himes (D),
Chrissy Houlahan (D),
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D),
Derek Kilmer (D),
Andy Kim (D),
Raja Krishnamoorthi (D),
Elaine Luria (D),
Sean Maloney (D),
Betty McCollum (D),
Jim McGovern (D),
Grace Meng (D),
Seth Moulton (D),
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),
Ilhan Omar (D),
Chris Pappas (D),
Donald Payne (D),
Dean Phillips (D),
Mark Pocan (D),
Ayanna Pressley (D),
Jamie Raskin (D),
Max Rose (D),
Bobby Rush (D),
Tim Ryan (D),
Kim Schrier (D),
Elissa Slotkin (D),
Greg Stanton (D),
Eric Swalwell (D),
Dina Titus (D),
Rashida Tlaib (D),
David Trone (D),
Jeff Van Drew (R),
Jennifer Wexton (D),
Susan Wild (D),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (on 02/22/2019)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/955/all-info | 02/05/2019 |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr955/BILLS-116hr955ih.pdf | 02/21/2019 |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr955/BILLS-116hr955ih.pdf.pdf | 02/21/2019 |
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