summary
Introduced
02/04/2019
02/04/2019
In Committee
02/04/2019
02/04/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
A bill 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 aims to improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to severely wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their spouses or partners. Key provisions of the bill include:
- Requiring the DOD and VA to provide fertility treatments and counseling, including through assisted reproductive technology, to covered veterans and active duty servicemembers or their spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate.
- Establishing procedures for the DOD to retrieve and cryopreserve gametes from members of the Armed Forces whose fertility may be jeopardized due to injury or illness.
- Allowing the VA to pay adoption expenses (up to 3 adoptions) for certain severely wounded veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system.
- Requiring the VA to facilitate reproduction and infertility research conducted by the DOD and Department of Health and Human Services.
- Enhancing the VA's women veterans contact center to respond to assistance requests and refer veterans to federal or community resources.
- Permanently expanding and extending a VA pilot program for group reintegration and readjustment services for certain women veterans.
- Providing child care assistance to qualified veterans receiving mental health or intensive health care services, as well as readjustment counseling and related mental health services.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (13)
Patty Murray (D)*,
Tammy Baldwin (D),
Michael Bennet (D),
Richard Blumenthal (D),
Ben Cardin (D),
Kirsten Gillibrand (D),
Amy Klobuchar (D),
Ed Markey (D),
Jeff Merkley (D),
Jeanne Shaheen (D),
Jon Tester (D),
Elizabeth Warren (D),
Ron Wyden (D),
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (on 02/04/2019)
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/senate-bill/319/all-info | 02/05/2019 |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s319/BILLS-116s319is.pdf | 02/21/2019 |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s319/BILLS-116s319is.pdf.pdf | 02/21/2019 |
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