Duckworth, Boozman Lead Bill to Enhance Support of Women Veterans

Duckworth, Boozman Lead Bill to Enhance Support of Women Veterans

The VOICE for Women Veterans Act would require a comprehensive look at VA care, benefits and services to identify areas for improvement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Boozman (R-AR), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC), introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen oversight of women Veterans' health care and improve access to the services and resources they need. The Veterans' Outcomes, Inclusion, Care, and Experience (VOICE) for Women Veterans Act would modernize an annual report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) so legislators, the VA and Veteran advocates have a comprehensive reference to drive change and resolve issues affecting the care and benefits women Veterans have earned and deserve.

"Our nation would never be ready for battle without our brave women in uniform. For all they've sacrificed for our country, we owe it to our women heroes to ensure the VA is equipped to provide them the high-quality, tailored care that they have earned through their service," said Duckworth. "Our bipartisan legislation would require the VA to take a deep look at how well female Veterans are actually being served and how we can improve health outcomes. As the primary health care home for Veterans, this comprehensive review at the VA is long overdue to better care for the fastest growing Veteran group in the country."

"Women veterans have made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation, and they deserve access to the quality care and resources they have earned. As we look to improve the quality of care for women veterans in Arkansas and across the country, we must ensure the VA gathers the data and information necessary to identify gaps, address challenges and improve health outcomes. This bipartisan legislation will help strengthen accountability and ensure women veterans receive the care and support they are owed," said Boozman.

This bill is supported by the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

The full bill text is available on Senator Duckworth's website.

Duckworth has been a fierce leader and advocate for improving our Veterans' and servicemembers' access to the care they need. Earlier this year during a SVAC hearing, Duckworth pressed and secured a commitment from Dr. Mark Koeniger, Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services at the Veterans Health Administration, on behalf of the VA to continue working with her as she seeks to pass her Maternal Health for Veterans Act. This Duckworth bill builds on the Senator's Protecting Moms Who Served Act-signed into law in 2021-that strengthens oversight of VA maternity care coordination and expands access for women Veterans. The Senator also introduced the bipartisan Copay Fairness for Veterans Act that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs that Veterans are disproportionately forced to pay for preventative health care services they've earned through their military service. She also reintroduced legislation that would improve Veterans' access to contraception and increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness for contraceptive products at the VA.

Last year, Duckworth also joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in reintroducing legislation to help make it easier for our Veterans who struggle with infertility to build their families. Earlier last year, Duckworth railed against the Trump Administration for indiscriminately firing Veterans Crisis Line workers and introduced her Protect Veteran Jobs Act with U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) to reinstate the thousands of Veterans who were fired in Trump's mass layoffs-an effort Republicans shamefully blocked in March.

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