“In a post-Veterans Day legislative blitz, House lawmakers passed nine veterans policy measures on Tuesday, including a sweeping bill expanding women veterans support services that had been at the heart of a committee controversy last month.”
“That bill, the Deborah Sampson Act, passed with an overwhelming 399-11 vote and would require more oversight of women’s health care within the Department of Veterans Affairs, establish a new Office of Women’s Health in the agency, and extend coverage of healthcare for newborn children of veterans from seven to 14 days.”
“The legislation — named for Revolutionary War veteran Deborah Sampson Gannett — has been stalled on Capitol Hill for the last few years, but supporters are hopeful the Senate will take up the latest version before the end of the year. Several controversial provisions, like changing the VA motto to eliminate male-specific language, are not in the draft passed this week…”
“In addition to that bill, the House passed eight others without any opposition, including measures to expand GI Bill eligibility rules, broaden VA remote health care services, and increase oversight of certain VA construction projects. All must be approved by the Senate and signed by the president before becoming law…” Read the full article here.
Source: Women veterans measure at center of congressional controversy advances – By Leo Shane III, November 13, 2019. Military Times.
