I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3712

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the research activities

of the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to women veterans.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 25, 1996

Ms. BROWN of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the

research activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs

relating to women veterans.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women Veterans Re5 search Act of 1996’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 Congress makes the following findings:

8 (1) Health care for veterans has traditionally

9 been considered in terms of male veterans and most
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1 research conducted by the Department of Veterans

2 Affairs is focused on male veterans.

3 (2) Department of Veterans Affairs researchers

4 are responsible for developing both the CAT scan

5 and the MRI technology.

6 (3) Department researchers are responsible for

7 many medical ‘‘firsts’’, including the first liver

8 transplant, the first effective therapy for tuber9 culosis, and the first artificial kidney.

10 (4) Department researchers are on the forefront

11 of therapeutic discoveries, including aspirin therapy

12 for heart disease, implantable insulin pumps for dia13 betes, surgical treatment to reduce the risk of

14 stroke, specialized drug treatment for high blood

15 pressure, and treatment options for prostate cancer.

16 (5) The primary mission of the Department’s

17 rehabilitation research and development activities is

18 to develop devices to assist veterans in need of pros19 thetic devices, sensory aids, and mobility assistance.

20 (6) The mission of the Health Services Re21 search and Development Service of the Department

22 is to develop and conduct research that integrates

23 clinical needs and research inquiry to enhance the

24 quality of health care delivery to veterans.
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1 SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF RESEARCH RELATING TO WOMEN

2 VETERANS.

3 (a) INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN

4 HEALTH RESEARCH.—Section 7303(c)(1) of title 38,

5 United States Code, is amended—

6 (1) by striking out ‘‘, whenever possible and ap7 propriate—’’ in the matter preceding paragraph (1);

8 (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the

9 semicolon ‘‘(except in the case of a research project

10 which by its nature is inapplicable to women veter11 ans) and that such inclusion is ongoing and continu12 ous, with monitoring strategies and evaluations in

13 effect to ensure that a sufficient number of women

14 veterans are included to establish statistical signifi15 cance’’; and

16 (3) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘whenever

17 possible and appropriate,’’ before ‘‘members’’.

18 (b) HEALTH RESEARCH RELATING TO WOMEN.—

19 Section 7303(d) of such title is amended by adding at the

20 end the following new paragraphs:

21 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall foster and encourage re22 search under this section on the following matters as they

23 relate to women:

24 ‘‘(A) Breast cancer and other primarily gender25 specific cancers that may relate to the military serv26 ice of women.
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1 ‘‘(B) Gynecological and reproductive health, in2 cluding gynecological cancer, infertility, sexually3 transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and post-partum

4 phenomena.

5 ‘‘(C) Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Ac6 quired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

7 ‘‘(D) Mental health, including post-traumatic

8 stress disorder, depression, combat related stress,

9 and trauma.

10 ‘‘(E) Diseases related to aging, including meno11 pause, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s Disease.

12 ‘‘(F) Substance abuse.

13 ‘‘(G) Spousal abuse.

14 ‘‘(H) Sexual violence and related trauma.

15 ‘‘(I) Exposure to toxic chemicals and other en16 vironmental hazards, including the potential risk to

17 fertility and reproductive health.

18 ‘‘(J) Cardiac care and heart disease.

19 ‘‘(K) The comparative prevalence of

20 hysterectomies and other surgeries performed on

21 women who have served in the military.

22 ‘‘(L) The physical and psychological causes and

23 effects of homelessness among women veterans.

24 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent

25 practicable, ensure that personnel of the Department of
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1 Veterans Affairs engaged in the research referred to in

2 paragraph (1) include the following:

3 ‘‘(A) Personnel of the geriatric research, edu4 cation, and clinical centers designated pursuant to

5 section 7314 of this title.

6 ‘‘(B) Personnel of the National Center for Post7 Traumatic Stress Disorder established pursuant to

8 section 110(c) of the Veterans Health Care Act of

9 1984 (Public Law 98–528; 98 Stat. 2692).

10 ‘‘(5) The Secretary shall ensure that personnel of the

11 Department engaged in research relating to the health of

12 women veterans are advised and informed of such research

13 engaged in by other personnel of the Department.’’.

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