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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women Veterans Re-
search Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Health care for veterans has traditionally
been considered in terms of male veterans and most
research conducted by the Department of Veterans
Affairs is focused on male veterans.
(2) Department of Veterans Affairs researchers
are responsible for developing both the CAT scan
and the MRI technology.
(3) Department researchers are responsible for
many medical ‘‘firsts’’, including the first liver
transplant, the first effective therapy for tuber-
culosis, and the first artificial kidney.
(4) Department researchers are on the forefront
of therapeutic discoveries, including aspirin therapy
for heart disease, implantable insulin pumps for dia-
betes, surgical treatment to reduce the risk of
stroke, specialized drug treatment for high blood
pressure, and treatment options for prostate cancer.
(5) The primary mission of the Department’s
rehabilitation research and development activities is
to develop devices to assist veterans in need of pros-
thetic devices, sensory aids, and mobility assistance.
(6) The mission of the Health Services Re-
search and Development Service of the Department
is to develop and conduct research that integrates
clinical needs and research inquiry to enhance the
quality of health care delivery to veterans.
SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF RESEARCH RELATING TO WOMEN
VETERANS.
(a) INCLUSION
OF WOMEN
AND MINORITIES
IN
HEALTH RESEARCH.—Section 7303(c)(1) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking out ‘‘, whenever possible and ap-
propriate—’’ in the matter preceding paragraph (1);
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the
semicolon ‘‘(except in the case of a research project
which by its nature is inapplicable to women veter-
ans) and that such inclusion is ongoing and continu-
ous, with monitoring strategies and evaluations in
effect to ensure that a sufficient number of women
veterans are included to establish statistical signifi-
cance’’; and
(3) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘whenever
possible and appropriate,’’ before ‘‘members’’.
(b) HEALTH RESEARCH RELATING TO WOMEN.—
Section 7303(d) of such title is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraphs:
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall foster and encourage re-
search under this section on the following matters as they
relate to women:
‘‘(A) Breast cancer and other primarily gender-
specific cancers that may relate to the military serv-
ice of women.
‘‘(B) Gynecological and reproductive health, in-
cluding gynecological cancer, infertility, sexually-
transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and post-partum
phenomena.
‘‘(C) Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Ac-
quired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
‘‘(D) Mental health, including post-traumatic
stress disorder, depression, combat related stress,
and trauma.
‘‘(E) Diseases related to aging, including meno-
pause, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
‘‘(F) Substance abuse.
‘‘(G) Spousal abuse.
‘‘(H) Sexual violence and related trauma.
‘‘(I) Exposure to toxic chemicals and other en-
vironmental hazards, including the potential risk to
fertility and reproductive health.
‘‘(J) Cardiac care and heart disease.
‘‘(K) 
The 
comparative 
prevalence 
of
hysterectomies and other surgeries performed on
women who have served in the military.
‘‘(L) The physical and psychological causes and
effects of homelessness among women veterans.
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, ensure that personnel of the Department of
Veterans Affairs engaged in the research referred to in
paragraph (1) include the following:
‘‘(A) Personnel of the geriatric research, edu-
cation, and clinical centers designated pursuant to
section 7314 of this title.
‘‘(B) Personnel of the National Center for Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder established pursuant to
section 110(c) of the Veterans Health Care Act of
1984 (Public Law 98–528; 98 Stat. 2692).
‘‘(5) The Secretary shall ensure that personnel of the
Department engaged in research relating to the health of
women veterans are advised and informed of such research
engaged in by other personnel of the Department.’’.
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