I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2717 
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
to take certain steps regarding research related to menopause, 
perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 8, 2025 
Ms. HOULAHAN (for herself and Mrs. BICE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to take certain steps regarding research 
related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life wom-
en’s health, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Servicewomen and Vet-
erans Menopause Research Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. EVALUATION OF CERTAIN RESEARCH RELATED TO 
MENOPAUSE, PERIMENOPAUSE, OR MID-LIFE 
WOMEN’S HEALTH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in co-
ordination with Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall evalu-
ate— 
(1) the results of completed research related to 
menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s 
health among women who are members of the 
Armed Forces or veterans; 
(2) the status of such research that is ongoing; 
(3) any gaps in knowledge and research on— 
(A) treatments, including hormone and 
non-hormone treatments, for menopause-related 
symptoms; 
(B) the safety and effectiveness of treat-
ments for menopause-related symptoms; 
(C) the relation of service in the Armed 
Forces to perimenopause and menopause and 
the impact of such service on perimenopause 
and menopause; 
(D) the effect of combat roles on symp-
toms relating to perimenopause and menopause, 
including exposure to burn pits, toxic chemicals, 
and PFAS; and 
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(E) the impact of perimenopause and 
menopause on the mental health of women who 
are members of the Armed Forces or veterans; 
(4) the availability of and uptake of professional 
training resources for covered providers relating to 
mid-life women’s health with respect to the care, 
treatment, and management of perimenopause and 
menopausal symptoms, and related support services; 
and 
(5) the availability of and uptake of treatments 
for women who are members of the Armed Forces 
or veterans who are experiencing perimenopause or 
menopause. 
(b) REPORT; STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall each submit to Congress a report containing— 
(1) the findings of the evaluation conducted 
under subsection (a); 
(2) recommendations for improving professional 
training resources described in subsection (a)(4) for 
covered providers; and 
(3) a strategic plan that— 
(A) resolves the gaps in knowledge and re-
search identified in the report; and 
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(B) identifies topics in need of further re-
search relating to potential treatments for 
menopause-related symptoms of women who are 
members of the Armed Forces or veterans. 
(c) NONDUPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF 
EFFORTS.—In carrying out activities under this section, 
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall ensure that such activities supplement, and 
minimize the duplication of, existing efforts of the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services to share information 
regarding matters described in subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered provider’’ means a 
health care provider who is an employee of the De-
partment of Defense or the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. 
(2) The term ‘‘menopause’’— 
(A) means the stage of a woman’s life 
when menstruation stops permanently and she 
can no longer get pregnant; and 
(B) is not a disease state, but a normal 
part of aging for women. 
(3) The term ‘‘mid-life’’ means a life stage for 
a woman that— 
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(A) coincides with perimenopause, which 
may be physical or emotional; 
(B) encompasses the late reproductive age, 
which can begin at approximately 35 years of 
age, to late postmenopausal stages, which can 
extend to approximately 65 years of age, of re-
productive aging; and 
(C) often marks the onset of many chronic 
diseases. 
(4) The term ‘‘perimenopause’’— 
(A) mean the time when levels of the hor-
mone estrogen fall unevenly in a woman’s body; 
and 
(B) is also called the menopausal transi-
tion. 
(5) The term ‘‘PFAS’’ means perfluoroalkyl 
and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 
(6) The term ‘‘postmenopausal’’ means a pe-
riod— 
(A) that begins after a woman has not 
menstruated for 12 months and lasts thereafter 
for the rest of the woman’s life; and 
(B) during which a woman is at increased 
risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. 
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SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ADDITIONAL RESEARCH 
RELATED TO MENOPAUSE, PERIMENOPAUSE, 
OR MID-LIFE WOMEN’S HEALTH. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of De-
fense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should each 
conduct research related to menopause, perimenopause, or 
mid-life health regarding women who are members of the 
Armed Forces or veterans. 
Æ 
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