(2) The effect of driving distance or availability 
of other forms of transportation to the nearest med-
ical facility on access to care. 
(3) The availability of child care. 
(4) The acceptability of integrated primary 
care, women’s health clinics, or both. 
(5) The comprehension of eligibility require-
ments for, and the scope of services available under, 
hospital care and medical services. 
(6) The perception of the personal safety and 
comfort of women veterans in inpatient, outpatient, 
and behavioral health facilities of the Department. 
(7) The gender sensitivity of health care pro-
viders and staff to issues that particularly affect 
women. 
(8) The effectiveness of outreach for health care 
services available to women veterans. 
(9) The location and operating hours of health 
care facilities that provide services to women vet-
erans. 
(10) Such other significant barriers as the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs may identify. 
(c) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS.—The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract 
with a qualified independent entity or organization to 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:24 Feb 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1211.IH
H1211
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
carry out the studies and research required under this sec-
tion. 
(d) MANDATORY REVIEW OF DATA BY CERTAIN DI-
VISIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall ensure that the head of each division of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs specified in 
paragraph (2) reviews the results of the study con-
ducted under this section. The head of each such di-
vision shall submit findings with respect to the study 
to the Under Secretary for Health and to other per-
tinent program offices within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs with duties relating to health care 
services for women veterans. 
(2) SPECIFIED
DIVISIONS
OF
THE
DEPART-
MENT.—The divisions of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs specified in this paragraph are— 
(A) the Center for Women Veterans, estab-
lished under section 318 of title 38, United 
States Code; and 
(B) the Advisory Committee on Women 
Veterans, established under section 542 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:24 Feb 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1211.IH
H1211
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
(1) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 
than 6 months after the date on which the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs publishes a final report on 
the study entitled ‘‘National Survey of Women Vet-
erans in Fiscal Year 2007–2008’’, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report 
on the status of the implementation of the section. 
(2) REPORT
ON
STUDY.—Not later than 30 
months after the date on which the Department 
publishes such final report, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on 
the study required under this section. The report 
shall include recommendations for such administra-
tive and legislative action as the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs determines to be appropriate. The re-
port shall also include the findings of the head of 
each specified division of the Department and of the 
Under Secretary for Health. 
(f) DEFINITION
OF FACILITY
OF
THE DEPART-
MENT.—In this section the term ‘‘facility of the Depart-
ment’’ has the meaning given that term in section 1701(3) 
of title 38, United States Code. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs $4,000,000 to carry out this section. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:24 Feb 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1211.IH
H1211
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS