Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act

Bill: 111-hr-1211
Sponsor: Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD-At Large]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child care and development
Child health
Comprehensive health care
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Hospital care
Medical education
Mental health
Minority health
Sex offenses
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) study barriers encountered by women veterans to the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of comprehensive health care; (2) assess all health care services and programs provided by the VA for women veterans; (3) provide graduate education, training and certification for mental health professionals who provide counseling, care, and services to women veterans suffering from sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and (4) carry out a pilot program of child care for certain women veterans receiving health care from VA facilities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to furnish hospital care and medical services to a newborn child of a woman veteran receiving VA maternity care for up to 14 days after the birth of the child.
 
Requires: (1) women veterans recently separated from service to be included on the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans; and (2) recently separated minority veterans to be included on the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. 

action_date: 2009-06-18
text: 
Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act - 
Title I: Studies and Assessments of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services for Women Veterans 
- (Sec. 101) Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) conduct a study of barriers encountered by women veterans to the provision by the VA of comprehensive health care; (2) ensure that the Center for Women Veterans and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans review the results of the study; and (3) report to Congress on study results and the implementation of recommendations.
 
 (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a comprehensive assessment of all health care services and programs provided by the VA for women veterans; (2) identify relevant issues concerning such services and programs with respect to each VA medical facility; (3) develop a plan to improve the provision of health care services to women veterans and to project their future health care needs; and (4) report to Congress on the assessment and plan. Requires a report from the Comptroller General to Congress reviewing the report of the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title II: Improvement and Expansion of Health Care Programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs for Women Veterans 
- (Sec. 201) Authorizes the Secretary to furnish hospital care and medical services to a newborn child of a woman veteran receiving VA maternity care for up to seven days after the birth of the child.
 
(Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide graduate medical education, training, certification, and continuing medical education for mental health professionals who provide counseling, care, and services to women veterans suffering from sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and (2) report annually to Congress on the counseling, care, and services provided.
 
(Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out a two-year pilot program of child care assistance for women veterans receiving certain mental health or other intensive health care services at VA facilities; (2) carry out the program in at least three Veterans Integrated Service Network facilities; and (3) report to Congress on the pilot program. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 204) Requires: (1) women veterans recently separated from service to be included on the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans; and (2) recently separated minority veterans to be included on the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.

action_date: 2009-06-23
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 18, 2009. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act - 
Title I: Studies and Assessments of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services for Women Veterans 
- (Sec. 101) Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) conduct a study of barriers encountered by women veterans to the provision by the VA of comprehensive health care; (2) ensure that the Center for Women Veterans and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans review the results of the study; and (3) report to Congress on study results and the implementation of recommendations.
 
 (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a comprehensive assessment of all health care services and programs provided by the VA for women veterans; (2) identify relevant issues concerning such services and programs with respect to each VA medical facility; (3) develop a plan to improve the provision of health care services to women veterans and to project their future health care needs; and (4) report to Congress on the assessment and plan. Requires a report from the Comptroller General to Congress reviewing the report of the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title II: Improvement and Expansion of Health Care Programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs for Women Veterans 
- (Sec. 201) Authorizes the Secretary to furnish hospital care and medical services to a newborn child of a woman veteran receiving VA maternity care for up to seven days after the birth of the child.
 
(Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide graduate medical education, training, certification, and continuing medical education for mental health professionals who provide counseling, care, and services to women veterans suffering from sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and (2) report annually to Congress on the counseling, care, and services provided.
 
(Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out a two-year pilot program of child care assistance for women veterans receiving certain mental health or other intensive health care services at VA facilities; (2) carry out the program in at least three Veterans Integrated Service Network facilities; and (3) report to Congress on the pilot program. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 204) Requires: (1) women veterans recently separated from service to be included on the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans; and (2) recently separated minority veterans to be included on the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 0 (Roll no. 421). (text: CR H7097-7099)
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 0 (Roll no. 421).(text: CR H7097-7099)
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7110-7111)
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1211.
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7097-7101)
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2009-06-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 83.
action_date: 2009-06-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 111-165.
action_date: 2009-06-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 111-165.
action_date: 2009-06-10
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2009-06-10
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-03-03
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-02-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in House