The issue has been a priority for
Reps. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., and Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who sponsored
legislation to solve the issue of female veterans who have encountered pain and
mobility limitations by being fitted with prostheses made for men.
“The face of our military has
changed, and so have the needs of the VA,” Pappas said in introducing his
original legislation. “It is incumbent upon us to ensure that women that have
answered the call to service have access to the same quality care as their male
counterparts.”
The proposed legislation includes
$840 million for medical research that must also address military toxic
exposures such as burn pits, radiation, depleted uranium, chemicals and
cancer-causing agents. At $241 billion, it would give VA the second largest pot
of discretionary spending funds of any federal government organization.
“This year's Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill makes critical and serious
investments in veterans and military families and reinforces our national
security infrastructure," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Calif.,
chairwoman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
subcommittee.
The VA funding bill, which must
be reconciled with the Senate before it moves to President Donald Trump for
signature, includes other provisions to improve the lives of former service
members, including funding to ensure that veterans unable to have children as
the result of severe combat injuries have access to adoption services or
advanced reproductive technologies.
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