[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5115-H5117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DR. KATE HENDRICKS THOMAS SUPPORTING EXPANDED REVIEW FOR VETERANS IN 
                        COMBAT ENVIRONMENTS ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 2102) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the 
Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
provide mammography screening for veterans who served in locations 
associated with toxic exposure.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2102

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas 
     Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat 
     Environments Act'' or the ``Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. REVISION OF BREAST CANCER MAMMOGRAPHY POLICY OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE 
                   MAMMOGRAPHY SCREENING FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED 
                   IN LOCATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TOXIC EXPOSURE.

       (a) In General.--Section 7322 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The'' and inserting 
     ``In General.--The'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``The'' and inserting ``Standards for 
     Screening.--The''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``a record of service 
     in a location and during a period specified in subsection 
     (d),'' after ``risk factors,''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(c) Eligibility for Screening for Veterans Exposed to 
     Toxic Substances.--The Under Secretary for Health shall 
     ensure that, under the policy developed under subsection (a), 
     any veteran who, during active military, naval, or air 
     service, was deployed in support of a contingency operation 
     in a location and during a period specified in subsection 
     (d), is eligible for a mammography screening by a health care 
     provider of the Department.
       ``(d) Locations and Periods Specified.--(1) The locations 
     and periods specified in this subsection are the following:
       ``(A) Iraq during following periods:
       ``(i) The period beginning on August 2, 1990, and ending on 
     February 28, 1991.
       ``(ii) The period beginning on March 19, 2003, and ending 
     on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no 
     longer used in Iraq.
       ``(B) The Southwest Asia theater of operations, other than 
     Iraq, during the period beginning on August 2, 1990, and 
     ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are 
     no longer used in such location, including the following 
     locations:
       ``(i) Kuwait.
       ``(ii) Saudi Arabia.
       ``(iii) Oman.
       ``(iv) Qatar.
       ``(C) Afghanistan during the period beginning on September 
     11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines 
     burn pits are no longer used in Afghanistan.

[[Page H5116]]

       ``(D) Djibouti during the period beginning on September 11, 
     2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines 
     burn pits are no longer used in Djibouti.
       ``(E) Syria during the period beginning on September 11, 
     2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines 
     burn pits are no longer used in Syria.
       ``(F) Jordan during the period beginning on September 11, 
     2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines 
     burn pits are no longer used in Jordan.
       ``(G) Egypt during the period beginning on September 11, 
     2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines 
     burn pits are no longer used in Egypt.
       ``(H) Lebanon during the period beginning on September 11, 
     2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines 
     burn pits are no longer used in Lebanon.
       ``(I) Yemen during the period beginning on September 11, 
     2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines 
     burn pits are no longer used in Yemen.
       ``(J) Such other locations and corresponding periods as set 
     forth by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 
     established under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and 
     Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 
     112-260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).
       ``(K) Such other locations and corresponding periods as the 
     Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, 
     may determine appropriate in a report submitted under 
     paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Not later than two years after the date of the 
     enactment of the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting 
     Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act, and 
     not less frequently than once every two years thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the 
     Secretary of Defense, shall submit to Congress a report 
     specifying other locations and corresponding periods for 
     purposes of paragraph (1)(K).
       ``(3) A location under this subsection shall not include 
     any body of water around or any airspace above such location.
       ``(4) In this subsection, the term `burn pit' means an area 
     of land that--
       ``(A) is used for disposal of solid waste by burning in the 
     outdoor air; and
       ``(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured 
     incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and 
     manufactured for the burning of solid waste.''.
       (b) Report on Breast Cancer Rates for Veterans Deployed to 
     Certain Areas.--Not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report that compares the rates of breast 
     cancer among members of the Armed Forces deployed to the 
     locations and during the periods specified in section 7322(d) 
     of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 
     as compared to members of the Armed Forces who were not 
     deployed to those locations during those periods and to the 
     civilian population.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on S. 2102.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2102, the Dr. Kate 
Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat 
Environments Act, or SERVICE Act, introduced by Senator Boozman.
  I applaud Dr. Miller-Meeks and Chairwoman Brownley for their 
initiative on this urgent issue and for introducing the House 
companion.
  The purpose of this bill is to ensure that any veteran who was 
deployed in support of a contingency operation in specified locations 
during defined periods is eligible for a mammography screening by a VA 
healthcare provider. The specified locations are theaters of operations 
where burn pits are currently--or were previously--being used.
  This bill also requires inclusion of other locations and time periods 
as determined by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.
  Additionally, the SERVICE Act requires a report that compares breast 
cancer rates for veterans deployed to the specified locations, 
comparing data to other members of the Armed Forces who were not 
deployed during that period, and to the civilian population.
  Many of us here today were lucky enough to have had the honor of 
meeting Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas; a fierce advocate, loving wife and 
mother, and an exemplary Marine Corps veteran, who served near a burn 
pit in Fallujah. Kate passed away last month after battling stage IV 
breast cancer.
  She gave her last days to her fellow veterans, fighting for the 
passage of comprehensive toxic exposure legislation that would provide 
potentially lifesaving care crucial for similarly exposed veterans.
  While I support this important and timely legislation, I also stress 
the urgency of passing the Honoring our PACT Act. It is time for our 
country to make good on its promise to toxic-exposed veterans.
  It is up to us, Members of Congress, to fight for our Nation's 
veterans as they have fought for us. Our Nation's veterans do not have 
time to wait.
  I support S. 2102, and I ask my colleagues to do the same. Mr. 
Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2102, the Dr. Kate Hendricks 
Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environment, 
or SERVICE Act.
  Dr. Thomas was a marine--oorah--veteran and a public health 
professional, who was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer following 
her deployment to Iraq.
  She was just 38 years old when she was diagnosed. She was just 42 
years old when she died of breast cancer on April 5 of this year.
  My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.
  Dr. Thomas' passing is a tragic reminder of how high the stakes are 
when it comes to better serving veterans suffering from toxic exposure.
  Both VA and DOD have conducted studies that indicate that women who 
have served in the military have an elevated risk for breast cancer.
  The bill that bears Dr. Thomas' name would help more toxic-exposed 
veterans like her have access to breast imaging services from the VA, 
regardless of their enrollment status.
  The bill is sponsored by Senator Boozman of Arkansas, and I thank him 
for his work on this legislation. I also thank Congresswoman Miller-
Meeks, the House sponsor, who has been a strong champion for it as 
well. Dr. Miller-Meeks is a veteran herself, and women veterans have no 
better advocate than she.
  I am proud to support the bill today, and I hope that all of my 
colleagues will join me.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa 
(Mrs. Miller-Meeks).
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bost for 
yielding me time to speak.
  I rise today to express my support for S. 2102, the Dr. Kate 
Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act. I was proud to introduce the House 
companion of this important bipartisan piece of legislation with 
Congresswoman Brownley. I thank Senators Boozman and Wyden for their 
work in passing this bill.
  The importance of this bill is that the United States Preventative 
Health Service indicates mammography at an annual level after age 40, 
and our veterans who have risked their lives and their health in 
service to our country are exposed to toxins and burn pits and need 
treatment and screening to prevent long-term health issues and at an 
earlier time period. Female veterans are especially at risk for several 
types of cancer, especially breast cancer. Female veterans are at a 20 
to 40 percent higher risk of breast cancer, and female veterans who 
have been exposed to toxic exposure are at an even higher risk.
  As a doctor, I understand just how lifesaving early mammogram 
screenings can be. I have always told my patients that early detection 
is the key to successfully treating all types of cancer. This bill will 
allow for an earlier mammography screening for female veterans who 
served in locations with toxic exposure.
  This bill is in honor of Dr. and Marine Corps veteran Kate Hendricks 
Thomas, who unfortunately passed away in April due to stage IV breast

[[Page H5117]]

cancer. Dr. Thomas advocated for earlier mammography screenings for 
female veterans that were exposed to toxic exposure.

  The bipartisan and bicameral SERVICE Act will give female veterans 
access to more screenings to stay ahead of this terrible disease. 
Today, as a 24-year Army veteran, I am proudly voting in support of 
this bill to protect and save the lives of our female veterans.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of S. 2102, 
the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act. I look forward to a strong 
bipartisan vote today and sending this bill to the President to become 
law.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, as we have noticed today, this bill and other 
bills deal specifically with the promise we have made, I have made, and 
I know that Chairman Takano as well has made, to try to make things 
better for our women veterans. We also had the bills that dealt with 
the sexual trauma. These are issues that are vitally important. I 
appreciate what we have worked on today. We want to make sure that we 
provide for those needs.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this piece of 
legislation along with all the others that we have moved today, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in passing 
this important piece of legislation, the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas 
SERVICE Act.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2102.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________