[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.
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