[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 150 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4282-H4284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOMEN VETERANS CANCER CARE COORDINATION ACT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1860) to designate Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care
Coordinators to expand the work of the Breast and Gynecologic Oncology
System of Excellence at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1860
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 ``Women Veterans Cancer Care
Coordination Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL BREAST CANCER
AND GYNECOLOGIC CANCER CARE COORDINATORS.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall hire or designate a Regional Breast Cancer and
Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator at each Veteran
Integrated Services Network (hereinafter in this section
referred to as ``VISN''). Each Care Coordinator hired or
designated under this subsection shall report directly to the
Director of the Breast and Gynecologic Oncology System of
Excellence (hereinafter in this section referred to as the
``BGOSoE'').
(b) Eligible Veterans.--A veteran is eligible to receive
care coordination provided by a Care Coordinator hired or
designated under subsection (a) if the veteran--
(1) is diagnosed with a breast or gynecologic cancer, or
has been identified as having a precancerous breast or
gynecologic condition; and
(2) is eligible for health care furnished through the
Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of title
38, United States Code, at a non-Department facility.
(c) Locations.--The Secretary shall establish regions for
purposes of care coordination provided by Regional Breast
Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators hired or
designated under subsection (a). In establishing such
regions, the Secretary shall--
(1) assign all Department facilities to an appropriate
region under the supervision of the BGOSoE Director and a
designated Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care
Coordinator; and
(2) take into account existing VISNs and the specific needs
of veterans in each region, including veterans living in
rural communities.
(d) Duties of Regional Breast and Gynecological Cancer Care
Coordinators.--The Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic
Cancer Care Coordinator hired or designated under subsection
(a) shall be responsible for carrying out the following
duties:
(1) Ensuring the coordination of care between clinicians of
the Department and breast and gynecologic cancer community
care providers.
(2) Working with the Office of Community Care of the
relevant medical facility of the Department regarding care
furnished under such section.
(3) Making regular contact with each veteran based on the
veteran's specific medical needs when the veteran receives
care from a community care provider.
(4) Monitoring--
(A) the services furnished to veterans by the Department
and community care providers;
(B) the health outcomes of veterans with respect to a
cancer diagnosis, including remission, metastasis, and death;
and
(C) the data relating to breast and gynecologic cancer care
(using relevant databases of the Veterans Health
Administration or other Department databases), including--
(i) the demographics of veterans who have breast or
gynecologic cancer; and
(ii) the number of veterans being treated for breast or
gynecologic cancer.
(5) Providing particular information to veterans with
breast or gynecologic cancer, including--
(A) how to seek emergency care at the emergency department
closest to the residence of the veteran, including that it is
generally advisable for veterans to notify the Department of
emergency care received at a non-Department facility within
72 hours of receiving care to facilitate the authorization of
payments for such emergency treatment; and
(B) information about mental health resources, including
with respect to information encouraging follow-up care for
depression.
(6) Documenting certain information on veterans receiving
care for breast or
[[Page H4283]]
gynecologic care in the electronic health records of the
Department, including--
(A) the documentation of the contact described in paragraph
(3);
(B) the contact information of the breast or gynecologic
cancer care community care providers of such veterans; and
(C) the breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis of veterans.
(7) Carrying out such other duties as may be determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
(e) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House
of Representatives a report containing the following:
(1) A comparison of the health outcomes of veterans who
received cancer care at a Department facility and those who
received care furnished by non-Department medical providers
pursuant to section 1703 of title 38, United States Code,
include with respect to the following:
(A) Treatment and types of health outcomes, including (for
the most recent three years of available data)--
(i) the number of veterans who were diagnosed with a breast
or gynecologic cancer, or precancerous breast or gynecologic
condition;
(ii) the percentage of such veterans who have experienced a
cancer-related death; and
(iii) the percentage of such veterans who have entered
remission for gynecologic cancer.
(B) Timeliness of care furnished under chapter 17 of title
38, United States Code, including how quickly initial post-
diagnosis appointments and appointments to develop a
treatment plan are scheduled and provided.
(C) Patient safety associated with such care at Department
facilities or community care providers, including the number
of errors in medical care that rise to the level of ``never
events'' (such as a foreign body left in a veteran during
surgery).
(2) An evaluation of what changes or additional resources
are needed to further improve breast and gynecologic cancer
care and coordination.
(3) Any other matter the Secretary determines appropriate.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``community care provider'' means a health
care provider described in section 1703(c) of title 38,
United States Code, who has entered into a contract or
agreement to furnish hospital care, medical services, or
extended care services (other than care related to breast and
gynecologic cancer) to veterans under section 1703 of title
38, United States Code.
(2) The term ``breast and gynecologic cancer community care
provider'' means a breast or gynecologic cancer care provider
described in section 1703(c) of title 38, United States Code,
who has entered into a contract or agreement to furnish
hospital care, medical services, or extended care services to
provide care related to breast or gynecologic cancer to
veterans under section 1703 of title 38F, United States Code.
(3) The term ``breast cancer'' has the meaning given such
term by the Director of the Breast and Gynecologic Oncology
System of Excellence.
(4) The term ``gynecologic cancer'' means cervical cancer,
ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar
cancer, and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.
(5) The term ``non-Department facility'' has the meaning
given that term in section 1701 of title 38, United States
Code.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting
``September 30, 2032''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 1860, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1860, as amended,
offered by Representative Sylvia Garcia of Texas.
This bill would create coordinators within each of the Veterans
Integrated Service Networks to help veterans navigate cancer care.
Specifically, this bill aims to improve care coordination for common
cancers in women.
No person wants to hear that they have or that their loved one has
cancer. Having the resources to navigate such a difficult time can make
all the difference in the treatment journey.
VA must give women veterans who have to navigate cancer treatments
the highest quality care that we can offer them. Whether it is
screening, diagnosis, treatment, or recovery, our women veterans have
earned top-notch support from VA every step of the way. More women
veterans than ever before are using VA.
My friend, the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), recently
hosted a hearing to discuss improving care for women veterans. This
bill builds on our work to ensure this population of veterans has
access to the modern care that they have earned.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 1860, as
amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1860, the Women Veterans
Cancer Care Coordination Act, as amended, introduced by my colleague
from Texas, Representative Sylvia Garcia.
Through VA's Breast and Gynecological Oncology System of Excellence,
the VA oncology, surgical, and nursing specialists are already
providing world-class care for these types of cancers directly through
VA. The System of Excellence also helps connect veterans with care in
the community when necessary.
A cancer diagnosis is always a difficult and complicated journey,
and, unfortunately, all too common for veterans, in particular.
The VA's Breast and Gynecological Oncology System of Excellence is
well positioned to handle the clinical aspects of coordinating
veterans' cancer treatment, both at VA and its specialists in the
community.
However, regardless of where individuals are receiving care, cancer
treatment is often very complex and requires veterans to regularly see
many different providers for various treatments, as well as different
specialized labs and imaging centers.
Veterans may need assistance covering the expenses associated with
traveling to receive care at another VA facility or in the community,
obtaining medical records from community providers, ensuring that
community providers' claims are paid on time, and accessing mental
health services to help cope with the emotional aspects of their
diagnoses.
This can be very difficult for patients to navigate, and our veterans
deserve the highest levels of support throughout this time.
Representative Garcia's bill will strengthen the System of Excellence
by requiring VA to appoint regional breast and gynecologic cancer care
coordinators to assist veterans in navigating all of these aspects of
their treatment. These trained professionals help ensure that patients
can access resources available to them and that their providers are
always updated on the patients' latest health updates.
Veterans deserve compassionate, well-coordinated care when dealing
with their cancer journey, and I am glad to support this legislation to
do just that.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1860,
the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act of 2025, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1610
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Garcia), my good friend and author of H.R. 1860. She serves
on the House Financial Services Committee.
Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
California for yielding, along with subcommittee ranking member and the
co-lead of this bill, Ms. Brownley, and Chairman Bost.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my bill, the Women Veterans
Cancer Care Coordinator Act of 2025. Women veterans are the fastest
growing group using VA healthcare services today, and I am proud to say
more of them call Texas home than any other State in the Nation.
As this population ages--keep in mind the average woman veteran is
54--they become more likely to develop cancers. The average age of
women veterans diagnosed with breast cancer is 58, and the average age
for reproductive cancers is 55.
[[Page H4284]]
For many of these veterans, the road ahead is not as clear as it
should be. Many VA centers are still building out their services, so
often women are connected with community care.
However, when they move outside the VA network, problems start to
pile up. Records don't transfer and systems don't update with the
latest data. That means more phone calls, more waiting, more back and
forth, more frustrations.
Women veterans and their families could be using this energy and time
on their treatment and their journey to recovery. A cancer diagnosis
shakes your sense of stability. These women need a care system that
works for them, not one that makes them fight to get the care that they
need.
By connecting them with dedicated coordinators at VA to guide them on
their path to remission, we can help these mothers, sisters, and heroes
stay in the fight. We made a commitment to these women veterans. Now we
must do everything in our power to keep that promise and to save their
lives.
This is a commonsense bill. It passed out of committee on voice vote,
and I trust the same will happen here. I urge my colleagues to support
its passage.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I am ready to close,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to vote
``yes'' on H.R. 1860, the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act
of 2025, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1860, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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