On July 24, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved, by voice vote, several pieces of legislation, including the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act (S. 131) and the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (S. 893).
The Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act, sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), would include fertility counseling and treatment within authorized Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical services, including the use of assisted reproductive technology, for a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who had an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. The bill also would authorize the VA to assist veterans in the adoption of one or more children. In addition, the bill would direct the VA to carry out a pilot program to provide child care assistance to veterans receiving, or in need of, VA readjustment counseling and related mental health services.
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, sponsored by Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT), would increase wartime disability compensation for veterans, as well as dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.
