Legislation designed to improve benefits for women veterans and make them feel more comfortable during VA medical center visits has been proposed by a bipartisan group of senators.

Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the renewed Deborah Sampson Act -- named for a woman who disguised herself as a man to join the 4th Massachusetts Regiment during the American Revolution -- to improve benefits and VA services for women veterans. Women make up about 10 percent of the veteran population, a percentage that is expected to grow over the next decade.

“Women are the fastest growing group of veterans, but many VA facilities don't have the ability to provide equitable care or services to women veterans,” Tester said. “My Deborah Sampson Act would eliminate barriers to care and services that many women veterans face and would help ensure the VA can address the needs of women veterans who are more likely to face homelessness, unemployment and go without needed health care.”

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Because this bill requires data to be reported and tracked, VA officials will be able to redirect and focus resources where they are needed most. Boozman said he hopes the efforts to enhance services for women veterans will put women at ease as they seek care at the VA.

“There is room for improvement at the VA to ensure women veterans have access to benefits and resources they earned through their service,” he said. “This is intended to improve the VA's management of its resources, because right now we don't know where women are accessing VA health care. The data will show the density of usage, which will help the VA direct resources to better serve women.”

Highlights from the bill include:

• Expanding capabilities at Women Veterans Call Center to include text messaging. Beneficiaries can call the center at 1-855-829-6636 or chat anonymously online here.
• Adding $400 million in funding per year for FY 2020, 2021, and 2022 for grant programs that support organizations that have a focus on assistance to women veterans and their families.
• Increasing the period of eligibility for care for newborn children from the VA from seven days to 14 days.
• Providing at least one full-time or part-time staff member for women's health primary care providers at each VA medical facility.
• Providing an additional $1 million every year for the Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program, which provides training in primary care and emergency care.

Earlier this year, Cmdr. René Campos, USN (Ret), MOAA's senior director of government relations for veterans-wounded care, testified to lawmakers about the importance of expanding care for women veterans during a joint Veterans Affairs Committee session.  MOAA has been pushing for expanded health care and disability benefits for women veterans.  

Legislation such as the Deborah Sampson Act, along with the newly established congressional task force on women veterans in the House, will go a long way in helping break down barriers so women can get the medical treatment and other benefits they have earned through their service, Campos said.

Amanda Dolasinski is MOAA's staff writer. She can be reached at amandad@moaa.org. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMOAA.