HR 219 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025

Latest updateFeb 11, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor

Julia Brownley

Introduced

January 7, 2025

Latest action

February 11, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

The Department of Veterans Affairs currently furnishes medical services to eligible veterans under established statutory authorities, including outpatient care and hospital-based services. However, there is limited systematic information about the quality, accessibility, and comprehensiveness of menopause care—including perimenopause and genitourinary syndrome of menopause—that the VA provides to women veterans. No formal assessment has been conducted to determine whether VA medical providers receive adequate training in menopause management, whether clinical guidelines and protocols exist, or whether veterans are adequately informed about available treatment options and benefits.

The bill directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a comprehensive study of menopause care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Comptroller General must examine the current state of VA menopause services, review existing clinical guidelines and provider training protocols, evaluate access to interdisciplinary care, assess the adequacy of patient education and outreach efforts, and evaluate the quality of care delivered—including veteran feedback and mechanisms for addressing complaints. The study must also review how the VA leverages research to improve menopause treatments and protocols, and must include recommendations for improvement.

The Comptroller General must deliver the study report within 18 months of enactment and make it publicly available. Following the report's release, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has six months to submit a strategic implementation plan to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs detailing how the department will adopt the recommendations, improve menopause care quality, and expand veteran access to these services. The bill carries no direct appropriation but requires the VA to respond formally to findings, creating accountability for addressing identified gaps in women veteran care.

Key Provisions

1Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to study menopause care services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including perimenopause and genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and deliver a public report within 18 months of enactment.
2Requires the Comptroller General's report to describe current VA menopause care, review clinical guidelines and provider training protocols, evaluate access to interdisciplinary care, and assess the adequacy of patient education and outreach.
3Mandates the Comptroller General to evaluate the quality of VA menopause care through veteran feedback, examine treatment efficacy, and review mechanisms for veterans to address concerns or complaints.
4Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a strategic implementation plan to Congress within six months after the report's release, detailing how the department will implement recommendations and improve menopause care quality and access.
5Directs the Comptroller General to review how the VA leverages internal and external research to develop new menopause treatments and protocols for veterans.

★ Why this matters

The study creates the first systematic assessment of how well the VA addresses menopause care for women veterans, identifying gaps in clinical training, treatment protocols, patient awareness, and care quality. The resulting strategic plan will establish concrete benchmarks and timelines for improving menopause services across the VA system. This accountability mechanism ensures that women veterans receive evidence-based care comparable to civilian standards and that the VA prioritizes a health condition affecting a significant portion of its female patient population.

● Who this affects

Women veterans currently enrolled in VA health care, particularly those experiencing perimenopause, menopause, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause. VA medical providers and clinical staff who furnish care to women veterans and may require additional training or updated protocols. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which must develop and implement a strategic plan to address study findings. Congressional committees overseeing VA operations and veteran health policy. Female veterans not yet enrolled in VA care who may benefit from improved awareness and access to menopause services.

Bill Text

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<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 219

  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
    study on menopause care furnished by the Department of Veterans 
                    Affairs, and for other purposes.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 2025

 Ms. Brownley (for herself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Landsman, Mrs. 
  Ramirez, and Ms. Scanlon) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                                 A BILL

 
  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
    study on menopause care furnished by the Department of Veterans 
                    Affairs, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Improving Menopause Care for 
Veterans Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT ON MENOPAUSE CARE 
              FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
carry out a study on the medical services furnished by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs under sections 1703 and 1710 of title 38, United 
States Code, for veterans experiencing perimenopause, genitourinary 
syndrome of menopause, and menopause stages.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall make 
        publicly available a report on the study carried out under 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include each of the following:
                    (A) A description of the menopause care furnished 
                by the Department of Veterans Affairs, as of the date 
                of the enactment of this Act.
                    (B) A review of the established guidelines and 
                protocols of the Department of for--
                            (i) the training of medical providers of 
                        the Department;
                            (ii) the diagnosis and treatment of 
                        perimenopause, genitourinary syndrome of 
                        menopause, and menopause in women veterans; and
                            (iii) the referral of veterans seeking 
                        menopause care to non-Department medical 
                        providers.
                    (C) An evaluation of the adequacy of the access of 
                veterans to interdisciplinary care to treat the effects 
                of perimenopause, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, 
                and menopause.
                    (D) A review of the educational initiatives and 
                outreach of the Depa…

Auto-Whip

Where House representatives currently stand

Built from official statements, public releases, and voting records where they exist. Members without enough evidence are marked as no position.

448 tracked

Support

444

No Position

Oppose

Support

Members whose public record points toward backing the bill.

Brendan Boyle

D-Pennsylvania · District 2

Likely support

Representative Boyle's website demonstrates a strong commitment to health care issues and veterans' welfare based on his legislative priorities and press releases. He actively champions health care access (fighting Medicaid cuts, addressing lung cancer in women) and has worked on veterans' issues as evidenced by his committee work. However, the public record contains no explicit mentions of the 'Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025' specifically. His general health care advocacy and focus on underserved health issues (like women's lung cancer) suggests he would likely support legislation improving veteran health care, particularly for a gender-specific health concern. The moderate confidence reflects the lack of direct evidence about this specific bill while accounting for his demonstrated policy alignment with its likely goals.

Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

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Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

Support

Opposition

No Position

Party Positions

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Take Action

Active Organizations