Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2021
Summary
Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2021 This bill addresses fertility treatments, counseling, and other health-related programs for veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide fertility treatments and counseling to covered veterans and active duty service members or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of such veteran or service member. A covered veteran or service member is a former or current member of the Armed Forces who has an infertility condition, unless it is demonstrable that the individual was completely infertile prior to serving in the Armed Forces. In the case of in vitro fertilization treatment, DOD and the VA may not furnish more than three completed cycles or six attempted cycles, whichever occurs first. DOD must establish procedures related to gamete retrieval and storage. Additionally, DOD must provide service members with the opportunity to cryopreserve and store their gametes prior to deployment to a combat zone or a hazardous duty assignment. DOD and the VA must share best practices and facilitate referrals for the furnishing of fertility treatment and counseling to eligible individuals. Fertility counseling and treatment are included within authorized VA medical services. The VA may pay the adoption expenses (for up to three adoptions) for a covered member who is enrolled in the VA health care system. The VA must facilitate specified reproduction and infertility research conducted collaboratively by DOD and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 21, 2021
Last action Jun 23, 2021
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Jun 23, 2021
Upper · Passed
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
upper
Apr 21, 2021
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
upper
Apr 21, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 18 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Patty Murray
DDemocratic
Co
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
Co
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
Co
Christopher A. Coons
DDemocratic
Co
Christopher Murphy
DDemocratic
Co
Edward J. Markey
DDemocratic
Co
Elizabeth Warren
DDemocratic
Co
Jeanne Shaheen
DDemocratic
Co
John W. Hickenlooper
DDemocratic
Co
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
DDemocratic
Co
Margaret Wood Hassan
DDemocratic
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