Female veterans would see their benefits expand if a measure now under consideration by the Senate becomes law. Among the changes: providing seven days’ care for newborn infants of mothers who receive maternity services through Department of Veterans Affairs medical treatment facilities; certifying more VA staff specially trained in treating sexual trauma; conducting a new report on barriers female veterans face when dealing with the VA; establishing a pilot counseling program for women who deploy for long periods of time; and setting up another pilot program that would provide child care for women who use VA facilities. The provisions are contained in S. 252, the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act, now pending before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. On Sept. 30, the Congressional Budget Office determined that the whole bill – which addresses dental care, Vet Centers, and an array of other issues – would carry a price tag of $580 million from 2010 to 2014.
