CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA REINTRODUCES BILL TO ADVANCE CANCER HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) reintroduced the Veterans' Cancer Care Coordinator Act of 2023 to advance cancer healthcare for female veterans. This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program for gynecological cancer care coordination, creates the position of a cancer care coordinator in the Women's Veteran Program, and requires Veteran Affairs (VA) to record and report on the program's success to Congress.

"Women Veterans are the fastest-growing cohort using V.A. healthcare services today," said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. "The median age for these heroes is 51 – an age at which the risk of cancer is significantly higher. This bill is a strong step forward to providing the healthcare our Nation's women veterans deserve. These heroes served us bravely. We must do everything we can to serve them with the dignity and respect they deserve."

This bill has massive national implications as the number of women veterans that receive care from the Veterans Health Administration has tripled between FY 2000 and FY 2015. The United States will likely see an increase in older female veterans in the coming years -- meaning an accelerated need for female cancer care.

Read the one-page summary: 

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, the Vice Chair on Housing and Transportation of the House Democratic Caucus Poverty Task Force, and a member of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.