According to a study, over the last decade, women who regularly participate in mammograms are 60% less likely to die from breast cancer
Senators introduce bipartisan amendment to Senate’s Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill to expand VA mobile mammography program
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is continuing his work to expand access to breast cancer screenings for Georgia veterans.
This week, Sens. Ossoff, Mike Braun (R-IN) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Senate’s Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill that would help expand breast cancer screenings for veterans.
The bipartisan amendment would appropriate funding to the VA’s Office of Women’s Health to expand access to mobile mammography units, improve advanced mammography equipment, and enhance outreach services to better publicize mammography services.
“I’m working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to expand access to breast cancer screenings for female veterans in Georgia and across the country. Early detection of breast cancer is crucial and lifesaving, which is I’m working to expand mobile mammography services, especially for female veterans in rural areas who may be several hours drive from a VA clinic or hospital,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“Our veterans deserve the best care possible and expanding access to breast cancer screenings for veterans can help save lives. I’m glad to join Sen. Ossoff in this bipartisan effort to expand these life-saving services for veterans in Indiana and across the country,” said Sen. Braun.
“Early detection of breast cancer through regular screenings plays a critical role in saving lives,” said Sen. Tillis. “I’m proud to cosponsor this important amendment on behalf of our veterans, including the nearly 800,000 veterans that call North Carolina home.”
This is the latest step in Sen. Ossoff’s push to expand access to health care and life-saving treatments for Georgia veterans.
Earlier this year, Sen. Ossoff helped secure a $10M authorization in the bipartisan Senate National Defense Authorization Act to expand mobile mammography services.
In February 2023, Sens. Ossoff and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), along with Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), called on the VA to expand access to mobile mammography units, improve advanced mammography equipment, and enhance outreach services to better publicize mammography services.
According to the National Library of Medicine, female veterans were nearly three times more likely to develop invasive breast cancer than the rest of the population.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff led the charge on upgrading female body armor to help ensure that women have quality and proper-fitting gear, significantly reducing their risk of harm or injury during training. Sen. Ossoff successfully passed this initiative through the last Congress with major bipartisan support.
Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan amendment.
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