03-11-2022, 08:36 PM
The Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments (SERVICE) Act of 2021,
would revise the VA’s standards for mammography screenings to include those veterans who have served
in locations known to have been associated with toxic exposures. The bill would expand eligibility for these
life-saving screenings beyond the commonly advised age and risk scope to encompass those who have served
in specific locations and timeframes, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and areas of Southwest Asia, as well as
other areas where U.S. military forces utilized burn pits. It also requires a report to Congress comparing the
rates of breast cancer among troops deployed to areas with known exposures with service members not
deployed to those locations and to the civilian population.
Defense Department research reports indicate that women who have served in the military have an
elevated risk for breast cancer compared to their non-veteran peers. Nearly half of the growing demographic
of women veterans is under age 45, and after almost two decades of war many will have had exposure to
various airborne or other toxic hazards during service including a milieu of toxins associated with exposure
to burn pits. While VA historically outperforms the private sector in providing breast health screenings for
women, this bill will bolster those efforts ever further. Better screening and early detection, especially among
those with known risk factors, can help save lives.
DAV believes it is imperative these veterans have access to early breast cancer detection services that
align with their history of toxic exposures during military service. Therefore, we strongly support the
SERVICE Act of 2021, in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 015, which calls for enhanced medical
services for women veterans. Towards this they have prepared the below editable letter and are asking
veterans to forward it to their legislators:
o-o-O-o-o
Subj: Please Support H.R. 4571, the SERVICE Act of 2021
Rep. _________
On July 20, 2021, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA) and Julia Brownley (CA) introduced H.R. 4571—the
Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments Act (SERVICE) Act of 2021—which would revise
the VA’s standards for mammography screenings to include those veterans who have served in locations known to have
been associated with toxic exposures.
The bill would expand eligibility for these life-saving screenings beyond the commonly-advised age and risk scope to
encompass those who have served in specific locations and timeframes, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and areas of
Southwest Asia, as well as other areas where U.S. military forces utilized burn pits. It also requires a report to Congress
comparing the rates of breast cancer among troops deployed to areas with known exposures with service members not
deployed to those locations and to the civilian population.
Defense Department research reports indicate that women who have served in the military have an elevated risk for
breast cancer compared to their non-veteran peers. While VA historically outperforms the private sector in providing
breast health screenings for women, this bill will bolster those efforts ever further. Better screening and early detection,
especially among those with known risk factors, can help save lives.
I ask that you support H.R. 4571 and consider being a cosponsor of this important legislation. Please advise me of your
intentions with respect to this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
o-o-O-o-o-
If in doubt as to who your representatives are or their online contact info click on:
https://www.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22...2C%22congr
ess%22%3A%5B%22117%22%5D%7D. This websites provides all legislators names and websites with
contact info with which you can substitute you legislator’s name on the letter and then copy and paste it to
your legislator’s medium for communicating with him/her.
Feel free to copy and paste that letter out and spread the word about this
would revise the VA’s standards for mammography screenings to include those veterans who have served
in locations known to have been associated with toxic exposures. The bill would expand eligibility for these
life-saving screenings beyond the commonly advised age and risk scope to encompass those who have served
in specific locations and timeframes, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and areas of Southwest Asia, as well as
other areas where U.S. military forces utilized burn pits. It also requires a report to Congress comparing the
rates of breast cancer among troops deployed to areas with known exposures with service members not
deployed to those locations and to the civilian population.
Defense Department research reports indicate that women who have served in the military have an
elevated risk for breast cancer compared to their non-veteran peers. Nearly half of the growing demographic
of women veterans is under age 45, and after almost two decades of war many will have had exposure to
various airborne or other toxic hazards during service including a milieu of toxins associated with exposure
to burn pits. While VA historically outperforms the private sector in providing breast health screenings for
women, this bill will bolster those efforts ever further. Better screening and early detection, especially among
those with known risk factors, can help save lives.
DAV believes it is imperative these veterans have access to early breast cancer detection services that
align with their history of toxic exposures during military service. Therefore, we strongly support the
SERVICE Act of 2021, in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 015, which calls for enhanced medical
services for women veterans. Towards this they have prepared the below editable letter and are asking
veterans to forward it to their legislators:
o-o-O-o-o
Subj: Please Support H.R. 4571, the SERVICE Act of 2021
Rep. _________
On July 20, 2021, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA) and Julia Brownley (CA) introduced H.R. 4571—the
Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments Act (SERVICE) Act of 2021—which would revise
the VA’s standards for mammography screenings to include those veterans who have served in locations known to have
been associated with toxic exposures.
The bill would expand eligibility for these life-saving screenings beyond the commonly-advised age and risk scope to
encompass those who have served in specific locations and timeframes, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and areas of
Southwest Asia, as well as other areas where U.S. military forces utilized burn pits. It also requires a report to Congress
comparing the rates of breast cancer among troops deployed to areas with known exposures with service members not
deployed to those locations and to the civilian population.
Defense Department research reports indicate that women who have served in the military have an elevated risk for
breast cancer compared to their non-veteran peers. While VA historically outperforms the private sector in providing
breast health screenings for women, this bill will bolster those efforts ever further. Better screening and early detection,
especially among those with known risk factors, can help save lives.
I ask that you support H.R. 4571 and consider being a cosponsor of this important legislation. Please advise me of your
intentions with respect to this bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
o-o-O-o-o-
If in doubt as to who your representatives are or their online contact info click on:
https://www.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22...2C%22congr
ess%22%3A%5B%22117%22%5D%7D. This websites provides all legislators names and websites with
contact info with which you can substitute you legislator’s name on the letter and then copy and paste it to
your legislator’s medium for communicating with him/her.
Feel free to copy and paste that letter out and spread the word about this