S. 1320
119th CONGRESS 1st Session
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take certain steps regarding research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · April 8, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Murray · Committee: Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Table of contents
SEC. 1. Short title
- This Act may be cited as the Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act.
SEC. 2. Definitions
- In this Act:
- The term
covered providermeans a health care provider employed by the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs. - The term
menopausemeans the stage of a woman’s life— - The term
mid-lifemeans a life stage that— - The term
perimenopausemeans the time during a woman's life when levels of the hormone estrogen fall unevenly in a woman’s body and is also called the menopausal transition. - The term
postmenopausalmeans the stage of a woman's life after a woman has been without a menstrual period for 12 months that lasts for the rest of a woman’s life and reflects a time when women are at increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease.
- The term
SEC. 3. Evaluation of certain research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health
- (a) In general
- The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall evaluate—
- the results of completed research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health among women who are members of the Armed Forces or veterans;
- the status of such research that is ongoing;
- any gaps in knowledge and research on—
- treatments for menopause-related symptoms, including hormone and non-hormone treatments;
- the safety and effectiveness of treatments for menopause-related symptoms;
- the relation of service in the Armed Forces to perimenopause and menopause and the impact of such service on perimenopause and menopause;
- the effect of combat roles on symptoms relating to perimenopause and menopause, including exposure to burn pits, toxic chemicals, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly known as ); and
PFAS - the impact of perimenopause and menopause on the mental health of women who are members of the Armed Forces or veterans;
- the availability of and uptake of professional training resources for covered providers relating to mid-life women’s health with respect to the care, treatment, and management of perimenopause and menopausal symptoms, and related support services; and
- the availability of and uptake of treatments for women who are members of the Armed Forces or veterans who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause.
- The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall evaluate—
- (b) Report; strategic plan
- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each submit to Congress a report containing—
- the findings of the evaluation conducted under subsection (a);
- recommendations for improving professional training resources described in subsection (a)(4) for covered providers; and
- a strategic plan that—
- resolves the gaps in knowledge and research identified in the report; and
- identifies topics in need of further research relating to potential treatments for menopause-related symptoms of women who are members of the Armed Forces or veterans.
- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each submit to Congress a report containing—
- (c) Nonduplication and supplementation of efforts
- In carrying out activities under this section, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that such activities minimize duplication and supplement, not supplant, existing information-sharing efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services.
SEC. 4. Sense of Congress on additional research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health
- It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should each conduct research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life health regarding women who are members of the Armed Forces or veterans.