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

• S. 1320
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Definitions
  • SEC. 3. Evaluation of certain research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health
  • SEC. 4. Sense of Congress on additional research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health

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 provider means a health care provider employed by the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • The term menopause means the stage of a woman’s life—
  • The term mid-life means a life stage that—
  • The term perimenopause means 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 postmenopausal means 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.

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.
• (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.
• (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.