Blumenthal, Moran, Hirono & Boozman Lead Effort to Expand Veterans' Access to Lifesaving Breast Cancer Screenings

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) and U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Mammography Access for Veterans Act—bipartisan legislation to expand veterans’ access to lifesaving breast cancer screenings through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“Fighting breast cancer requires early detection. It is imperative we expand VA’s capacity to conduct mammograms and ensure veterans have access to these critical screenings no matter where they live,” said Senator Blumenthal. “These screenings save lives, and are particularly important given veterans’ increased rates of cancers due to factors like toxic exposure.”

“With women being the fastest-growing demographic within VA, it is essential that we prioritize services that promote their health and well-being,” said Senator Moran. “This bill makes certain that women’s health and safety remain at the forefront of VA health care and that breast cancer screenings are easily accessible for our nation’s veterans.”

“Breast cancer screenings are a critical component of women’s health, yet there are many states where women veterans do not have access to this life-saving prevention tool,” said Senator Hirono. “Every veteran deserves access to the medical care and services they need, regardless of where they live, to ensure they can stay safe and healthy. This legislation is an important step in expanding VA’s ability to provide women veterans with mammography services in remote and rural areas to better promote the health and well-being of our veterans.”

“We know early detection and treatment are critical to fighting breast cancer, which is growing more prevalent among younger servicemembers and veterans,” said Senator Boozman. “Permanently authorizing funding I helped champion to ensure they always have access to modern breast imaging capabilities will save and enhance lives. I am proud to help lead the bipartisan, commonsense push to ensure the VA meets this need for those who serve our nation – including those living in rural or underserved areas.”

The Senators’ Mammography Access for Veterans Act would require VA make permanent a pilot program providing telescreening mammography for veterans living in states where VA does not offer a full-service mammography program. This involves conducting the mammogram at a VA facility and sending the images to a VA telescreening mammography center for interpretation by qualified radiologists. Without Congressional action, VA’s telemammography pilot program is set to end in May 2026. The program went live in 2023 at five pilot sites in West Virginia, New York, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts. As of June 2025, 7,416 mammography screenings have taken place under this program.

The legislation would also require VA to offer either a telescreening mammography program, a full-service in-house mammography program, or mobile mammography program in each state. This would help ensure better access to mammograms for veterans in states where VA currently does not offer in-house mammography, including Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The Senators’ legislative effort has been supported by key veterans advocates, including IAVA, MOAA, DAV, PVA, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN).

“Women veterans have earned the same timely, high-quality health care as every other veteran, including seamless access to mammography. It is ridiculous that in 2025 many still have to fight for basic breast cancer screening,” said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America’s (IAVA) CEO Dr. Kyleanne Hunter. “The Mammography Access for Veterans Act brings lifesaving mammography closer to where veterans live and strengthens women’s health in VA. IAVA proudly supports this bill and every policy that honors the service and sacrifice of ALL those who wore the uniform.”

“MOAA strongly supports the Mammography Access for Veterans Act because no veteran should face barriers to essential preventive care,” said Military Officers Association of America’s (MOAA) Vice President of Government Relations Major Gen. April Vogel, (USAF-Ret). “This legislation guarantees that every veteran—regardless of location—can access timely, high-quality breast cancer screenings through telescreening, mobile, or in-house programs. Building on the success of the MOAA-backed MAMMO Act enacted in 2022, this bill offers a commonsense solution that saves lives and reinforces VA’s commitment to veterans’ health.”

“The VA’s telescreening mammography program is a proven lifesaver that strengthens health equity for our veterans,” said Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. “DAV strongly supports the Mammography Access for Veterans Act, which ensures every state and Puerto Rico offers telescreening, full-service or mobile mammography. By removing barriers to timely preventive care for women veterans and those with disabilities, we can save more lives. We applaud Sens. Moran and Blumenthal for their bipartisan leadership in expanding this vital program.”

“PVA commends Senator Blumenthal for recognizing the importance of VA’s tele mammography screening pilot program that was created with the passage of the MAMMO Act in the 117th Congress,” said Paralyzed Veterans of America’s (PVA) Chief Policy Officer Heather Ansley. “Currently, almost half of the states across the country lack a VA facility with an in-house mammography program. This legislation permanently authorizes the tele mammography program, fills critical gaps for veterans trying to access care, and directs VA to pay closer attention to accessibility for catastrophically disabled veterans.”

“Wounded Warrior Project supports legislation to expand breast cancer screening and treatment for women veterans, particularly those in rural areas,” said Wounded Warrior Project’s Vice President of Government and Community Relations Jose Ramos. “With one in eight women veterans in VA care expected to develop breast cancer, timely access to preventive care and treatment is critical. We thank Senator Blumenthal for leading this important effort.”

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