{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C7675ACA-BBA4-4DEB-826D-BD1642A2E232", "Boozman, Blumenthal, Moran, Hirono Lead Effort to Expand Veterans\u2019 Access to Lifesaving Breast Cancer Screening", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", "boozman", "https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, joined committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in introducing the Mammography Access for Veterans Act to expand veterans\u2019 access to lifesaving breast cancer screenings through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\n\n\u201cWe know early detection and treatment are critical to fighting breast cancer, which is growing more prevalent among younger servicemembers and veterans,\u201d said Boozman. \u201cPermanently 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 \u2014 including those living in rural or underserved areas.\u201d\n\n\u201cFighting breast cancer requires early detection. It is imperative we expand VA\u2019s capacity to conduct mammograms and ensure veterans have access to these critical screenings no matter where they live,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cThese screenings save lives, and are particularly important given veterans\u2019 increased rates of cancers due to factors like toxic exposure.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith women being the fastest-growing demographic within VA, it is essential that we prioritize services that promote their health and well-being,\u201d said Moran. \u201cThis bill makes certain that women\u2019s health and safety remain at the forefront of VA health care and that breast cancer screenings are easily accessible for our nation\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cBreast cancer screenings are a critical component of women\u2019s health, yet there are many states where women veterans do not have access to this life-saving prevention tool,\u201d said Hirono. \u201cEvery 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\u2019s ability to provide women veterans with mammography services in remote and rural areas to better promote the health and well-being of our veterans.\u201d\n\nThe Mammography Access for Veterans Act would require VA to make permanent a pilot program championed by Boozman that provides 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. Boozman\u2019s legislation that created the pilot program was signed into law in 2022 and was implemented the following year at five pilot sites. As of June 2025, 7,416 mammography screenings have taken place under the MAMMO Act pilot program.\n\nThe 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 to ensure better access to mammograms for veterans in states where VA currently does not offer in-house mammography.\n\nKey veterans advocates including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Service Women\u2019s Action Network (SWAN) support the legislation. Here\u2019s what they are saying:\n\n\u201cWomen 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,\u201d said IAVA CEO Dr. Kyleanne Hunter. \u201cThe Mammography Access for Veterans Act brings life-saving mammography closer to where veterans live and strengthens women\u2019s health in VA. IAVA proudly supports this bill and every policy that honors the service and sacrifice of all those who wore the uniform.\u201d\n\n\u201cMOAA strongly supports the Mammography Access for Veterans Act because no veteran should face barriers to essential preventive care,\u201d said MOAA Vice President of Government Relations Major Gen. April Vogel (USAF-Ret). \u201cThis legislation guarantees that every veteran\u2014regardless of location\u2014can 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\u2019s commitment to veterans\u2019 health.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe VA\u2019s telescreening mammography program is a proven lifesaver that strengthens health equity for our veterans,\u201d said DAV National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. \u201cDAV 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.\u201d\n\n\u201cCurrently, almost half of the states across the country lack a VA facility with an in-house mammography program,\u201d said PVA Chief Policy Officer Heather Ansley. \u201cThis legislation permanently authorizes the telemammography program, fills critical gaps for veterans trying to access care, and directs VA to pay closer attention to accessibility for catastrophically disabled veterans.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C7675ACA-BBA4-4DEB-826D-BD1642A2E232"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.44597508572042, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}