S-1320 — Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act

YourVoice.Now Summary

Transparency & Accountability

Menopause care for women who served would not change yet — the Pentagon and VA must first report the gaps.

Transparency & Accountability

First report on servicewomen's menopause care — due in 180 days

The Defense Department and the VA would each have to report to Congress within 180 days. Each report must list what is missing from menopause research and set out a plan to fill those gaps. No such report is required now.

Burn pit and toxic chemical study — menopause effects on servicewomen

The bill names combat roles as a research topic. The study must ask if burn pits, toxic chemicals, and PFAS affect menopause symptoms.

More about this bill

If you are a woman who served in the military, your care would not change right away. The Defense Department, working with the VA, would first take stock of what is known about menopause. They would look at which treatments work and where the science falls short. The review also covers how military service itself affects menopause, including mental health. That means looking at burn pits, toxic chemicals, and PFAS, a group of long-lasting man-made chemicals. The bill treats mid-life as roughly ages 35 to 65. Each agency would owe Congress a report within 180 days of the bill becoming law. Each report must name the gaps and lay out a plan to close them. The reports must also cover how well military and VA doctors are trained on mid-life health. Each agency would have to recommend ways to improve that training. The bill does not order new research. It says only that Congress believes both agencies should do it. Any change you would see at a VA clinic would come later, if at all.

Congressional Summary

Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to coordinate with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to evaluate and report on research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health among members and former members of the uniformed services (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Such evaluation must also examine (1) any gaps in knowledge and research on menopause treatments and the relation of service in the uniformed services to perimenopause and menopause, (2) the availability and uptake of professional training resources for DOD- or VA-employed providers relating to mid-life women’s health, and (3) the availability of and uptake of treatments for women in the uniformed services or veterans who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause. The report must include a strategic plan that resolves the gaps in knowledge and research.

Legislative Subjects

Congressional oversightMedical researchMilitary medicineResearch administration and fundingVeterans' medical careWomen's health

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: Senate
Status: summarized
Action: Reported to Senate
Action Date: 2025-12-02
Date Added: 2026-06-28
Source: Congress.gov →

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