InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act

Public Law 117-135 · S. 2533 · 117th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Joe Biden (D) on Jun 7, 2022 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)

Cosponsors (5): Sen. John Boozman,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 419 yea, 0 nay419–0
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

This bill addresses the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provision of mammograms and breast cancer treatment.

Among other requirements, the VA must

• submit a strategic plan for improving breast imaging services for veterans;

• implement a three-year pilot program to provide telescreening mammography services for veterans who live in locations where access to breast imaging services at a VA facility is difficult or unfeasible;

• upgrade all mammography services at its facilities to use three-dimensional breast imaging;

• study the availability of access to testing for the breast cancer gene for veterans diagnosed with breast cancer, as recommended by the guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network;

• update guidelines to increase the use of molecular testing and genetic counseling for veterans diagnosed with breast cancer;

• study the accessibility of breast imaging services at VA facilities for veterans with paralysis, spinal cord injury or disorder, or another disability; and

• update its policies and directives to ensure that it confirms the accessibility of a breast imaging site when referring a veteran with a spinal cord injury or disorder to a non-VA provider.

The Inspector General of the VA must report to the VA and to Congress on mammography services furnished by the VA.

In addition, the VA must enter into a partnership with at least one cancer center of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health in each Veterans Integrated Service Network to expand access to high-quality cancer care for women veterans. In implementing such partnerships, the VA must ensure that veterans with breast cancer who reside in rural areas or states without a partner cancer center are able to receive care through telehealth.

Finally, the VA must collaborate with the Department of Defense and report on all current research and health care collaborations between the departments on treating veterans and members of the Armed Forces with breast cancer.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 117th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 419 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

419 yea0 nay9 present or did not vote

ProEstablishmentAnti
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(218)

Republicans who voted yea(201)

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 674 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

Report a correction

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Related bills

1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • H.R. 4794Identical bill

    Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.

  1. Jun 7, 2022Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 117-135.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jun 6, 2022FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. May 18, 2022FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 0 (Roll no. 227).House roll call 227
  6. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  7. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  8. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2533.
  9. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  10. FloorFloor · Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  11. Mar 24, 2022FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
  12. FloorFloor · Received in the House.
  13. FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  14. Mar 23, 2022FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  15. Mar 10, 2022CalendarCalendar · Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 303.
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  17. Dec 15, 2021CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  18. Oct 20, 2021CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
  20. Jul 29, 2021CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  21. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

Report a correction

Amendments

No amendments to this bill are on record.

Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.