,,ii  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #cai  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the
 ,,united ,,states  ,february #d1 #bjai 
,mrs4 ,murray introduced the following  
bill2 which was read twice and referred 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
  ,a ,,bill  ,to improve the            
reproductive assistance provided by the 
,department of ,defense and the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
severely wounded1 ill1 or injured       
members of the ,armed ,forces1 veterans1
 and their spouses or partners1 and for 
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title2 table
 of contents  7a7 ,short title ,this    
,act may be cited as the ,women         
,veterans and ,families ,health         
,services ,act of #bjai4  7b7 ,table of 
contents ,the table of contents for this
 ,act is as follows3  ,sec4 #a4 ,short  
title2 table of contents4 ,,title       
,i--,reproductive and fertility         
preservation assistance for members of  
the ,armed ,forces ,sec4 #aja4          
,provision of fertility treatment and   

counseling to certain members of the    
,armed ,forces and spouses1 partners1   
and gestational surrogates of such      
members4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,establishment of  
fertility preservation procedures after 
an injury or illness4 ,sec4 #ajc4       
,cryopreservation and storage of gametes
 of members of the ,armed ,forces on    
active duty4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,coordination  
between ,department of ,defense and     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs on    
furnishing of fertility treatment and   
counseling4 ,,title ,,ii--,reproductive1
 adoption1 and child care assistance for
 veterans ,sec4 #bja4 ,inclusion of     
fertility treatment and counseling under
 the definition of medical services in  
title #ch4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,fertility       
treatment and counseling for certain    
veterans and spouses1 partners1 and     
gestational surrogates of such veterans4
 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,adoption assistance for   
severely wounded veterans4 ,sec4 #bjd4  
,annual report on fertility treatment   
and counseling furnished by ,department 

of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4 #bje4      
,regulations on furnishing of fertility 
treatment and counseling and adoption   
assistance by ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs4 ,sec4 #bjf4 ,facilitation of  
reproduction and infertility research4  
,sec4 #bjg4 ,requirement to improve     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs women 
veterans contact center4 ,sec4 #bjh4    
,modification of pilot program on       
counseling in retreat settings for women
 veterans newly separated from service  
in the ,armed ,forces4 ,sec4 #bji4      
,program on assistance for child care   
for certain veterans4  ,i ,reproductive 
and fertility preservation assistance   
for members of the ,armed ,forces  #aja4
 ,provision of fertility treatment and  
counseling to certain members of the    
,armed ,forces and spouses1 partners1   
and gestational surrogates of such      
members  7a7 ,fertility treatment and   
counseling  7#a7 ,in general ,the       
,secretary of ,defense shall furnish    
fertility treatment and counseling1     

including through the use of assisted   
reproductive technology1 to a covered   
member of the ,armed ,forces or a       
spouse1 partner1 or gestational         
surrogate of such a member4  7#b7       
,eligibility for treatment and          
counseling ,fertility treatment and     
counseling shall be furnished under     
paragraph 7#a7 without regard to the sex
 or marital status of the covered member
 of the ,armed ,forces4  7#c7 ,in vitro 
fertilization ,in the case of in vitro  
fertilization treatment furnished under 
paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may      
furnish not more than three completed   
cycles or six attempted cycles of in    
vitro fertilization1 whichever occurs   
first1 to an individual under such      
paragraph4  7b7 ,procurement of gametes 
,if a covered member of the ,armed      
,forces is unable to provide their      
gametes for purposes of fertility       
treatment under subsection 7a71 the     
,secretary shall1 at the election of    
such member1 allow such member to       

receive such treatment with donated     
gametes and pay or reimburse such member
 the reasonable costs of procuring      
gametes from a donor4  7c7 ,rule of     
construction ,nothing in this section   
shall be construed to require the       
,secretary-- 7#a7 to find or certify a  
gestational surrogate for a covered     
member of the ,armed ,forces or to      
connect a gestational surrogate with    
such a member2 or  7#b7 to find or      
certify gametes from a donor for a      
covered member of the ,armed ,forces or 
to connect such a member with gametes   
from a donor4  7d7 ,definitions ,in this
 section3 7#a7 ,assisted reproductive   
technology ,the term assisted           
reproductive technology includes in     
vitro fertilization and other fertility 
treatments in which both eggs and sperm 
are handled when clinically appropriate4
  7#b7 ,covered member of the ,armed    
,forces ,the term covered member of the 
,armed ,forces means a severely wounded1
 ill1 or injured member of the ,armed   

,forces who has an infertility condition
 incurred or aggravated while serving on
 active duty in the ,armed ,forces4     
7#c7 ,fertility treatment ,the term     
fertility treatment includes the        
following3 7,a7 ,procedures that use    
assisted reproductive technology4  7,b7 
,sperm retrieval4  7,c7 ,egg retrieval4 
7,d7 ,artificial insemination4  7,e7    
,embryo transfer4  7,f7 ,such other     
treatments as the ,secretary of ,defense
 considers appropriate4  7#d7 ,partner  
,the term partner1 with respect to a    
member of the ,armed ,forces1 means an  
individual selected by the member who   
agrees to share with the member the     
parental responsibilities with respect  
to any child born as a result of the use
 of any fertility treatment under this  
section4  #ajb4 ,establishment of       
fertility preservation procedures after 
an injury or illness  7a7 ,in general   
,the ,secretary of ,defense1 acting     
through the ,assistant ,secretary of    
,defense for ,health ,affairs1 shall    

establish procedures for the retrieval  
of gametes1 as soon as medically        
appropriate1 from a member of the ,armed
 ,forces in cases in which the fertility
 of such member is potentially          
jeopardized as a result of an injury or 
illness incurred or aggravated while    
serving on active duty in the ,armed    
,forces in order to preserve the medical
 options of such member4  7b7 ,consent  
for retrieval of gametes ,gametes may be
 retrieved from a member of the ,armed  
,forces under subsection 7a7 only-- 7#a7
 with the specific consent of the       
member2 or  7#b7 if the member is unable
 to consent1 if a medical professional  
determines that-- 7,a7 the future       
fertility of the member is potentially  
jeopardized as a result of an injury or 
illness described in subsection 7a7 or  
will be potentially jeopardized as a    
result of treating such injury or       
illness2  7,b7 the member lacks the     
capacity to consent to the retrieval of 
gametes and is likely to regain such    

capacity2 and  7,c7 the retrieval of    
gametes under this section is in the    
medical interest of the member4  7c7    
,consent for use of retrieved gametes   
,gametes retrieved from a member of the 
,armed ,forces under subsection 7a7 may 
be used only--  7#a7 with the specific  
consent of the member2 or  7#b7 if the  
member has lost the ability to consent  
permanently1 as determined by a medical 
professional1 as specified in an advance
 directive or testamentary instrument   
executed by the member4  7d7 ,disposal  
of gametes ,in accordance with          
regulations prescribed by the ,secretary
 for purpose of this subsection1 the    
,secretary shall dispose of gametes     
retrieved from a member of the ,armed   
,forces under subsection 7a7--  7#a7    
with the specific consent of the member2
 or  7#b7 if the member--  7,a7 has lost
 the ability to consent permanently1 as 
determined by a medical professional2   
and  7,b7 has not specified the use of  
their gametes in an advance directive or

 testamentary instrument executed by the
 member4  #ajc4 ,cryopreservation and   
storage of gametes of members of the    
,armed ,forces on active duty  7a7 ,in  
general ,the ,secretary of ,defense     
shall provide members of the ,armed     
,forces on active duty in the ,armed    
,forces with the opportunity to         
cryopreserve and store their gametes    
prior to deployment to a combat zone4   
7b7 ,period of time  7#a7 ,in general   
,the ,secretary shall provide for the   
cryopreservation and storage of gametes 
of any member of the ,armed ,forces     
under subsection 7a71 at no cost to the 
member1 in a facility of the ,department
 of ,defense or of a private entity     
pursuant to a contract under subsection 
7d7 until the date that is one year     
after the retirement1 separation1 or    
release of the member from the ,armed   
,forces4  7#b7 ,continued               
cryopreservation and storage ,at the end
 of the one-year period specified in    
paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall    

permit an individual whose gametes were 
cryopreserved and stored in a facility  
of the ,department as described in that 
paragraph to select1 including pursuant 
to an advance medical directive or      
military testamentary instrument        
completed under subsection 7c71 one of  
the following options3  7,a7 ,to        
continue such cryopreservation and      
storage in such facility with the cost  
of such cryopreservation and storage    
borne by the individual4  7,b7 ,to      
transfer the gametes to a private       
cryopreservation and storage facility   
selected by the individual4  7,c7 ,to   
transfer the gametes to a facility of   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs if
 cryopreservation and storage is        
available to the individual at such     
facility4  7#c7 ,disposal of gametes ,if
 an individual described in paragraph   
7#b7 does not make a selection under    
subparagraph 7,a71 7,b71 or 7,c7 of such
 paragraph1 the ,secretary may dispose  
of the gametes of the individual not    

earlier than the date that is #ij days  
after the end of the one-year period    
specified in paragraph 7#a7 with respect
 to the individual4  7c7 ,advance       
medical directive and military          
testamentary instrument ,a member of the
 ,armed ,forces who elects to           
cryopreserve and store their gametes    
under this section must complete an     
advance medical directive1 as defined in
 section #ajdd;c7b7 of title #aj1       
,united ,states ,code1 and a military   
testamentary instrument1 as defined in  
section #ajdd;d7b7 of such title1 that  
explicitly specifies the use of their   
cryopreserved and stored gametes if such
 member dies or otherwise loses the     
capacity to consent to the use of their 
cryopreserved and stored gametes4  7d7  
,agreements ,to carry out this section1 
the ,secretary may enter into agreements
 with private entities that provide     
cryopreservation and storage services   
for gametes4  #ajd4 ,coordination       
between ,department of ,defense and     

,department of ,veterans ,affairs on    
furnishing of fertility treatment and   
counseling  7a7 ,in general ,the        
,secretary of ,defense and the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
share best practices and facilitate     
referrals1 as they consider appropriate1
 on the furnishing of fertility         
treatment and counseling to individuals 
eligible for the receipt of such        
counseling and treatment from the       
,secretaries4  7b7 ,memorandum of       
understanding ,the ,secretary of        
,defense and the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall enter into a memorandum 
of understanding--  7#a7 providing that 
the ,secretary of ,defense will ensure  
access by the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs to gametes of veterans stored  
by the ,department of ,defense for      
purposes of furnishing fertility        
treatment under section #agbj;,j of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by section #bjb2 and  7#b7        
authorizing the ,department of ,veterans

 ,affairs to compensate the ,department 
of ,defense for the cryopreservation and
 storage of gametes of veterans under   
section #ajc4  ,,ii ,reproductive1      
adoption1 and child care assistance for 
veterans  #bja4 ,inclusion of fertility 
treatment and counseling under the      
definition of medical services in title 
#ch ,section #agja7f7 of title #ch1     
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
adding at the end the following new     
subparagraph3  7,i7 ,fertility treatment
 and counseling1 including treatment    
using assisted reproductive technology4 
4  #bjb4 ,fertility treatment and       
counseling for certain veterans and     
spouses1 partners1 and gestational      
surrogates of such veterans  7a7 ,in    
general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ag 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #agbj;,j4       
,fertility treatment and counseling for 
certain veterans and spouses1 partners1 
and gestational surrogates of such      

veterans  7a7 ,in general  7#a7 ,the    
,secretary shall furnish fertility      
treatment and counseling1 including     
through the use of assisted reproductive
 technology1 to a covered veteran or a  
spouse1 partner1 or gestational         
surrogate of a covered veteran if the   
veteran1 and the spouse1 partner1 or    
gestational surrogate of the veteran1 as
 applicable1 apply jointly for such     
counseling and treatment through a      
process prescribed by the ,secretary4   
7#b7 ,fertility treatment and counseling
 shall be furnished under paragraph 7#a7
 without regard to the sex or marital   
status of the covered veteran4  7#c7 ,in
 the case of in vitro fertilization     
treatment furnished under paragraph     
7#a71 the ,secretary may furnish not    
more than three completed cycles or six 
attempted cycles of in vitro            
fertilization1 whichever occurs first1  
to an individual under such paragraph4  
7b7 ,coordination of care for other     
individuals ,in the case of a veteran or

 a spouse1 partner1 or gestational      
surrogate of a veteran not described in 
subsection 7a7 who is seeking fertility 
treatment and counseling1 the ,secretary
 may coordinate fertility treatment and 
counseling for such veteran1 spouse1    
partner1 or gestational surrogate4  7c7 
,rule of construction ,nothing in this  
section shall be construed to require   
the ,secretary-- 7#a7 to find or certify
 a gestational surrogate for a covered  
veteran or to connect a gestational     
surrogate with a covered veteran2 or    
7#b7 to furnish maternity care to a     
covered veteran or spouse1 partner1 or  
gestational surrogate of a covered      
veteran in addition to what is otherwise
 required by law4  7d7 ,definitions ,in 
this section3 7#a7 ,the term assisted   
reproductive technology includes in     
vitro fertilization and other fertility 
treatments in which both eggs and sperm 
are handled when clinically appropriate4
  7#b7 ,the term covered veteran means a
 severely wounded1 ill1 or injured      

veteran who-- 7,a7 has an infertility   
condition incurred or aggravated in line
 of duty in the active military1 naval1 
or air service2 and  7,b7 is enrolled in
 the system of annual patient enrollment
 established under section #agje7;a7 of 
this title4  7#c7 ,the term fertility   
treatment includes the following3 7,a7  
,procedures that use assisted           
reproductive technology4  7,b7 ,sperm   
retrieval4  7,c7 ,egg retrieval4  7,d7  
,artificial insemination4  7,e7 ,embryo 
transfer4  7,f7 ,such other treatments  
as the ,secretary considers appropriate4
  7#d7 ,the term partner1 with respect  
to a veteran1 means an individual       
selected by the veteran who agrees to   
share with the veteran the parental     
responsibilities with respect to any    
child born as a result of the use of any
 fertility treatment under this section4
  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table 
of sections at the beginning of chapter 
#ag of such title is amended by         
inserting after the item relating to    

section #agbj;,i the following new item3
  #agbj;,j4 ,fertility treatment and    
counseling for certain veterans and     
spouses1 partners1 and gestational      
surrogates of such veterans4  4  #bjc4  
,adoption assistance for severely       
wounded veterans  7a7 ,in general       
,subchapter ,,viii of chapter #ag of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #aghi4 ,adoption
 assistance  7a7 ,in general ,the       
,secretary may pay an amount1 not to    
exceed the limitation amount1 to assist 
a covered veteran in the adoption of one
 or more children4  7b7 ,limitation     
amount ,for purposes of this section1   
the limitation amount is the amount     
equal to the cost the ,department would 
incur by paying the expenses of three   
adoptions by covered veterans1 as       
determined by the ,secretary4  7c7      
,covered veteran defined ,in this       
section1 the term covered veteran has   
the meaning given that term in section  

#agbj;,j of this title4  4  7b7         
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of chapter #ag
 of such title is amended by inserting  
after the item relating to section #aghh
 the following new item3  #aghi4        
,adoption assistance4  4  #bjd4 ,annual 
report on fertility treatment and       
counseling furnished by ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,not
 later than one year after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 and not less
 frequently than annually thereafter1   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on the fertility treatment and         
counseling furnished by the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs during the year   
preceding the submittal of the report4  
7b7 ,elements ,each report submitted    
under subsection 7a7 shall include1 for 
the period covered by the report1 the   

following3  7#a7 ,the number of veterans
 who received fertility treatment or    
counseling furnished by the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs1 disaggregated by 
era of military service of such         
veterans4  7#b7 ,the number of spouses1 
partners1 and gestational surrogates of 
veterans who received fertility         
treatment or counseling furnished by the
 ,department4  7#c7 ,the cost to the    
,department of furnishing fertility     
treatment and counseling1 disaggregated 
by cost of services and administration4 
7#d7 ,the average cost to the           
,department per recipient of fertility  
treatment and counseling4  7#e7 ,in     
cases in which the ,department furnished
 fertility treatment through the use of 
assisted reproductive technology1 the   
average number of cycles per person     
furnished1 disaggregated by type of     
treatment4  7#f7 ,a description of how  
fertility treatment and counseling      
services of the ,department are         
coordinated with similar services of the

 ,department of ,defense4  7c7          
,definitions ,in this section1 the terms
 assisted reproductive technology and   
partner have the meanings given those   
terms in section #agbj;,j of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 as added by      
section #bjb4  #bje4 ,regulations on    
furnishing of fertility treatment and   
counseling and adoption assistance by   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,not  
later than #ah months after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
prescribe regulations--  7#a7 to carry  
out section #agbj;,j of title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code1 as added by      
section #bjb2 and  7#b7 to carry out    
section #aghi of such title1 as added by
 section #bjc4  #bjf4 ,facilitation of  
reproduction and infertility research   
7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of     
chapter #gc of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new section3      
#gccj;,d4 ,facilitation of reproduction 

and infertility research  7a7           
,facilitation of research required ,the 
,secretary shall facilitate research    
conducted collaboratively by the        
,secretary of ,defense and the          
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services to improve the ability of the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
meet the long-term reproductive health  
care needs of veterans who have a       
genitourinary service-connected         
disability or a condition that was      
incurred or aggravated in line of duty  
in the active military1 naval1 or air   
service1 such as a spinal cord injury1  
that affects the veterans' ability to   
reproduce4  7b7 ,dissemination of       
information ,the ,secretary shall ensure
 that information produced by the       
research facilitated under this section 
that may be useful for other activities 
of the ,veterans ,health ,administration
 is disseminated throughout the         
,veterans ,health ,administration4  4   
7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   

sections at the beginning of chapter #gc
 of such title is amended by inserting  
after the item relating to section      
#gccj;,c the following new item3        
#gccj;,d4 ,facilitation of reproduction 
and infertility research4  4  7c7       
,report ,not later than three years     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall submit to ,congress a    
report on the research activities       
conducted by the ,secretary under       
section #gccj;,d of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code1 as added by subsection   
7a74  #bjg4 ,requirement to improve     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs women 
veterans contact center ,the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs shall enhance the 
capabilities of the women veterans      
contact center of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs--  7#a7 to respond to
 requests by women veterans for         
assistance with accessing health care   
and benefits furnished under the laws   
administered by the ,secretary2 and     

7#b7 to refer such veterans to resources
 provided by the ,federal ,government   
and the community to obtain assistance  
with services not furnished by the      
,department4  #bjh4 ,modification of    
pilot program on counseling in retreat  
settings for women veterans newly       
separated from service in the ,armed    
,forces  7a7 ,increase in number of     
locations ,subsection 7c7 of section    
#bjc of the ,caregivers and ,veterans   
,omnibus ,health ,services ,act of #bjaj
 7,public ,law #aaa-afc2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4  
#agab;,a note7 is amended by striking   
three locations and inserting #ad       
locations4  7b7 ,permanent program ,such
 section is amended-- 7#a7 by striking  
subsections 7d7 and 7e72 and  7#b7 by   
redesignating subsections 7f7 as        
subsection 7d74  7c7 ,authorization of  
appropriations ,subsection 7d7 of such  
section1 as redesignated by subsection  
7b77#b71 is amended by striking         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for    
each and all that follows through the   

period at the end and inserting         
8,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to    
carry out the pilot program--  7#a7 for 
each of fiscal years #bjaj1 #bjaa1      
#bjae1 #bjaf1 #bjag1 #bjah1 #bjai1      
#b1jjj1jjj2 and  7#b7 for each fiscal   
year after fiscal year #bjai1 such sums 
as may be necessary4  4  #bji4 ,program 
on assistance for child care for certain
 veterans  7a7 ,assistance for child    
care for certain veterans receiving     
health care  7#a7 ,in general           
,subchapter ,i of chapter #ag of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
section3  #agji;,c4 ,assistance for     
child care for certain veterans         
receiving health care  7a7 ,program     
required ,the ,secretary shall carry out
 a program to provide1 subject to       
subsection 7b71 assistance to qualified 
veterans described in subsection 7c7 to 
obtain child care so that such veterans 
can receive health care services        
described in subsection 7c77#b74  7b7   

,limitation on period of payments       
,assistance may be provided to a        
qualified veteran under this section for
 receipt of child care only during the  
period that the qualified veteran--     
7#a7 receives the types of health care  
services described in subsection 7c77#b7
 at a facility of the ,department2 and  
7#b7 requires travel to and return from 
such facility for the receipt of such   
health care services4  7c7 ,qualified   
veterans ,for purposes of this section1 
a qualified veteran is a veteran who--  
7#a7 is the primary caretaker of a child
 or children2 and  7#b7 7,a7 receives   
from the ,department--  7i7 regular     
mental health care services2  7ii7      
intensive mental health care services2  
or  7iii7 such other intensive health   
care services that the ,secretary       
determines that provision of assistance 
to the veteran to obtain child care     
would improve access to such health care
 services by the veteran2 or  7,b7 is in
 need of regular or intensive mental    

health care services from the           
,department1 and but for lack of child  
care services1 would receive such health
 care services from the ,department4    
7d7 ,locations ,not later than five     
years after the date of the enactment of
 the ,women ,veterans and ,families     
,health ,services ,act of #bjai1 the    
,secretary shall carry out the program  
at each medical center of the           
,department4  7e7 ,forms of child care  
assistance  7#a7 ,child care assistance 
under this section may include the      
following3  7,a7 ,stipends for the      
payment of child care offered by        
licensed child care centers 7either     
directly or through a voucher program7  
that shall be1 to the extent            
practicable1 modeled after the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,child
 ,care ,subsidy ,program established    
pursuant to section #fcj of the         
,treasury and ,general ,government      
,appropriations ,act1 #bjjb 7,public    
,law #ajg-fg2 #aae ,stat4 #eeb74  7,b7  

,direct provision of child care at an   
on-site facility of the ,department4    
7,c7 ,payments to private child care    
agencies4  7,d7 ,collaboration with     
facilities or programs of other ,federal
 agencies4  7,e7 ,such other forms of   
assistance as the ,secretary considers  
appropriate4  7#b7 ,in providing child  
care assistance under this section1 the 
child care needs of the local area shall
 be considered and the head of each     
medical center may select the type of   
care that is most appropriate or        
feasible for such medical center4  7#c7 
,in the case that child care assistance 
under this section is provided as a     
stipend under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 such 
stipend shall cover the full cost of    
such child care4  4  7#b7 ,conforming   
amendment ,section #bje7;e7 of the      
,caregivers and ,veterans ,omnibus      
,health ,services ,act of #bjaj 7,public
 ,law #aaa-afc2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agaj     
note7 is amended by striking ,september 
#cj1 #bjbj and inserting the date of the

 enactment of the ,women ,veterans and  
,families ,health ,services ,act of     
#bjai4  7#c7 ,clerical amendment ,the   
table of sections at the beginning of   
chapter #ag of such title is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to    
section #agji;,b the following new item3
  #agji;,c4 ,assistance for child care  
for certain veterans receiving health   
care4  4  7b7 ,assistance for child care
 for certain veterans receiving         
readjustment counseling and related     
mental health services  7#a7 ,in general
 ,subchapter ,i of chapter #ag of such  
title1 as amended by subsection 7a77#a71
 is further amended by adding at the end
 the following new section3  #agji;,d4  
,assistance for child care for certain  
veterans receiving readjustment         
counseling and related mental health    
services  7a7 ,program required ,the    
,secretary shall carry out a program to 
provide1 subject to subsection 7b71     
assistance to qualified veterans        
described in subsection 7c7 to obtain   

child care so that such veterans can    
receive readjustment counseling and     
related mental health services4  7b7    
,limitation on period of payments       
,assistance may be provided to a        
qualified veteran under this section for
 receipt of child care only during the  
period that the qualified veteran       
receives readjustment counseling and    
related health care services at a ,vet  
,center4  7c7 ,qualified veterans ,for  
purposes of this section1 a qualified   
veteran is a veteran who-- 7#a7 is the  
primary caretaker of a child2 and  7#b7 
7,a7 receives from the ,department      
regular readjustment counseling and     
related mental health services2 or  7,b7
 is in need of readjustment counseling  
and related mental health services from 
the ,department1 and but for lack of    
child care services1 would receive such 
counseling and services from the        
,department4  7d7 ,locations ,the       
,secretary shall carry out the program  
under this section in not fewer than    

three ,readjustment ,counseling ,service
 ,regions selected by the ,secretary for
 purposes of the program4  7e7 ,forms of
 child care assistance  7#a7 ,child care
 assistance under this section may      
include the following3 7,a7 ,stipends   
for the payment of child care offered by
 licensed child care centers 7either    
directly or through a voucher program7  
that shall be1 to the extent            
practicable1 modeled after the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,child
 ,care ,subsidy ,program established    
pursuant to section #fcj of the         
,treasury and ,general ,government      
,appropriations ,act1 #bjjb 7,public    
,law #ajg-fg2 #aae ,stat4 #eeb74  7,b7  
,payments to private child care         
agencies4  7,c7 ,collaboration with     
facilities or programs of other ,federal
 agencies4  7,d7 ,such other forms of   
assistance as the ,secretary considers  
appropriate4  7#b7 ,in providing child  
care assistance under this section1 the 
child care needs of the local area shall

 be considered and the head of each ,vet
 ,center may select the type of care    
that is most appropriate or feasible for
 such ,vet ,center4  7#c7 ,in the case  
that child care assistance under this   
subsection is provided as a stipend     
under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 such stipend 
shall cover the full cost of such child 
care4  7f7 ,vet ,center defined ,in this
 section1 the term ,vet ,center means a 
center for readjustment counseling and  
related mental health services for      
veterans under section #agab;,a of this 
title4  4  7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the
 table of sections at the beginning of  
such chapter1 as amended by subsection  
7a77#c71 is further amended by inserting
 after the item relating to section     
#agji;,c the following new item3        
#agji;,d4 ,assistance for child care for
 certain veterans receiving readjustment
 counseling and related mental health   
services4  4