Ossoff introduces amendment to increase veterans' access to breast cancer screenings

Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, with Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), introduced an amendment to help expand Georgia veterans' access to breast cancer screenings.

The amendment would apply to the Senate's Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriation bill to help women veterans detect breast cancer. 

In a 2018 study by the American Cancer Society, women who received breast cancer screenings had a 60% lower risk of dying from breast cancer within 10 years of being diagnosed and a 49% lower risk within 20 years.

"Early detection of breast cancer is crucial and lifesaving, which is I'm working to expand mobile mammography services, especially for female veterans in rural areas who may be several hours drive from a VA clinic or hospital," Ossoff said in a Sept. 25 press release. 

Under the amendment, the Office of Women's Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs would receive $10 million in funding "to expand access of women veterans to mobile mammography initiatives; advanced mammography equipment; and outreach activities to publicize such initiatives and equipment."

The introduction of the amendment is Ossoff's most recent push in his plans to expand access to health care and lifesaving treatments for Georgia veterans.

Ossoff secured $10 million for the Senate National Defense Authorization Act in July, expanding mobile mammography services. 

In February, Ossoff was amongst a group of bipartisan senators to request that the VA "expand access to mobile mammography units, improve advanced mammography equipment, and enhance outreach services to better publicize mammography services," per the press release.

The amendment, FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, and other actions related to service members are all a part of Ossoff's efforts to ensure service members have an increased quality of life, whether they are in service or a veteran.

"Georgians are united in our commitment to a strong national defense and in our gratitude to military servicemembers, military families, and veterans,” he said.