Representatives pass Act Authored by Collins

Last week, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Newborn Care Improvement Act, which was authored by Congressman Doug Collins. This legislation, which was part of a larger package of bills called the Veterans Employment, Education, and Health Care Improvement Act, will extend the amount of time newborn children of female veterans will be covered by VA benefits, from 7 days to 42 days.

Congressman Collins spoke on the House floor in support of the bill, stating that
Female veterans face unique challenges, especially when many of the services available to them are designed for males. One of the most significant problems female veterans face is access to healthcare.

Research shows that having PTSD in the year before delivery increases a woman’s risk of premature delivery by 35 percent. Premature infants typically need long hospitalizations after they are born.

Collins also mentioned that with factors like PTSD and combat injuries, many female veterans face high-risk pregnancies, and this increase in VA maternity benefits will provide for extra time in the hospital, should their baby need it.