2026 Leadership Summit
National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO)
2026 NACVSO Women Veterans Legislative Priorities
HR 7841 – Warrior Infertility Act
Key Point: Infertility should be presumed, not proven.
Time Sensitive
Establishes infertility as a presumptive condition tied to toxic exposure, significantly reducing the timeframe of the claims process. This is critical as we are up against the clock for women veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins during service. Many are age 35 or older, where chances of successful pregnancy or egg retrieval decrease by approximately 30% each year.
This bill eliminates the current review process by a Board of VA providers, which can take 9–12 months to determine eligibility for fertility care. Currently, infertility must first be considered secondary to loss of use once service-connected, adding an additional 6–12 months to the average claim. A total delay of up to 18 months is unacceptable when a veteran’s reproductive window is rapidly narrowing.
This legislation streamlines the process, allowing veterans to access fertility care providers more quickly without the burden of proof requirements.
HR 220 – Expansion of Infertility Treatment Act
Key Point: Fertility treatment is not one-size-fits-all and must meet veterans where they are.
Time Sensitive
Expands access to and coverage of IVF and fertility treatments, including increased cycles, attempts, and donor coverage.
It is also important to address the need for third-party involvement, which is currently not included. The financial burden of building a family due to service-related infertility should not fall solely on the veteran.
Even when infertility is recognized, veterans face limited access and restrictive treatment caps. Fertility care must be individualized. Veterans should not have to fit into narrow medical parameters to receive appropriate care.
HR 1860 – Women’s Cancer Care Coordinator Act
Key Point: Care without coordination is not care.
Establishes breast and gynecologic cancer care coordinators within the VA to guide women veterans through complex care systems. Women veterans often face fragmented care, especially for reproductive cancers linked to toxic exposure.
This will improve continuity of care between VA services and community oncology providers, particularly in areas such as billing, treatment coordination, and ensuring no aspect of care is delayed or overlooked.
HR 1646 – Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act
Key Point: No mother should be forced to choose between care and dignity.
Requires dedicated, private lactation spaces in every VA medical center (not bathrooms). This ensures basic dignity and support for women veterans.
SMC-K – Multiple Awards for Loss of Use or Anatomical Loss of a Creative Organ
Legal Authority: Westfall v. Collins
Key Point: Current policy undervalues compounded loss. The law already allows proper recognition—VA must apply it.
The purpose of SMC-K is to compensate for loss of function or physiological impact due to the loss of use or physical integrity of a creative organ.
The VA is failing to recognize the unique physiological and anatomical makeup of women’s bodies and the broader systemic impacts. Instead, it relies on narrow interpretations such as “loss of use of one or more,” failing to fully apply the law.
We are requesting proper recognition and application of multiple SMC-K awards (“stacking”), which is permitted under federal regulations.
If we fail to act, we are asking veterans to continue fighting long after their service has ended.
Critical Gaps in Care
HR 7841 – Warrior Infertility Act: Establishes infertility as a presumptive condition tied to toxic exposure because veterans should not have to prove what service has already taken. (Time Sensitive)
HR 220 – Expansion of Fertility Care: Ensures that once infertility is recognized, veterans have access to the treatment they need by expanding IVF coverage and removing restrictive limits. (Time Sensitive)
HR 1860 – Cancer Care Coordinators: Supports women veterans navigating complex, life-threatening conditions tied to service, because care without coordination is not care.
HR 1646 – Lactation Spaces: Ensures dignity for women veterans by requiring proper lactation facilities in VA centers.
SMC-K – Westfall v. Collins: Calls for proper recognition of compounded loss through multiple SMC-K awards and full application of the law, including acknowledgment of women’s physiological and anatomical differences.
Quick Recap
HR 7841: Presume infertility
HR 220: Expand fertility treatment; time is critical
HR 1860: Coordinate cancer care
HR 1646: Restore dignity through lactation spaces
SMC-K: Recognize full impact and apply the law
If we fail to act, we are asking veterans to continue fighting long after their service has ended. We owe them better, and no man or woman should have to fight these battles alone.
Thank you for your continued efforts.