February 1, 2024
Dear Mr. Parker,
Thank you for contacting my office regarding S. 2465, the Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access (DOULA) for VA Act of 2023. I appreciate hearing from you on this legislation.
To begin, please let me express my highest admiration for our servicemen and women who have contributed to the defense of our great nation. Their selfless sacrifice has guaranteed the continued national survival of the United States and has protected humanity’s natural rights across the globe. The sacrifices made by the members of our armed forces can have physical, mental, and emotional impacts for the rest of their lives. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the United States government to ensure that our Veterans have access to high quality healthcare.
On July 25, 2023, Senator Cory Booker introduced S. 2465 in the U.S. Senate, where it was then referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. If enacted, S.2465 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a five-year pilot program to furnish doula services to pregnant veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system.
The United States has seen a troubling rise in maternal mortality rates, increasing from 17.4 to 20.1 deaths per 100,000 live births from 2018 to 2019. Pregnant Veterans additionally face a heightened risk of being diagnosed with conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. As Veterans face unique service-related factors that at times may impact their maternal health needs, it is essential that we develop an effective approach to identify the underlying causes of maternal mortality and ensure that women have access to the appropriate maternal care.
I appreciate your comments and will keep them in mind as I monitor legislation that impacts the healthcare of our nation’s Veterans. Caring for Hoosier veterans is at the forefront of my agenda in Washington. If you ever need direct assistance navigating the VA, please do not hesitate to call my Indianapolis office at (317)-822-8240 or fill out a Federal Agency Assistance form at: www.braun.senate.gov/federal-agency-assistance. My staff members are happy to help.
Thank you for contacting me. It is an honor to serve as your U.S. Senator from Indiana. Please keep in touch with me on issues of concern to you. You can also follow me on X, Instagram, or Facebook for real-time updates on my activities in the U.S. Senate. If I ever may be of service, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mike Braun
U.S. Senator
P.S. This message was sent by email to save taxpayer dollars.