Patients, Healthcare Professionals and Veterans Come to Capitol Hill to Advocate for Access to Adoption and IVF
McLean, VA (PRWEB) May 04, 2016 -- RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is hosting its annual fly-in day on Capitol Hill, Wednesday May 11, 2016. More than 200 patients, healthcare professionals and Veterans will meet with their Members of Congress to talk about the scope of infertility in this country and the physical, emotional, and financial impact of this disease. Advocates will also ask Congress to support legislation to allow Veterans to access infertility and family building resources, and support legislation that will improve the Adoption Tax Credit so that more people can afford to build their family through adoption.
“We are thrilled to host so many advocates from across the country who will proudly speak up for the tens of thousands of women and men in their states struggling to build their family. They will passionately share their stories and ask Congress to help create more opportunities for adoption and provide our wounded Veterans the opportunity to have a family. It’s a life-altering day,” said Barbara Collura, President and CEO of RESOLVE.
RESOLVE’s Advocacy Day begins with a morning training at the National Press Club where invited guest, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth is scheduled to address the advocates. In 2004, Duckworth was deployed to Iraq as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard. She was one of the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom until her helicopter was hit by an RPG on November 12, 2004. Duckworth lost her legs and partial use of her right arm and was awarded a Purple Heart. In 2014, Duckworth was thrilled to announce that after "many cycles" of intrauterine insemination and "all the different varieties" of in vitro fertilization she was pregnant and expecting a baby that December.
For more information about RESOLVE’s Advocacy Day, visit http://www.resolve.org/advocacyday.
About our issues:
S 469 and H.R. 3365, Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act
The bills will allow Veterans to obtain IVF, adoption assistance, and other family-building benefits, and will also improve the fertility care available to active duty and wounded service members. Currently the Veterans Administration is banned from offering IVF treatments to Veterans.
The Veterans Amendment to the Senate Appropriations Mil-Con Bill
An amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (“Mil-Con”) appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017 that would provide funding for the VA to offer IVF to Veterans for two years.
Co-sponsor bill to pay special compensation to certain veterans with the loss or loss of use of creative organs (HR 4892)
Bill permits qualifying veterans with injuries to their reproductive organs to receive extra compensation of up to $20,000, which they may use at their discretion. Given the lack of benefits currently provided by the VA for family building, a Veteran could use the compensation for medical treatment to overcome infertility or for adoption services.
Co-Sponsor S 950 and H.R. 2434 the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act
The Adoption Tax Credit (ATC) was made permanent in 2013, but was not made refundable. This bill restores refundability so that the families who need the credit the most will receive it.
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About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Established in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age has trouble conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. RESOLVE addresses this public health issue by providing community to these women and men, connecting them with others who can help, empowering them to find resolution and giving voice to their demands for access to all family building options. For more information, visit http://www.RESOLVE.org.
Andy Schwarz, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, +1 (703) 556-7172, [email protected]
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