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based services for aging and disabled veterans. MAMMO ACT PASSES THE SENATE
You can watch a recording of the hearing here.
On March 23, the Senate unanimously passed the
ADMINISTRATION RELEASES REPORT ON Making Advances in Mammography and Medical
PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROMOTE Options (MAMMO) for Veterans Act (S. 2533). This
ACCESS TO VOTING important piece of legislation directs the VA to
develop a strategic plan to improve access and
On March 7, the 56th anniversary of Bloody technology for mammography services throughout
Sunday, President Biden signed an Executive Order the department. It would also create a tele-
on Promoting Access to Voting, directing an all-of- mammography pilot program for rural veterans and
government effort to promote information about the for medical centers that do not offer in-house
voting process and to further the ability of all eligible mammography services. PVA has been
Americans to participate in our democracy. That championing the MAMMO Act and is excited for its
work is ongoing, and agencies will continue to passage in the Senate as another provision within
develop ways to deliver non-partisan election the bill will ensure increased access to screening
information and enable eligible Americans to services for paralyzed veterans and veterans living
register and to vote. with SCI/D. Nobody should be denied access to
critical, lifesaving care because of mobility
Agencies have also been working to implement limitations and the MAMMO Act would ensure that
other provisions of the President’s Executive Order, the VA does more to support breast health for our
offering nonpartisan information and opportunities nation’s veterans. We want the House to approve
to help eligible Americans participate. The this bill quickly so we encourage you to click here
VA launched a survey to over 12 million veterans in and urge your representative to support the
a first-of-its-kind effort to better understand their MAMMO Act.
experience with the voter registration process, and
to better assist them in addressing and overcoming NHTSA FINALIZES RULE TO IMPROVE AUTO
any challenges. The VA also developed a website ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
for veterans with nonpartisan information about
voter registration and elections at va.gov/vote. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) has finalized a new rule that would
The VA also announced that it would launch a pilot improve equity and mobility for drivers and
program by this summer for VA medical centers and passengers with disabilities. This final rulemaking
other offices in six states, with an eye to the permits three specific modifications to vehicles to
geographic and demographic diversity of the allow for adaptive equipment:
veteran population, seeking designation as a voter
registration agency under the National Voter • The first change would allow rental car
Registration Act. companies to temporarily disable a driver’s
knee bolster air bag to install hand controls
In addition, the National Institute of Standards and for people with disabilities. Should they
Technology at the Department of Commerce deploy in a crash, knee bolster air bags
released a report examining barriers across the could interfere with the safe use of physical
voting process for people with disabilities. The hand controls.
report offers recommendations for state and local • The second modification permits the
election officials, the federal government, and other installation of rear-mounted transporters for
non-governmental organizations to eliminate or wheelchairs and power scooters. These
mitigate those barriers. The report is available here. transporters may partially block the backup
camera’s view and would not be allowed
without this exemption.
• The third change allows modifiers to lawfully
raise the height of a vehicle’s roof to
