Senate weighs expanding vets' fertility coverage

In this photo taken Aug. 6, 2012, Brenda and Chuck Isaacson play in their back yard with their 16-month old daughter, in Sun Prairie, Wis. / AP Photo/Andy Manis

(AP) WASHINGTON - A bill being considered in the U.S. Senate is aimed at helping wounded veterans start families by expanding coverage for in vitro fertilization.

Soldiers with pelvic or spinal cord injuries can have reproductive problems. The Department of Veterans Affairs currently covers some procedures to help veterans conceive, but it does not cover in vitro fertilization for soldiers and their spouses.

After the war: Eye on Veterans affairs

The proposed legislation would change that. The procedure, which can be lengthy and costly, is already covered for some active-duty soldiers who are critically injured. But it's not covered for veterans who are no longer active duty.

Proponents say the bill addresses an important issue that has not received as much attention as problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

[ludvig1-2009]

Would this be the life panels the Republicans refer to?

[skeezix06]

Wouldn't it be more ...useful/logical/sensible/responsible... if they decided to spend more money on the basic medical and psychological needs of the vets instead of spending it on in vitro fertilization?

[ammo17]

as a veteran i pray that congress does approve "vitro" for veterans because i can tell you with a clear conscience and honesty they sure are screwing the older vets from korea and vietnam who have been waiting for years for their pensions and compensation.we are still fighting for all the cancers the vietnam veterans got from agent orange.the d.o.d. and the veterans administration are making it very hard for the older vets.maybe some honest politician in d.c. will read this and start asking questions.

[netjunkie1]

In 1933-34 While the US was facing the grip of the depression, a group of Wall St. Corporations conspired to forcibly take over the White house, and establish a military dictatorship with a fascist government.
The plan almost was executed, the players then, Prescott Bush(Hitler's backer), DuPont, GE, GM, Morgan, US Steel, and other Wall St. giants. Their representative approached Major General Smedley Butler, who had previously spoken out against the govt. during the Occupation by the Bonus Army in Washington who were seeking back pay from WW1.
He turned in the bunch to Congress.
There were hearings, and witnesses, in the end, they were convinced.
However there were no trials.
Today the very same bunch with even more power because they have become multinational are the danger to the world over, including us.

[venusvegasvada]

As long as the Senate is in a benevolent mood towards veterans, how about going back and removing Bush's discriminatory 2003 "screw the veterans" act?

Do you know how many honorably discharged veterans that totally screwed over? Retroactively screwed over? It was wrong then and it's still wrong today.

If you really cared about ALL our Veterans, not just ones you pick and choose, you'll remove it in it's entirety.

[taxed01]

They were there for us, we have a duty to be there for them as they try to have as normal a life as possible.