ASSESSMENT OF USE BY WOMEN VETERANS OF DEPARTMENT HEALTH SERVICES.

SEC. 323. ASSESSMENT OF USE BY WOMEN VETERANS OF DEPARTMENT HEALTH SERVICES. (a) Reports to Under Secretary for Health.—The Center for Women Veterans of the Department of Veterans Affairs (established under section 509 of Public Law 103–446), in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, shall assess the use by women veterans of health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, including counseling for sexual trauma and mental health services. The Center shall submit to the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs a report not later than April 1, 1997, and April 1 of each of the two following years, on— (1) the extent to which women veterans described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1710(a) of title 38, United States Code, fail to seek, or face barriers in seeking, health services through the Department, and the reasons therefor; and (2) recommendations, if indicated, for encouraging greater use of such services, including (if appropriate) public service announcements and other outreach efforts. (b) Reports to Congressional Committees.—Not later than July 1, 1997, and July 1 of each of the two following years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing— (1) the most recent report of the Center for Women Veterans under subsection (a); (2) the views of the Under Secretary for Health on such report’s findings and recommendations; and (3) a description of the steps being taken by the Secretary to remedy any problems described in the report.