Executive Summary
The Boston City Council Committee on Veterans, Military Families, and Military Affairs held a hearing to discuss Docket #0273, regarding lung cancer rates among Black veterans, and Docket #0274, regarding services for women veterans. The committee heard testimony from the Boston Public Health Commission, the Mayor's Office of Veterans Services, and medical experts from the VA Boston Healthcare System. Key discussions focused on the disproportionate impact of lung cancer on Black veterans due to toxic military exposures, the need for expanded screening guidelines beyond tobacco use, and the unique healthcare challenges faced by women veterans, including Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and maternity care. The committee emphasized the importance of free Veteran Service Officer (VSO) support to navigate the VA system and announced plans for future community-based hearings and legislative resolutions to address racial and gender disparities in veteran benefits.
Meeting Information
- Date: August 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM
- Governing Body: Boston City Council Committee on Veterans, Military Families, and Military Affairs
- Meeting Type: Committee Hearing
- Chair: Councilor Edward Flynn (Vice-Chair)
- Councilors in Attendance: Edward Flynn, Erin Murphy, Ruthzee Louijeune, John Fitzgerald
- Letters of Absence: Council President Liz Breadon, Councilor Enrique Pepén, Councilor Henry Santana
Docket #0273: Lung Cancer Rates Among Black Veterans
The committee discussed the alarming rates of lung cancer among Black veterans, noting that military exposures such as asbestos and burn pits significantly increase risk.
- Key Statistics:
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among veterans, with approximately 8,000 diagnoses annually and 15 deaths per day.
- In Boston, lung cancer is the deadliest and most frequently diagnosed fatal cancer for both men and women.
- Black men in Boston face higher mortality from lung cancer than breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers combined.
- Barriers to Care:
- Fewer than 10% of eligible veterans have received lung cancer screening, with rates even lower among Black veterans.
- Current screening guidelines are strictly tied to tobacco use, failing to account for environmental and occupational exposures like radon and asbestos.
- Recommendations:
- Expand screening eligibility to include non-smokers with high toxic exposure history.
- Utilize the PACT Act to ensure veterans with presumptive conditions receive automatic benefits.
- Dr. Renda Wiener noted: "Catching cancer early when it's still treatable is critical to improving lung cancer outcomes."
Docket #0274: Services for Women Veterans
Women are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population, yet they face significant barriers to gender-specific healthcare and benefits.
- Discussion Points:
- Women make up 20% of serving personnel and 10% of the veteran population.
- Approximately 25% of women veterans experience Military Sexual Trauma (MST), increasing risks for PTSD and suicide.
- Many women feel invisible in the VA system or are mistaken for military spouses.
- Available Resources:
- Women Veterans Care Center (VA Boston): Provides primary care, gynecology, maternity support, and menopause care.
- Women Veterans Call Center: 855-VA-WOMEN (855-829-6636).
- Massachusetts Women’s Veterans Network: Provides peer support and advocacy.
- Challenges: Dr. Malika Whitley highlighted the difficulty of navigating the claims process, noting that many women are assigned male physicians for Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams, which can be traumatizing for MST survivors.
Public Testimony and Advocate Remarks
- Commander Meredith Tuitt (American Legion): Emphasized the need for outreach to elderly veterans who do not use social media. She stated, "Female Veterans Health Care is different. We give birth, we carry children... we have perimenopause, we have menopause."
- Craig Diehl (VFW State Commander): Reported that the VFW has brought $87 million directly back into the Massachusetts economy through VA disability claims since October 1st. He offered the Boston Police Post as a site for future community hearings.
- Donald Mitchell (Don Foundation): Discussed the critical need for housing and furniture for veterans transitioning out of incarceration or homelessness.
- Mark Kennedy (Boston Public Health Commission): Called for "screening navigators" to help veterans move through the clinical system before they become patients.
Official Actions and Closing Remarks
- VSO Advocacy: Commissioner Robert Santiago issued a warning against "claim sharks" who charge veterans for benefit applications. He stated: "No veteran, and I repeat again no veteran should have to pay or should pay to get their claims processed."
- Future Legislation: Councilor Edward Flynn announced he will file a resolution supporting federal legislation to provide VA housing benefits to the descendants of Black WWII veterans who were denied the original GI Bill benefits due to discrimination.
- Community Outreach: The committee committed to holding future hearings in Roxbury and Dorchester to better reach veterans of color and women veterans.