Richmond Leader

Washington, D.C. – On May 23, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) joined her colleagues Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), along with 19 cosponsors, to introduce the Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act.

When assessing military hair and grooming standards, the 2020 Defense Advisory Committee on Women in Service (DACOWITS) report identified traction alopecia as an issue among servicewomen. Military grooming standards ensure service members can meet their occupational demands including neatly groomed hair. Adherence to grooming standards can be more complex for female service members because of variances in the length, texture, and bulk of their hair. The use of tight ponytails, headgear, and chemical hair products, employed by many servicewomen to adhere to military grooming standards, contributes to permanent damage to the hair and scalp.

The Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act would Amend U.S. Code 1074 C to add traction alopecia and wigs as a covered medical treatment under TRICARE, the uniformed services health care program for active-duty service members. It would also direct the Secretary of Defense to create regulations and training materials warning of the risk of traction alopecia. 

“Black women face a number of difficulties in their professional lives, including those who serve in the armed forces and must adhere to strict military dress and grooming standards,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “These standards are often incompatible or dismissive of their natural hair, and many Black women service members suffer permanent damage and significant hair loss. I am proud to help introduce the Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act, alongside Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman and Ayanna Pressley, to address this disparity, better support our service members of color, and ensure they have access to the medical treatment and resources they need.” 

“Our brave service members regularly put their lives on the line to defend the country they love,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “When their service causes them harm, as in the case of scalp damage, we have a duty to help make them whole and warn them of the risks. I’m grateful to my colleagues, Ayanna Pressley and Jennifer McClellan for helping me raise attention for this issue and see to it that our service members get the help they need.”

“We must be intentional about creating space and providing medical resources for those of us living with alopecia, and our service members who suffer from traction alopecia are no exception,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “With the military’s stringent grooming standards contributing to permanent hair and scalp damage for many servicewomen, I am proud to introduce this bill with Reps. Watson Coleman and McClellan to include traction alopecia and wigs as medical treatments for servicemembers and their families.”

The bill is led by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Congresswomen Jennifer McClellan and Ayanna Pressley are original cosponsors. The legislation is also cosponsored by Jayana Hayes (CT-05), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Alma Adams (NC-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Troy Carter (LA-02), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Joe Neguse (CO-02),  Steven Horsford (NV-04), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Stacey Plaskett (Virgin Islands), Danny Davis (IL-07), and Terri Sewell (AL-07).

Read the full bill text here.

Original source can be found here