Council panel hears testimony on veteran lung cancer, women's health gaps

City Council · Meeting of August 28, 2026

Boston council panel presses VA and city officials on Black veteran lung cancer deaths and women's health gaps. Councilor Edward M. Flynn chaired the Committee on Veterans, Military Families, and Military Affairs hearing on dockets 0273 and 0274 in place of absent Chair Henry Santana.

Boston Public Health Commission's Mark Kennedy testified that Black lung cancer patients are "13 percent less likely to be diagnosed early" and 19 percent less likely to get surgery than white patients, while the VA diagnoses about 8,000 veterans with lung cancer yearly. Dr. Renda Wiener of VA Boston said an annual CT screening "can reduce lung cancer deaths by 20 percent," yet fewer than 25 percent of eligible Americans are screened.

VFW State Commander Craig Diehl said service officers brought $87 million in VA benefits back to Massachusetts veterans since October 1, while warning a prior $750,000 cut to the city's veterans budget could become permanent without council vigilance. Councilor Erin J. Murphy flagged a lost $1.2 million fire department grant tied to veteran health screening.

No votes were taken.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,122 words

Source: the City Council meeting of August 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.