U.S. lawmakers stress need for implementation of veteran healthcare plans amid renewed COFA

Some U.S. congressional lawmakers say more needs to be done to fulfill the promises made in the renewed Compacts of Free Association. At a recent subcommittee oversight hearing, lawmakers say government departments need to pick up the pace, especially when it comes to veterans' access to healthcare.

Del. Amata Radewagen from American Samoa said, "I'm therefore gravely concerned to see that there are several key provisions of the COFA Amendments Act that have not been implemented in a timely manner, consistent with the clearly expressed intent of Congress, an agreement signed by the president."

The Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing this week on the implementation of the COFA amendments. Access to healthcare for veterans was a key issue that dominated the hearing, which featured executive department representatives and island ambassadors.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, said, "We have yet to see the Department of Veterans Affairs carry out any of the services in the FAS that it was charged with under COFA. I find this unacceptable, but somewhat not surprising under this VA administration that seems to have forgotten that their job is to serve all of our veterans."

The VA’s representative responded to concerns. Dr. Miguel Lapuz, special assistant to the deputy under secretary for health with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said, "VA is exploring a comprehensive care model for how FAS veterans can access hospital care and medical services to align generally with how VA provides care to veterans living in the US. Implementation may look different depending on agreements with the FAS governments, current infrastructure, and the varying degree of reliance on the ways veterans can access care."

However, some lawmakers say those actions need to be taken immediately amid the VA’s red tape. Hawaii representative Ed Case said, "We don't have all that much more time because these benefits are due and veterans need this help and that they are in a very difficult situation. So we're going to stay in touch with you on this, but I would urge alacrity."

Ambassadors from Micronesia stress the urgency, especially since traveling to Guam or Hawai’i for healthcare is costly.

Hersey Kyota, ambassador to the U.S., Palau said, "We have tried to reach out to VA. We have not received anything."

FSM ambassador Jackson Soram added, "Timing is an issue here. We are given one year to complete the negotiations to work through all of this so i hope we can keep that in mind."

And ambassador to the Marshall Islands Charles Paul said, "We have veterans in the islands that need the help. The sooner we get there the better it is for our veterans, receiving the care that they earned and that they deserve."

KUAM reached out to Guam delegate James Moylan’s office for comment on the hearing and what his opponent had to say about it. Candidate Ginger Cruz issued a press release stating, in part, “For the first time in decades, Guam is left without financial support for compact participation. Our people deserve better.”