Schatz co-authors bipartisan bill to expand VA services to vets in Freely Associated States

U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation expanding U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits to American veterans living in the Freely Associated States of Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.

The Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act — authored by Hawai‘i Democrat U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran — would require the Veterans Affairs Department to provide telehealth services, mail-order pharmacy benefits and beneficiary travel reimbursements to veterans in the Freely Associated States.

“U.S. veterans in the [Freely Associated States] deserve the same care as all other service members, without having to navigate complex, costly barriers or travel long distances just to see a doctor or get medication,” said Schatz in a release about the new legislation. “This bill ensures service members can finally access the care they deserve.”

Citizens of the Freely Associated States enlist in the U.S. military at some of the highest rates per capita.

The United States — in exchange for exclusive military basing rights — defends these island nations as part of a decadeslong compact agreement.

Veterans Affairs in 2024 received authority through the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act to provide medical services and beneficiary travel benefits to U.S. veterans in the Freely Associated States.

To date, however, Veterans Affairs has not exercised this authority.

“I strongly support this bipartisan legislation to extend [Veterans Affairs] health care to veterans in the Freely Associated States,” said the Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs Kalani Kaneko in the release from Schatz’s office. “This is not a political issue, it is personal and rooted in shared sacrifice.”

Kaneko is a retired U.S. Army veteran. Before he left the service, however, he was able to recruit nearly 200 Marshallese men and women who served under the U.S. flag and earned the benefits outlined in the new legislation.

He added that allowing veterans to receive care at home strengthens families, stabilizes communities and advances shared national security interests by reducing forced Marshallese out-migration driven by lack of access to care.

The enduring defense partnership between the United States and Republic of the Marshall Islands is also reinforced through the Schatz co-authored measure.

“This legislation honors the service of Marshallese and American veterans alike and is a win-win for both nations,” Kaneko said.

In addition to Schatz and Moran, the Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Republican John Boozman of Arkansas, Schatz’s fellow Democratic colleague from Hawai’i Mazie Hirono, Republican James Risch of Idaho, Democrat Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and New Hampshire Democrate Jeanne Shaheen.

“[The Federated States of Micronesia] is proud to have some of the highest enlistment rates of our citizens who have volunteered to serve in the U.S. military,” said the Federated States of Micronesia Ambassador to the United States Jackson Soram in the release from Schatz’s office. “However, veterans who return home … after serving have faced significant cost and access barriers to care through the existing Foreign Medical Program.”

The Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024 removed statutory barriers for veterans to access their earned Veterans Affairs healthcare benefits.

Soram said his nation appreciates the strong bipartisan leadership on the new Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act, which directs Veterans Affairs to provide necessary — and originally intended — healthcare services meant to be provided by the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024, which didn’t follow through.

A top U.S. military commander once called Palau “part of the homeland,” to which Palau Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the United States Hersey Kyota said the island nation does, effectively, encompass a Texas-sized area next to Asia.

Palau also allows the U.S. military to house base radars, test missiles and maintain a runway and dock inside its borders. More importantly, the nation’s youth are recruited into service.

“Most can’t come home after their service, however, because they can’t get the [Veterans Affairs] healthcare to which they’re entitled,” said Kyota in the Schatz release. “That devalues their service, deprives Palau of their skills and deprives the [United States] of compelling citizen ambassadors.”

He added that Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. and his team are working to correct that inequity. Last year’s bipartisan Compact of Free Association Amendments Act — aimed at strengthening the free association that binds the island nation and United States almost as one — was intended to do that.

“This new bill would,” Kyota said about the Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act.

You can read the full text of the legislation online.