House calls for VA office, clinic on Saipan

Lawmakers are urging the U.S. Congress to create a Veterans Affairs office and clinic on Saipan to serve veterans in the Commonwealth.

In a resolution adopted late last week, the House of Representatives said that approximately 1,400 veterans, reservists, and active duty members, including 400 now serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, could benefit from having a VA benefits office and a VA community-based outpatient clinic on island.

“Veterans residing in the CNMI deserve benefits equal to those received by veterans residing in the continental United States and other territories,” states the resolution.

It also notes that the planned U.S. military buildup in both Guam and the Northern Marianas is expected to result in growing numbers of veterans and their dependents living and traveling between the islands. This, the resolution says, “further justifies the need for Veterans Affairs healthcare and other services to be directly and readily available in the CNMI.”

Currently, the CNMI’s Office of Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs serves as the sole official liaison and advocate for veterans in the CNMI. But it depends entirely on dwindling local resources, and is managed by one executive director, veteran Ruth Coleman, with no support staff.

With no VA office on island, the CNMI’s MLVA office and veterans living in the CNMI are required to coordinate all Veterans Affairs issues through Guam or Hawaii, a requirement which the House resolution says “has proven to be generally cumbersome and ineffective.” The resolution adds that many veterans in the CNMI have difficulty accessing their own VA healthcare benefits, and some must travel to Guam or Hawaii at their own expense to receive services available through Guam’s VA community-based outpatient clinic.

In related news, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced recently that it is amending regulations to make allow U.S. territories to avail of benefits under the VA State Home Program.

A press release issued by the office of Rep. Madeleine Bordallo said the VA’s decision came in response to the Guam delegate’s letter of inquiry which requested a clarification of current policy regarding Guam’s eligibility for State Home grant assistance.

The VA State Home Program is a partnership between the VA and the states or territories to construct nursing home, domiciliary, or adult health day care facilities. The VA grant can assist a state or territory with funding up to 65 percent of the cost of construction or acquisition of state nursing homes or for renovations to existing state homes.

“VA Secretary [James] Peake has acknowledged that under the statute the territories should be eligible for this program and the VA will amend its regulations to allow territories to participate. This will enable Guam to pursue the establishment of a VA home or an adult health day care facility,” Bordallo said. “As our veteran population ages it is important that Guam stay ahead of the curve by developing new programs, such as a Veterans Home, for elderly veterans.”