Pete A. looks into gaps in veterans’ benefits in NMI

Prompted by pleas for assistance from several local veterans, Washington Representative Pedro A. Tenorio has been conducting a series of meetings with local veterans on Saipan, Tinian and Rota to determine the level of service currently provided by the U.S. Veterans Administration.

The VFW Post sponsored a meeting on July 5 on Saipan. Tenorio met with Rota veterans on July 7, which was coordinated by Sgt. Herman M. Atalig, and he is scheduled to meet with Tinian veterans on Saturday. Joaquin H. Borja is coordinating that meeting.

“These men and women served their country proudly and with honor. I was disturbed to find out that they are not receiving the same level of care that their counterparts in the [United States] are receiving,” said Tenorio.

“I want to begin addressing this issue now before the number of eligible veterans increases. I know that all of our thoughts and prayers are with our reservists and active-duty members of the military that are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and hope that all come home safely, but we must be ready if some are injured and become eligible for VA benefits,” added Tenorio.

Local veteran Joseph C. Reyes said the VA does not provide services in the CNMI, “and it is a real hardship on our growing number of veterans. We are delighted to work with Pete A. to correct this problem.”

Tenorio met with VA officials in Washington prior to this current visit to the CNMI to alert them to this problem. “I wanted to let them know that my office had received these requests for assistance, and that I would be investigating this further. Upon my return to Washington, I will meet with them again so that we can work on a better system to deliver services in the CNMI. Our veterans have to travel to Guam or Hawaii on their own expense to receive the medical care that they deserve, and that is too much to ask after what they have already given to their country. The officials I have met with so far are very concerned and want to help.”

Any veteran who is unable to meet with Tenorio while he is on island is encouraged to contact his District Office on Capitol Hill or call 664-5651.

Tenorio will be going back to Washington on July 12, where he will be joining Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente in meetings with members of Congress to discuss the need to amend Headnote 3(a), and host the annual Congressional Liberation Day Reception with Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo.

“This has become our tradition to jointly host this event in the Cannon House Office Building. It is well attended by many members of Congress and their staff, who love to eat our Chamorro food, and provides a good opportunity to touch base in an informal and casual atmosphere,” said Tenorio.

After that, he has a full agenda following up on several pieces of legislation that he has been working on all year. H.R. 3 or the Transportation Equity Act is currently in conference committee and contains $12 million for the Talofofo bridge project and road. H.R. 6, the Energy Bill, in also in conference committee and contains a section that provides funding for the territories to strengthen the electrical distribution system. H.R. 2864 or the Water Resources Development Act contains a project to help correct CNMI water woes. And, among other things, he is also working to get a House floor vote on the CNMI Delegate bill.