Guam senator notifies Congress of efforts to assist vets

Guam Senator Frank F. Blas Jr. has written to two members of Congress notifying them of his efforts to give a helping hand to veterans living on Guam and other geographically disadvantaged areas.

Blas recently authored Guam Legislative Resolution No. 302-33 which encourages the United States Congress to introduce and adopt legislation that would create a special category (within the U.S. Veterans Affairs disability rating system) that provides increased compensation for veterans residing on Guam and other geographically-challenged areas in the Pacific. The bi-partisan measure was cosponsored by Senators V. Anthony Ada, Thomas C. Ada, and Frank Blas Aguon Jr.

Blas has written to Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo as well as Virginia Congressman Rob Wittman regarding his resolution. In his correspondence to Bordallo, Blas noted that he discussed this topic with Bordallo and Wittman during a February 20, 2016 meeting.

“… veterans in our region are still finding it difficult to access the medical devices they need and are not available on their islands,” Blas said. “While many are appreciative that the Choice program has broadened their healthcare options, the availability of services on Guam and in our surrounding islands is severely limited.”

Blas noted that the limitation often requires our veterans to travel, by air, thousands of miles away from their homes to get the healthcare they need. “While gone, many of them take the fear and anxiety of the welfare of their families with them,” he wrote. “Sadly, these concerns factor in decisions on whether to leave their homes for treatment or not go because it is financially unaffordable.”

Resolution 302-33 proposes the creation of a category within the VA disability rating system that is specifically for our region’s veterans to help address the challenges in traveling to access health services provided or approved by the VA. This category, which can be named “geographically disadvantaged,” should be provided to all veterans residing in our region and take effect only when the veteran is away from the island he resides and receiving medical or psychological treatment and care not otherwise approved and provided in our region.

Blas further added that he has had positive discussions on this matter with many veterans and island leaders from Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia as well as Karen Gooden, Director of the Honolulu Regional Office for the VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. He says once the resolution is adopted locally he will transmit to Bordallo and Wittman and then work with their offices on the introduction of federal legislation to address this issue.

For more information, please contact Senator Frank F. Blas, Jr., at 687-1483 or via email at frank.blasjr@gmail.com. (PR)