Hirono Applauds VA Announcement on Medical Care for COFA Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) announcement that it intends to offer medical care to American veterans living in the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, consistent with the updated Compacts of Free Association (COFA) signed into law earlier this year.

“COFA citizens who served in our Armed Forces should have access to the same health care and benefits as all other American veterans, regardless of where they live. That’s why my colleagues and I fought to include provisions in the renegotiated Compacts passed earlier this year, which are vital to our national security, to give VA the legal authority needed to provide care in the FAS. Today’s announcement that VA intends to provide comprehensive care to COFA veterans, including medical care, pharmacy services, and travel, is an important step for COFA veterans and our relationship with the Freely Associated States. I appreciate VA Secretary McDonough and his team for working diligently to make this happen, and I’ll continue working with him and our COFA partners to ensure full, timely implementation following negotiations with the Freely Associated States.”

The Compacts of Free Association allow citizens of the FAS to live and work in the United States. While COFA citizens can and have served in the U.S. Armed Services for many decades, veterans residing in the FAS have long been unable to access health services except through the Foreign Medical Program, which requires out-of-pocket payment making it difficult for veterans in these nations to utilize. During the most recent COFA renegotiations, Senator Hirono worked with her Congressional colleagues and our FAS partners to secure the restoration of VA benefits for COFA citizens residing in the FAS.

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