WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), both members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), introduced the Representing VA with Accuracy (REP VA) Act to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide rural states, such as Alaska and Hawaii, with an in-state call center to provide state-specific support for veterans seeking heath care appointments.
“All veterans, especially those located in more rural and remote areas such as Hawaii and Alaska, should be able to pick up the phone and speak to someone at VA who is within their community and geographical time zone—people who will be able to better assist them and make them feel heard,” said Senator Hirono. “By requiring VA to establish call centers in rural areas and ensuring these call centers are clearly identified when contacting veterans, this legislation will help to reduce wait times while also taking steps to safeguard veterans from potential scams and help them to feel more secure.”
This legislation will also help to ensure that calls made to a veteran or by an employee or contractor of VA regarding services are made from a well-known telephone number and uses caller identification branding that indicates that the call is from or on behalf of VA.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Hirono has consistently worked to support veterans in Hawaii and across the country. Last week, Senator Hirono introduced the Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation to make it easier for veterans with disabilities to be made financially whole in the event they are defrauded of their benefits. The legislation allows the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to reimburse victims of fraud without first meeting unnecessary bureaucratic requirements. She also introduced the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act to make certain the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assists the family caregivers of veterans as they transition into the workforce or retirement after their caregiving responsibilities have ended. Recently, Senator Hirono also introduced the VetPAC Act to enhance the efficiency and quality of health care services provided to American veterans. Last month, Senator Hirono also reintroduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2025, bicameral, bipartisan legislation that would speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. In January, Senator Hirono introduced the Veterans Member Business Loan Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation expands access to capital for veteran-owned small businesses by removing arbitrary lending caps imposed on credit union member business loans.
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