House OKs establishment of regional Veterans Affairs office on Guam

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted for a proposal to open a permanent

Veterans Affairs Regional Office on Guam, which would serve the needs of veterans on island and the region.

The proposed establishment of a new regional office was tacked onto H.R. 3944,

titled the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies

Appropriations Act of 2026, which passed the House on June 25.

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“Our veterans deserve to be honored. This amendment is a major step toward finally delivering the respect and recognition our veterans on Guam have long deserved,” said Guam Del. James Moylan, who proposed the amendment.

 “I introduced this measure to honor the service and sacrifice of our island’s veterans and their families, and to ensure they are never again treated as an afterthought,” he added.

James Moylan

The amendment directs the VA Secretary to begin laying the groundwork for a full-service VA Regional Office on Guam.

Currently, veterans travel to Hawaii to seek services that are unavailable on Guam. Most of them need to travel with family members for support, which presents a financial burden that few can afford.  

According to a 2024 report by the Government Accountability Office, veterans from Guam and other U.S. territories, as well as  Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall do not qualify for VA travel benefits.

"Regarding FAS veterans, legislation enacted in March 2024 explicitly authorized VA subject to certain agreements to reimburse them for travel related to eligible health care services, but VA has not yet implemented this legislation," GAO said in a report released in May 2024.

Moylan noted that Guam is home to one of the highest per capita veteran populations in the United States and serves as the regional hub for the Indo-Pacific.

“As the Department of Defense expands its footprint in the region, the time to act is now. We must build the infrastructure to match the mission and that begins with Guam,” he said.

The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. If approved, it will then proceed to the

president’s desk for final signature into law. 

“For years, our veterans have been underserved and 

overlooked. Now that national attention is turning to Guam as the tip of the spear in the Indo-Pacific, we have a responsibility to make sure our veterans are prioritized

 and are not left behind,” Moylan said. 

“I’m hopeful this legislation will finally bring an end to years of waiting and open doors for additional VA resources to flow into Guam," he added.

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