Amata Cosponsors Bill for Island Veterans to Advise VA

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is an original cosponsor of legislation supporting establishment of a new committee of Veterans from throughout the five U.S. Territories and the three Freely Associated States to better advise the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) on Veterans' issues affecting the insular areas.

The bill would create the VA Advisory Committee on the U.S. Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, which would be comprised of Veterans from American Samoa, CNMI, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

"Once again, all the representatives from the territories are working together for an improvement that would benefit all of our islands," said Congresswoman Amata. "We have a commitment to our Veterans, and getting their direct advice and input could facilitate better communication and results. Thank you especially to my friend, Congressman Sablan, for his leadership on this legislation."

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H.R. 3730 is sponsored by Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, CNMI, with the following original cosponsors upon introduction: Rep. Aumau Amata Radewagen, American Samoa; Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Puerto Rico; Rep. Michael San Nicolas, Guam; Rep. Stacey Plaskett, USVI; Rep. Julia Brownley, CA-26; Rep. Kaiali'i Kahele, HI-2; and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva, AZ-3.

This advisory committee would advise the VA Secretary on the availability and accessibility of services and benefits within the insular areas, and take part in discussions regarding how to improve that distribution of services and resources in these areas.