Veterans

I am deeply honored to represent some 112,000 Hawai‘i veterans and their families. This is a responsibility I take very seriously, especially as our veterans ‘ohana is one of the largest percentages of any state in our nation both overall and in key areas like women and minority veterans and delivery of services is often complicated by our unique qualities.

As a result, our veterans community sometimes faces unique challenges in Hawai‘i and throughout the Pacific that require targeted advocacy with our federal government and tailored solutions. I am especially able to address these issues and the broader challenges facing all of our country’s veterans as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which has responsibility for overseeing and funding of all of our federal veterans programs. My focus areas are:

Addressing the unique concerns of veterans living in Hawai‘i,
Improving the healthcare and other benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and
Assisting veterans with their individual needs.

Addressing Hawai‘i Veterans’ Needs

Hawaii’s veterans often face unique challenges that others on the mainland don’t have to face. It is my priority to tackle these issues head-on. Below are four examples:

Benefits for Native Hawaiian Veterans. Native Hawaiians have a long history of proudly serving in our military, yet recent data also shows that Native Hawaiians are disproportionality represented in Hawaii’s homeless population. That is why I fought to secure $1.88 million for the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program in Fiscal Year 2021. This program offers lower closing costs and lower interest rates on mortgages to Native Hawaiian veterans.

Telehealth and Connected Care. Telehealth and Connected Care programs benefit Neighbor Island and Pacific Island veterans who must otherwise fly to O‘ahu to receive certain kinds of care. I advocated for and Congress provided $5.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2022 for the VA’s telehealth and connected care programs, which has been helping more veterans in Hawai‘i receive the health counselling and consultation they need without having to visit the congested Tripler campus.

Parking at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center. I am working closely with the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, Tripler Army Medical Center and senior military leaders in Washington to find a solution to the parking problem at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center. Reports of veterans walking from far away lots or missing appointments completely due to a lack of parking are shocking and unacceptable. I am committed to finding a solution.

Records Request Backlogs. Backlogged requests have prevented veterans from receiving timely benefits claim decisions for too long. I worked with my Hawai‘i delegation colleagues to address and eliminate Federal Archive backlogged requests from veterans for military personnel records to use for Veteran Affairs benefits eligibility determination. In addition to current funds, the National Archive will receive $60 million to improve customer service and prevent future backlogs.

Strengthening Veterans’ Healthcare

An efficient and robust veterans healthcare system is critical to keeping our nation’s promises to our veterans, yet too often veterans do not receive the help they desperately need. To help keep our promises, as a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, for Fiscal Year 2023 I helped draft and pass legislation that provided $314.4 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding for the VA, an increase of $12.3 billion above the prior year’s level. This included increases for mental health services, suicide prevention outreach, gender-specific healthcare, telehealth and opioid abuse prevention.

I am also committed to improving the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act. While over 30 veteran service organizations supported the program, I am aware that many veterans in Hawai‘i have had difficulties with the transition. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue working closely with my colleagues and the VA to ensure the Act’s provisions are designed and implemented with the best interests of our nation’s veterans in mind.

Assisting with Your Individual Needs

One of my most critical responsibilities as your Congressman is to help with your individual needs. Although I cannot mandate a particular result or override the decision of a federal agency, I can often assist with answering questions, finding solutions or simply cutting through red tape to ensure veterans receive the benefits they are entitled to receive. If you or a veteran you know has questions or requires assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at https://case.house.gov/forms/casework.

PACT Act Information

This historic legislation has expanded access to care for all our veterans exposed to toxic substances in the line of duty, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. On March 3, 2022, I voted with a majority of the House to pass the PACT Act to fulfill our promise to our veterans and on August 10^th, 2022, the President signed the Act into law.

Recognizing the harms inflicted by exposure to burn pits and airborne hazards, the PACT Act codified a presumption that servicemembers stationed in certain theatres were exposed to toxic substances at particular times. This legislation shifted the burden of proof off veterans and their loved ones and eased access to care for a broad array of conditions and cancers. It also streamlined the Department of Veterans Affairs’ processes for establishing toxic exposure presumptions, ensuring that veterans do not have to wait decades for help.

With the enactment of this measure, we have held true to our promise to our nation's veterans that we will care for them when they come home. To apply for PACT Act benefits or learn more about eligibility requirements please click HERE.