STATEMENT: CLARIFYING INTENT BEHIND PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE VA REGIONAL OFFICE TO GUAM
(Hagåtña, Guam) I want to address recent concerns regarding my proposal to relocate the Manila VA Regional Office. First, there has been some confusion about where the office will be relocated. To be clear, my proposal is to move the Manila VA Regional Office to Guam to ensure our veterans can get enhanced, immediate assistance in submitting disability claims, scheduling of Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams, and for some, filing for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits. Moving the VA Regional Office to Guam will provide immediate relief to thousands of our veterans who have long awaited stronger VA support.
Second, why did I decide to propose this? I assure you, this effort is not about reducing support for our veterans in the Philippines. On the contrary, it is about strengthening services and expanding access for all veterans throughout the region. Guam is strategically positioned and already serves other outlying areas such as the CNMI and FAS. Our island is poised to be the central hub for federal services in the Pacific, offering a more accessible and responsive option for veterans in the region. With the current authorization for the Manila Regional Office nearing expiration, I took proactive steps and formally recommended Guam as a viable location before any decisions are made to move it farther from both the Philippines and Guam without regional input.
In the meantime, I have been working closely with the House Appropriations Committee to reauthorize the Manila VA Regional Office for one additional fiscal year. This would provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with the necessary time to plan and execute the establishment of a new Regional Office in Guam, while continuing to serve veterans through uninterrupted operations in Manila during the transition.
Lastly, why is this good for Guam? We’ve all heard by now that the White House is promoting an “America First” agenda. If the authority for the Manila Regional Office is expiring and there has been no submission to renew its authority, then why not move it to the closest American soil? Moreover, this relocation request allows Guam to seek increased VA support without asking for more funding. To put it simply, we are asking to have the VA use the same exact budget that the Manila regional office operated under and relocate it to Guam. If nothing is done and the Manila Office closes, all claims in our region will default to Hawaii- a move that, as Guam residents know, would create significant logistical and processing challenges.
Our veterans deserve nothing less than swift and decisive action. They have endured years of neglect, and this is a prime opportunity to finally do right by them. I will wholeheartedly continue to pursue this so that my fellow brothers and sisters receive the care, benefits and respect they have rightfully earned!
END STATEMENT