Lawmaker urges VA to surge staff and plan a regional office to improve veterans access in Guam and the Pacific Islands

A member speaking for Guam told the subcommittee that veterans across Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and the Freely Associated States rely on the VA regional office in Honolulu and face long delays and access barriers because of distance and time zones. The speaker asked the subcommittee for a two-step approach: surge VA staff into existing leased federal space to increase near-term operational presence, and direct the VA to plan and report to Congress on establishing a permanent regional VA office in Guam.

The witness said surging staff into leased space would leverage existing infrastructure and help close coverage gaps while a plan for a regional office with performance metrics would identify barriers, improve in-person access, reduce claims-processing delays and prioritize U.S. citizens for federal employment where appropriate.

"We need more of their employees there," the witness said, urging the VA to submit a plan that identifies what is needed to establish a regional office. The speaker also urged the committee to support veteran poverty prevention programs, the veterans homeless prevention program, food-security initiatives and VBA programs that improve benefit access.

Committee members acknowledged the problem, described prior difficulty establishing a permanent office, and said they would continue to look for solutions. No formal directive or vote was issued during Member ay testimony; the requests will inform subcommittee deliberations on FY2027 funding and report language.