[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 143 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1654-E1655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF VA CLINIC IN AMERICAN SAMOA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2014

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for 
historical purposes, information about the establishment of the VA 
clinic in American Samoa.

                     [Press Release, Nov. 11, 2000]

  First Step in Establishing a VA Medical Clinic in American Samoa Is 
                                Underway

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that a technical 
     team will be in American Samoa from November 13th-17th to set 
     up and test telecom connections for the veterans enrollment 
     plan scheduled for early December.
       This is an important moment for our veterans, Congressman 
     Faleomavaega said. And it is an important moment for American 
     Samoa. Establishing an accurate method for enrolling our 
     veterans is the first step in establishing a VA medical 
     clinic in American Samoa. The purpose of the technical teams 
     visit is to ensure that all systems are go when the VA team 
     arrives to enroll our veterans in early December. Congressman 
     Faleomavaega also explained that the teams visit is part of a 
     collective effort between his office, ASG, and the VA offices 
     in Honolulu and American Samoa.
       I want to thank Governor Tauese for his commitment to our 
     veterans. I also want to thank the Governors Special 
     Assistants on Veterans Affairs, High Chief Tuiteleleapaga Fue 
     Ioane, President of the Veterans Advisory Council, and High 
     Talking Chief Paogofie Fiaigoa, Veterans Affairs Officer, 
     Congressman Faleomavaega said. We are working together to 
     ensure that our veterans receive top-notch health care and 
     benefits. We are working together to ensure that every 
     veteran in American Samoa counts and that no one is left 
     behind. We will not be satisfied with the process until every 
     veteran in Samoa is accounted for and enrolled in the system.
       I have also been working with Senator Akaka, a senior 
     member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, and 
     Congressman Lane Evans, Ranking Member of the House Committee 
     on Veterans Affairs, Congressman Faleomavaega said. Both 
     gentlemen are fully supportive of our efforts to establish a 
     VA medical clinic with a full-time physician in the 
     Territory. The technical teams planned visit for the week of 
     November 13th is the first step in our collective effort to 
     establish the process that may lead to the construction of 
     our own facility.
       Congressman Faleomavaega also noted that Federal law 
     requires an accurate accounting and enrollment of veterans 
     before any consideration can be made to establish a VA 
     medical clinic. It is incumbent upon every veteran living on 
     island to take part in the enrollment process. If we want a 
     clinic with a full-time physician, every veteran must 
     participate, Congressman Faleomavaega said. I strongly urge 
     all veterans on island to participate and enroll when the 
     time comes.
       For now, the technical team, headed by Dr. Norman Okamura, 
     will visit Fagatua, Tafuna, Leone and Samoana High Schools to 
     confirm facility arrangements for enrollment activity. 
     According to Congressman Faleomavaega, the team will also 
     confirm the VAs clinical patient record system server 
     configuration and network requirements.
       The technical team plans to meet with LBJ and Health 
     Department officials to consider the registration process and 
     to discuss the IHS data system. During this time the team 
     will also be working closely with Johnny Mapu, PTSD 
     Coordinator for the office of Veterans Affairs. Provided all 
     systems are go, the VA enrollment team will arrive in 
     American Samoa during the week of December 4th to begin the 
     enrollment process.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, Feb. 14, 2004]

    CARES Commission Agrees With Faleomavaega; VA Clinic Should Be 
                     Established in American Samoa

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the Capital 
     Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Commission 
     released its report yesterday and agreed that a Veterans 
     community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) should be 
     established in American Samoa.
       The CARES Commission was created by the U.S. Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to provide an independent assessment of what 
     the VAs needs may be during the next 20 years. One of the 
     main priorities of the Commission is to make sure that 
     underserved veterans will receive the care they deserve.
       On October 1, 2003, I testified before the CARES Commission 
     via live satellite feed from the U.S. House of 
     Representatives to urge the establishment of a VA clinic in 
     American Samoa and to request that our clinic be given the 
     highest priority rating possible, Congressman Faleomavaega 
     said. In my statement, I informed the Commission that I had 
     worked closely with General John Ma, Commanding General of 
     the 9th Regional Support Command, to secure a building at no 
     cost to the VA.
       The building that we agreed should be used for a VA clinic 
     is the butler building which is next to our PX. The butler 
     building is 3,600 sq. ft., equipped with telehealth lines, 
     and there are separate entrances and parking lots that can be 
     further segregated if necessary. The U.S. Army Reserve has 
     agreed to reconfigure the building to VA needs and transfer 
     its operations when our new $20 million U.S. Army Reserve 
     Center is completed by the end of this year.
       Mr. David Burge, Director of the Honolulu VA Medical and 
     Regional Office Center (VAMROC) and Dr. Weibe, Director of 
     the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 21 have 
     estimated that construction costs to renovate the building 
     will be approximately $1 million. The VA and DoD will assume 
     all costs associated with the renovation and, once converted, 
     the clinic will be used to serve Army Reservists as well as 
     our veterans, Congressman Faleomavaega said.
       As I stated in my testimony before the Commission, more 
     than 5,000 veterans live in American Samoa and over 1,000 are 
     enrolled in VA health care. Enrolled veterans are forced to 
     travel more than 2,300 miles from American Samoa to the 
     nearest VA facility in Honolulu, Hawaii to receive the 
     medical care and attention they need.
       As a Vietnam veteran, I am painfully aware of the 
     sacrifices that American Samoas veterans have made in defense 
     of this nation and I do not believe we are asking for the 
     moon when we ask for a VA clinic to be established in 
     American Samoa. Like every other American who has borne the 
     battle, our veterans deserve access to quality VA care. We 
     deserve to have one doctor, one nurse, one clinic to serve 
     our veterans and I am pleased that the CARES Commission 
     agrees with me and has made a favorable recommendation for 
     the establishment of a CBOC in American Samoa.
       Although there was some question about whether or not we 
     had enough veterans to qualify for the establishment of a 
     CBOC, the CARES Commission set aside VA claims that we may 
     have as few as 800 veterans and simply stated that it agrees 
     that a CBOC should be established in American Samoa in 
     collaboration with the Department of Defense. This news comes 
     after years of hard work, ups and downs, and twists and 
     turns, the Congressman said. For almost two years, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs has placed a hold on 
     construction of new facilities and every State and Territory 
     is now competing for construction dollars. Last year, about 
     242 VA facilities were listed in the CARES National Draft 
     plan and American Samoas CBOC was among those listed. 
     Initially, we had a priority rating of 3 because we have less 
     than 7,000 veterans. Because of our remote location and lack 
     of VA care, I asked the Commission to raise our rating from 
     priority 3 to priority 1 before publishing its final 
     recommendations.
       I also asked for American Samoas CBOC to be included in the 
     Commissions final report to the Secretary. Senator Inouye, 
     Senator Akaka, the Honorable Chris Smith, Chairman of the 
     House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Honorable Lane 
     Evans,

[[Page E1655]]

     Ranking Member, supported my efforts and joined with me in 
     signing letters to Mr. Everett Alvarez, Chairman of the CARES 
     Commission, requesting the same.
       On February 13, 2004, the Commission released its report 
     and I am pleased that our CBOC is included in its final 
     recommendations. I am also pleased that the Commission made a 
     nationwide decision to dismiss the VA priority ratings of 1, 
     2, and 3 and thereby cleared the way for the establishment of 
     CBOCs in rural areas like American Samoa that have less than 
     7,000 veterans. Given the Commission's report, I am now 
     hopeful that the Honorable Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, will use the recommendations made by the 
     CARES Commission to create better access to health care for 
     American Samoas veterans.
       At this time, I want to thank the CARES Commission for 
     undertaking this mission and for seeking the views of 
     veterans and stakeholders across the country. I also want to 
     thank Senators Inouye and Akaka, Chairman Smith, Ranking 
     Member Evans, and General John Ma for their support 
     throughout this process.
       As I have said many times before, our sons and daughters 
     have served in record numbers in every U.S. military 
     engagement from WWII to present operations in Iraq. We have 
     stood by the United States in good times and bad and I am 
     pleased that the CARES Commission has recognized our service 
     and agreed that is time to do right by American Samoas 
     veterans.
       Once again, I thank the Commission for the opportunity I 
     had to testify and submit supporting documentation for 
     consideration, including a Senate Concurrent Resolution from 
     the American Samoa Legislature dated March 28, 2001 I also 
     thank American Samoas veterans and our active duty service 
     members for their support. I applaud them for their military 
     service and I continue to wish them and their families the 
     very best, the Congressman concluded.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, June 22, 2004]

 U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Approves Faleomavaega's Request To 
                 Establish VA Clinic in American Samoa

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the Honorable 
     Anthony J. Principi, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, has 
     approved Faleomavaega's request to establish a VA clinic in 
     American Samoa.
       ``The Secretary announced his decision on May 7, 2004 and I 
     will be meeting on June 24, 2004 with Dr. Wiebe, Director of 
     VISN 21, which is the Veterans Integrated Service Network 
     responsible for California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam and American 
     Samoa,'' Congressman Faleomavaega said.
       ``On April 26, 2004, I briefed Major General Joseph G. 
     Webb, Jr., Commander of the Pacific Regional Medical Command 
     and the Lead Agent for TRICARE Pacific on my efforts 
     to establish a clinic in American Samoa. Dr. Wiebe was 
     also present for these discussions which took place in 
     American Samoa during the April recess, or district work 
     period.''
       ``I am pleased that I was able to take General Webb and Dr. 
     Wiebe on a tour of the butler building which the 9th Regional 
     Support Command has agreed to turn over for our use, 
     Faleomavaega continued. I am also pleased that General Webb 
     and Dr. Wiebe were able to see first-hand the needs of our 
     local veterans.''
       ``Most of all, I am thankful that Secretary Principi has 
     agreed that a VA community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) 
     should be established in American Samoa. Only 156 new CBOCs 
     will be established and one of those will be for our 
     veterans,'' Congressman Faleomavaega said.
       ``Recognizing that resources are not available to open all 
     of these clinics immediately, the VA will establish the new 
     CBOCs by using criteria within the existing approval process. 
     This includes sound business plans and the capacity to manage 
     specialty referrals and inpatient needs of a new 
     population.''
       ``Given our immediate need and the arrangements we have in 
     place with the U.S. Army Reserve, I am hopeful that VISN 21 
     and Dr. Wiebe will be able to act quickly on the 
     establishment of our clinic, the Congressman said. At this 
     time, I want to thank the Capital Asset Realignment for 
     Enhanced Services (CARES) Commission which included American 
     Samoa in its recommendations to the Secretary.''
       ``The CARES Commission was created by the U.S. Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to provide an independent assessment of what 
     the VAs needs may be during the next 20 years. One of the 
     main priorities of the Commission is to make sure that 
     underserved veterans will receive the care they deserve.''
       ``On October 1, 2003, I testified before the CARES 
     Commission via live satellite feed from the U.S. House of 
     Representatives to urge the establishment of a VA clinic in 
     American Samoa and to request that our clinic be given the 
     highest priority rating possible, Congressman Faleomavaega 
     said. In my statement, I informed the Commission that I had 
     worked closely with General John Ma, Commanding General of 
     the 9th Regional Support Command, to secure a building at no 
     cost to the VA.''
       ``The building that we agreed should be used for a VA 
     clinic is the butler building which currently houses our PX. 
     The butler building is 3,600 sq. ft., equipped with 
     telehealth lines, and there are separate entrances and 
     parking lots that can be further separated if necessary. The 
     U.S. Army Reserve has agreed to reconfigure the building to 
     VA needs and transfer its operations when our new $20 million 
     U.S. Army Reserve Center is completed by October of this 
     year.''
       ``Mr. David Burge, Director of the Honolulu VA Medical and 
     Regional Office Center (VAMROC), and Dr. Wiebe have estimated 
     that construction costs to renovate the building will be 
     approximately $1 million. The VA and DoD will assume all 
     costs associated with the renovation and, once converted, the 
     clinic will be used to serve Army Reservists as well as our 
     veterans,'' Congressman Faleomavaega said.
       ``As I stated in my testimony before the Commission, more 
     than 5,000 veterans live in American Samoa but only about 800 
     are enrolled in VA health care. Enrolled veterans are forced 
     to travel more than 2,300 miles from American Samoa to the 
     nearest VA facility in Honolulu, Hawaii to receive the 
     medical care and attention they need.''
       ``As a Vietnam veteran, I am painfully aware of the 
     sacrifices that American Samoas veterans have made in defense 
     of this nation, and I do not believe we are asking for the 
     moon when we ask for a VA clinic to be established in 
     American Samoa. Like every other American who has borne the 
     battle, our veterans deserve access to quality VA care. We 
     deserve to have at least one doctor, one nurse, and a clinic 
     to serve our veterans and I am pleased that the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs and the CARES Commission agrees with me and 
     has made a favorable recommendation for the establishment of 
     a CBOC in American Samoa.''
       ``Although there was some question about whether or not we 
     had enough veterans to qualify for the establishment of a 
     CBOC, the CARES Commission set aside VA claims that we may 
     have as few as 800 veterans and simply stated that it agrees 
     that a CBOC should be established in American Samoa in 
     collaboration with the Department of Defense. This news comes 
     after years of hard work, ups and downs, and twists and 
     turns, the Congressman said. For almost two years, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs has placed a hold on 
     construction of new facilities and every State and Territory 
     is now competing for construction dollars.''
       ``Last year, about 242 VA facilities were listed in the 
     CARES National Draft plan and American Samoas CBOC was among 
     those listed. Initially, we had a priority rating of 3 
     because we have less than 7,000 veterans. Because of our 
     remote location and lack of VA care, I asked the Commission 
     to raise our rating from priority 3 to priority 1 before 
     publishing its final recommendations.''
       ``I also asked for American Samoas CBOC to be included in 
     the Commissions final report to the Secretary. Senator 
     Inouye, Senator Akaka, the Honorable Chris Smith, Chairman of 
     the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Honorable 
     Lane Evans, Ranking Member, supported my efforts and joined 
     with me in signing letters to Mr. Everett Alvarez, Chairman 
     of the CARES Commission, requesting the same.''
       ``On February 13, 2004, the Commission released its report 
     and, as I announced in a press release dated February 14, 
     2004, our CBOC was included in its final recommendations. The 
     Commission made a nationwide decision to dismiss the VA 
     priority ratings of 1, 2, and 3 and thereby cleared the way 
     for the establishment of CBOCs in rural areas like American 
     Samoa that have less than 7,000 veterans.''
       ``In turn, Secretary Principi included our clinic on his 
     list of 156 and I am hopeful that with his support VISN 21 
     will now move to improve health care for American Samoas 
     veterans, the Congressman said. As I have said time and time 
     again, our men and women have served in record numbers in 
     every U.S. military engagement from WWII to present 
     operations in Iraq. We have stood by the United States in 
     good times and bad and I am pleased that Secretary Principi 
     has made it clear that it is time to do right by American 
     Samoas veterans.''
       ``I thank Secretary Principi for his support. I also thank 
     the CARES Commission, Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka, Chairman 
     Chris Smith and Ranking Member Lane Evans of the House 
     Committee on Veterans Affairs, Dave Burge, General Webb, and 
     General John Ma for their support and commitment throughout 
     this process.''
       ``Again, I thank the Commission for the opportunity I had 
     to testify and submit supporting documentation for 
     consideration, including a Senate Concurrent Resolution from 
     the American Samoa Legislature dated March 28, 2001. I also 
     thank American Samoas veterans and our active duty service 
     members for their support. I applaud them for their military 
     service and I continue to wish them and their families the 
     very best,'' the Congressman concluded.

                          ____________________