Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Commission released its report yesterday and agreed that a Veteran’s 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 VA’s 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 9^th 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 Samoa’s 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 Samoa’s 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 Samoa’s CBOC to be included in the Commission’s 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 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 Samoa’s 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 Samoa’s veterans.”