The United States veterans living in the Freely Associated States of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands—who honorably got discharged from the U.S. armed forces—are one step closer to finding some real relief for their constant pains (literally), their difficulties and frustrations regarding their health care and their benefits.
Thanks to bipartisan legislation passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on December 17, 2025. The bill, dedicated to providing health services to U.S. veterans residing in the FAS—“by having the Secretary of Veterans Affairs entering into necessary agreements with FAS governments, ensuring these veterans receive care consistent with existing laws”—is now awaiting passage of the House of Representative, and President Donald Trump’s signature before becoming law.
THE BILL
The VA anticipate their proposed services (telehealth, mail-order pharmacy benefits and beneficiary travel reimbursements) to be implemented no later than a year “after the date of the enactment of this Act… to begin furnishing the services.”
REACTIONS
“We don’t have any answers for you, yet,” said acting consul general, Johnny Silbanuz, living in the village of Mangilao, Guam.
He also said the FSM Consulates Offices have to wait for the Embassy in Washington, D.C., to get the information out to the President, then he will disseminate it through the appropriate channels.
“So, this time I’m sorry I have no response for you.”
Speaking from his home in California, Diano Raigumal, a retired Navy from Yap said, “Yeah, it will take some time.”
For FAS, it might still have to clear the barriers of cultures and different politics before the veteran can enjoy the benefits and services.
Raigumal, Deputy Command Space Manager and Project Team Leader, said, no, it will take a very different route.
“It’ll get to the islands as a Department of State issue, already pre-packaged, and devoid of our island corruption and so forth,” he added. “Under Insular Affairs.”
He was an E-7 Chief Petty Officer “when I was on active duty.” He is a veteran of two major wars, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“But participated in a lot of small Operations like in the Philippines UAE, Horn of Africa, Kenya, Yemen, Tanzania and Kuwait.”
Although the bill promises a whole lot of relief to the vets, not too many of them living in their FAS countries know much about such a bill.
“I do not really understand this,” Filemino Kilicho said, an Army veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. “I will have to get back to you on this one.”
Kilicho lives in the state of Chuuk, FSM with his family.
Army SFC Domingko Saladier, who fought in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, OIF 1 and OIF 2, Operation Iraqi Freedom, also said that he, too, was not sure.
“I’ll have to find out more information on this.”
Saladier lives on Guam with his family, and his niece’s son just got enlisted.
Asked a Marine, Christiano Houmarek said, “Thank you. But I will look into this.”
He is a Chuukese in Oregon, and he participated in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom.
Perhaps it’s too premature to expect anything from veterans in FAS right away. But, upon hearing this, some of the veterans are definitely getting excited. They’re looking forward to this with a lot of gratitude. But they’re NOT going to hold their breath. They’ve shouldered their pains and frustrations thus far; what’s one more year to wait until they actually see things “with boots on the ground.”
AUTHORS OF BILL
“Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act” is a long overdue bill that has been partly anticipated by some of the U.S. veterans from FAS countries in one form or another.
“This bill ensures service members can finally access the care they deserve,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) in a press release.
He authored the “bill” with the U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). The co-sponsors are U.S. Sens. Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi; Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut; Republican John Boozman of Arkansas; Democratic Mazie Hirono from Hawai’i; Republican James Risch of Idaho; Democrat Martin Heinrich of New Mexico; Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.
Now, it’s our turn to pass along the information to our vets.
IN THE BEGINNING
On October 21, 1986 (RMI), and November 3rd, 1986 (FSM); Oct 1, 1994 (ROP), the FAS finally gained independence. When the citizens of the FAS began to flood into the U.S. armed forces in search of a better opportunity. To date, they’ve become one the highest enlistment rate per capita in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Compact of the Free Association, after a while, began to emerge between the U.S. and the FAS nations— at different times, of course.
They began trading military rights with the U.S. — air space, water ways and land masses for bases — in exchange for defense. Not only did they want the U.S. defending them, but they also sent their sons and daughters in harm’s way (some have spilled their blood already) to seal that bond.
According to an article, “House Panel Scrutinizes Pacific Island Compact Implementation,” ed., by Joanne Levine, it agreed that “COFA implementation (into providing health services to U.S. veterans residing in the FAS) is a national security issue, not merely foreign aid.”
In 2024, VA “received authority through the COFA Amendments Act to provide medical services and beneficiary travel benefits to U.S. veterans in the Freely Associated States,” said Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs Kalani Kaneko, in a release.
But they’ve never had to use it.
MARSHALLS
“I strongly support this bipartisan legislation to extend [VA] health care to veterans in the FAS,” said Kaneko. “This is not a political issue, it is personal and rooted in shared sacrifice.”
This legislation honors the service of Marshallese and American veterans alike and is a win-win for both nations ”
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
In the same release, FSM Ambassador to the U.S. Jackson Soram
said his nation appreciates the strong bipartisan leadership on the new bill, “which directs Veterans Affairs to provide necessary — and originally intended — healthcare services meant to be provided by the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024, which didn’t follow through.”
PALAU
“Most (of the home grown vets) can’t come home after their service, however, because they can’t get the [Veterans Affairs] healthcare to which they’re entitled,” said Hersey Kyota in the same article. “That devalues their service, deprives Palau of their skills and deprives the [United States] of compelling citizen ambassadors.”
Kyota is Palau Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the United States. He added that the island nation does, effectively, encompass a Texas-sized area next to Asia.
Currently there are no full VA medical services in the FAS, obviously. The closest thing is Guam, with the Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. But that involves travel.
FAS veterans deserve the same care as all others in these United States enjoy, Schatz says. “This bill ensures service members can finally access the care they deserve.”
