Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of my amendment urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive plan to relocate the VA regional office from Manila to Guam.

Guam is home to one of the highest per capita populations of veterans in the United States, but our role doesn't stop there. We serve as a critical hub for veterans across the western Pacific, from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the Freely Associated States. Yet, despite this regional responsibility, Guam still lacks a full-service VA regional office.

Today, veterans throughout our region are forced to rely on remote services or travel thousands of miles to Honolulu, more than 3,800 miles away, just to meet with a benefits counselor or resolve a claim. That is not just inconvenient. It is unjust, and it is unacceptable.

My amendment seeks to change that. It would direct the VA to develop a plan within 1 year for transitioning its regional office from Manila to Guam. This isn't about turning off the lights in the Philippines overnight. It is about creating a deliberate, responsible roadmap that ensures veterans in the western Pacific and the Philippines continue to receive care while aligning the VA's footprint with our evolving strategic reality.

The men and women who sacrificed for our country did not do so with an expiration date on their service. Our commitment to them must be equally enduring. We have a duty to ensure they are not forgotten or left behind.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Goodlander), who is a new Member and a veteran of our Armed Forces.

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