Key Takeaways
- •Witnesses requested funding to address a $1 billion backlog in state veterans home construction and urged the establishment of a regional VA office in Guam.
- •Val Hoyle and Liccardo testified on the need for rural veteran housing and the preservation of commissary access for military families facing facility closures by 2029.
- •Rep. Wasserman Schultz (D, FL-25) agreed with James Moylan that the lack of a permanent VA office in Guam creates unreasonable healthcare access barriers for Pacific Island veterans.
- •Rep. Carter (R, TX-31) and Rep. Cuellar (D, TX-28) joined Democrats in supporting bipartisan requests for localized veteran housing and infrastructure projects to serve rural and remote communities.
- •The subcommittee will evaluate these requests for inclusion in the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill to address critical infrastructure failures and service gaps across the VA system.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing served as a "Member Day" for lawmakers to present their specific district priorities and policy recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill. The session focused on addressing critical infrastructure gaps in veterans' care, maintaining essential services for military families in high-cost areas, and resolving significant geographic inequities in the administration of veterans' benefits for those living in U.S. territories. The testimony highlighted the intersection of federal funding and state-level matches, the deteriorating state of aging military support facilities, and the logistical challenges faced by veterans in rural and overseas locations.
Key Testimony & Policy
Rep. Val Hoyle (D, OR-4) testified regarding the urgent need for a new state veterans home in Roseburg, Oregon. She noted that her district contains more veterans than any other in the state and highlighted a $35 million state-level funding match signed by Oregon’s governor. Rep. Hoyle emphasized that the national backlog for the State Home Construction Grant Program exceeds $1 billion, arguing that while the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) covers 65% of construction costs, the lack of federal prioritization leaves rural veterans without local options for end-of-life care. She requested full funding for the grant program to allow the 134-bed Roseburg facility to move forward, noting that the nearest alternative facilities are several hours away in Eugene or Portland.
Rep. Sam Liccardo (D, CA-16) advocated for the preservation of commissary services at Moffett Federal Airfield. The current facility, which serves approximately 2,600 military families and a broader veteran population in the San Francisco Bay Area, is housed in a building owned by the NASA Ames Research Center that is slated for closure by 2029 due to structural deterioration. Rep. Liccardo requested that the subcommittee include report language encouraging the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and NASA to coordinate on a long-term solution. He argued that losing this facility would leave families without a commissary within a 75-mile radius, significantly impacting the cost of living for service members in an expensive metropolitan region.
Rep. James Moylan (R, GU-At Large) focused on the lack of a VA Regional Office in Guam, which forces veterans in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa to rely on the Honolulu office located seven time zones away. He proposed a two-step policy approach: first, using the VA Secretary’s existing discretionary authority to surge staff into currently leased federal space in Guam to process claims locally; and second, requiring the VA to submit a formal plan to Congress for establishing a permanent regional office. Rep. Moylan also urged continued support for the Veterans Homeless Prevention Program and the Office of Food Security to address high rates of poverty among Pacific Island veterans.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
The hearing was characterized by a high degree of bipartisanship, with Chairman John Carter (R, TX-31) and Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D, FL-25) expressing general support for the witnesses' requests. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D, TX-28) engaged with Rep. Hoyle to clarify the geographic isolation of the proposed Roseburg home, noting that the argument for funding is significantly strengthened when no other facilities exist within a reasonable driving distance.
Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz shared her personal observations from a previous congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Guam, corroborating Rep. Moylan’s testimony regarding the "excessive and unreasonable" travel requirements for veterans in the territories. She acknowledged the historical challenges the VA has faced in establishing permanent offices in the region but committed to finding a solution. Chairman Carter also signaled a willingness to include report language regarding the Moffett Field commissary after Rep. Liccardo explained the 2029 deadline for the current facility's closure.
Organizations Mentioned
* **Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):** The primary agency discussed regarding the $1 billion backlog in state home construction grants and the administrative barriers to establishing a regional office in Guam. * **Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA):** Mentioned regarding its role in managing the Moffett Field facility and the need for coordination to find a new site before the 2029 lease expiration. * **NASA Ames Research Center:** Identified as the current landlord for the Moffett Field commissary; the agency's facility requirements are driving the need for the commissary's relocation. * **California Air National Guard:** Noted as one of the active military components operating out of Moffett Federal Airfield that relies on local support services. * **United States Army Reserve:** Mentioned as a key stakeholder at Moffett Field, specifically the 63rd Regional Readiness Command. * **Office of Food Security:** Highlighted by Rep. Moylan as a critical program for preventing poverty and hunger among the veteran population in the Pacific Islands. * **Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA):** Discussed in the context of claims processing delays for overseas veterans and the need for localized staff.
What's Next
The subcommittee will consider the testimony and formal requests as it drafts the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Key follow-up items include the potential inclusion of report language directing DeCA and NASA to coordinate on the Moffett Field commissary and evaluating the feasibility of a VA staff surge in Guam. The witnesses indicated they would provide additional documentation regarding state matching funds and facility priorities to the subcommittee staff.
Transcript
I would like to thank all of you for coming to today's hearing and receiving to receive testimony from our colleagues. I look forward to hearing more about projects, programs, and issues in military construction, veterans affairs, appropriation bill that are important to your district and the communities across the country. Your input is critical as we work to fund agencies under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. I look forward to working with Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz and our subcommittee colleagues to accommodate these priorities as best we can as the fiscal year 2027 appropriation bill proceeds to move forward. Thank you again for taking time to speak to us today and bring these important issues in your community to our attention. Ms. Wasserman Schultz will get to make a opening argument when she gets here. Okay? But we will go ahead. Ms. Val Hoyle. Tell us what your issues are. This your written written will be entered in the record.
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