Ranking Member Takano’s Statement on VA’s Move to Waive Copays for Eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

VA Change Follows 2019 Passage of The Native Veteran PACT Act By The U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.), released the statement below following the Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to waive all copays for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans:

"The Committee’s Democrats welcome VA's action waiving copays for eligible Native American and Alaska Native veterans. In the 116th Congress, Democrats – led by Rep. Gallego – recognized the high rate of service by Native veterans and that our government has a legal and moral obligation to uphold our treaty obligations to tribal nations, which includes the provision of healthcare. This was a priority for me as Chairman and throughout the last four years of Democratic Leadership in the House of Representatives. Under my leadership, Members of this Committee conducted multiple oversight trips and originated legislation to address underserved communities, including veterans on tribal lands. While implementation of this provision of the Isakson-Roe Act is now more than a year overdue, I am pleased that VA has now taken steps to implement legislation passed by Congress and I eagerly await the publication of the final rule."

BACKGROUND: The Native Veteran PACT Act was originally introduced by Representative Gallego on October 29, 2019, and was unanimously passed in the House of Representatives on September 20, 2020. The Native Veteran PACT Act was later included in the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, which was signed into law in December of 2020.

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