Washington, D.C. — After Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata's recent visit to Honolulu,  a notice from Honolulu VA Regional Director Sergio S. Chao announced that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will place a permanent Veterans Benefits Counselor in American Samoa to assist Veterans.

 “In our recent meeting at Tripler, I had the opportunity to convey this need that our Veterans raised when I met with them in Hawaii,” Congresswoman Amata said.

“This is wonderful news, and I appreciate this responsiveness and decisiveness from the VA to take on this need. I appreciated the discussion with Director Chao and Honolulu Clinic Director Dr. Adam Robinson. I’m overjoyed that this key new position will soon enable our Veterans to be able to speak in person with a knowledgeable VA counselor.

“Congratulations to our Clinic Director Robert Toelupe and everyone at Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin VA Clinic on this upcoming excellent addition to their services on site in American Samoa,” she said.

The VA anticipates a few months time as this new position is posted, filled, and able to begin this local public service.

In late May, Amata met with the leadership of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Center associated with Tripler Army Medical Center that serves so many Veterans from American Samoa.

Prior to that meeting, she also met with a group of a few dozen Veterans who were in Honolulu for these services. They discussed their care experiences at length, and Congresswoman Amata was then able to express those views directly to VA regional officials, who promised a thorough review of how American Samoa’s veterans are served, and followed up with this notification that the addition of this new Veterans Benefit Counselor has been approved.