Congress·In Committee·H.R. 6652

U.S. Vets of the FAS Act

Congress seeks VA telehealth and mail-order pharmacy access for veterans in the Freely Associated States

Jan 13·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Next up: A house committee

This bill is currently in the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs after a subcommittee approved it on April 15, 2026. The full committee must now review the bill before it can move forward. It is actively moving through the early stages of the legislative process.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to quickly make agreements with the Freely Associated States so veterans there can get VA health services.
Says the services must include, at minimum, telehealth appointments and prescription medicines delivered by mail.
Sets a timeline: VA should start outreach within 30 days of the law, and have agreements and services running within 1 year (as much as practical).
Strengthens a rule on travel help: if VA offers beneficiary travel payments in a year, it must provide the payments that the law allows; starts applying 1 year after enactment.
Requires VA to send Congress reports at least every 3 months on progress, costs, and what’s slowing things down until services are up and running.

VeteransHealthcareTelecommunications

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Federal Employee

Neutral

Positive Impacts(2)

Military Veteran

Helps

Veterans Benefits

Helps

Milestones

4 milestones6 actions

Apr 16, 2026House

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Apr 16, 2026House

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Jan 13, 2026House

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Jan 13, 2026House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Dec 11, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Related News

4 articles

Honolulu Star-Advertiser·Dec 26, 2025

Congress pushes VA to help COFA veterans

Covers legislation requiring VA telehealth, mail-order pharmacy and travel reimbursements for veterans in the Freely Associated States, and explains the COFA context and access barriers.

Center

Maui Now·Dec 22, 2025

Senate passes Schatz legislation to expand VA services to US Veterans in Freely Associated States

Reports on Senate passage and highlights required VA telehealth, mail-order pharmacy benefits, and beneficiary travel reimbursements for veterans in Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (press release page)·Nov 22, 2025

Senate Passes Schatz Legislation To Expand VA Services To U.S. Veterans In Freely Associated States

Announces Senate passage of the Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act, requiring VA telehealth, mail-order pharmacy, and beneficiary travel reimbursements for veterans in the FAS.

No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.