Addressing the Needs of Native Veterans

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Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing Addresses Needs of Native Veterans

May 28, 2012 - On May 25, just before Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held an Oversight hearing to discuss improvements to U.S. Government programs and services that assist American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian veterans. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) who is one of three U.S. Senators that is a veteran chaired the hearing.

During the hearing, committee members, representatives of the Veterans Administration, Indian Health Services and other tribal leaders in Indian country acknowledged the contributions of and discussed several topics affecting Native veterans. Testimony to include the need for better access to health care for Native vets in rural areas, affordable and adequate housing and improved communications between the Veterans Administration and Indian Health Services.

Akaka, a World War II veteran, opened the hearing by honoring indigenous service members, “It is fitting that we conduct this hearing before Memorial Day in remembrance of the service of Native veterans to our country,” he said.

After citing that Native veterans have served in every conflict since the Revolutionary War, more than two dozen Native veterans have received the Medal of Honor and that Native service members have the highest rates of service per capita than any other group in the nation, Akaka stated that his goal for the oversight hearing was that the United States had to meet it’s unique and dual responsibilities to Native service members as both veterans and as Indigenous Peoples. read more>>>