HR 3610119th CongressIn Committee

Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025

Introduced: May 23, 2025

Financial ServicesHealthcareVeterans Affairs

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025 aims to expand and clarify how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serves Native Hawaiian veterans. The bill updates VA housing loan provisions to use a definition of "Native American" aligned with the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), effectively extending direct housing loan programs to Native Hawaiian veterans in a manner consistent with other Native American veterans. In addition, the bill enhances VA health care for Native Hawaiians by directing VA to reimburse Native Hawaiian health care systems for the costs of care provided to eligible veterans, regardless of whether the care is delivered directly, purchased, referred, or funded via travel contracts. It also broadens cost-sharing protections so that Native Hawaiians, as defined by the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act (NHHCIA), may be exempt from certain VA health care cost-sharing obligations. Overall, the measure seeks to achieve “parity” by expanding access to direct housing loans and by strengthening and funding care through Native Hawaiian health care systems, while reducing out-of-pocket costs for Native Hawaiian veterans.

Key Points

1Aligns the definition used for Native American veterans in the direct housing loan program with NAHASDA (25 U.S.C. 4221, as defined in section 801), replacing the previous definition.
2Creates a new VA authority (Sec. 1703H) to reimburse Native Hawaiian health care systems for the costs of care provided to eligible veterans, including care delivered directly, through purchased or referred care, or via travel contracts.
3Defines “Native Hawaiian health care system” in line with the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act (NHHCIA), ensuring consistent scope and providers.
4Expands exemption from VA cost-sharing for Native Hawaiians by adding a new category under 38 U.S.C. 1730A(b), making Native Hawaiians (as defined in NHHCIA) eligible for cost-sharing relief.
5Provides the bill with its short title, the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025, and includes the necessary clerical/structural updates to VA statutes to accommodate these changes.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Native Hawaiian veterans, who would gain parity in eligibility for direct VA housing loans and access to expanded, potentially reduced-cost health care through Native Hawaiian health care systems.Secondary group/area affected: Native Hawaiian health care systems and their providers, who would receive reimbursement for costs of care provided to veterans, including services delivered through various delivery methods.Additional impacts: VA program administration and budgeting (new reimbursement authority and cost-sharing exemptions), potential alignment considerations with existing Native American veteran programs, and broader implications for Hawaii communities and Native Hawaiian services.

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