Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025
The Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025 would make two main changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serves Native Hawaiian veterans. First, it adjusts the definition used for eligibility for direct housing loans, aligning Native Hawaiian veterans with the definition used for Native American veterans under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). This is intended to expand or clarify who qualifies for VA direct housing loan programs. Second, it strengthens VA medical care for Native Hawaiians by creating a new reimbursement mechanism. VA would reimburse Native Hawaiian health care systems for the costs of care provided to eligible veterans—whether the care is delivered directly through the system, purchased/referral care, or travel contracts—thereby supporting Native Hawaiian health care providers and ensuring access to care. The bill also exempts Native Hawaiians from certain cost-sharing requirements for VA-supported care. The sponsors are Senators Hirono and Schatz, and the bill was introduced in the Senate in May 2025.
Key Points
- 1Changes the housing loan eligibility definition: Section 3765(3)(B) of title 38, U.S. Code, would be amended to use the Native American definition as defined in NAHASDA (25 U.S.C. 4221), aligning Native Hawaiian veterans’ access to direct housing loans with that used for Native American veterans.
- 2New VA reimbursement for Native Hawaiian health care: Adds new Sec. 1703H to Chapter 17 of title 38, requiring 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/referral, or via travel contracts.
- 3Definition of Native Hawaiian health care system: The new reimbursement section references the Native Hawaiian health care system as defined in the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act (42 U.S.C. 11711, section 12).
- 4Expanded cost-sharing exemption: Amends 38 U.S.C. 1730A(b) to add a new paragraph exempting care for Native Hawaiians (defined as in the NHCHCA) from certain cost-sharing requirements.
- 5Clerical/table-of-sections update: Inserts the new 1703H item into the table of sections for Chapter 17, clarifying the placement of the new provision within the Code.