LAX Leader

Washington, D.C. – On May 22, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), who represents the largest population of Korean Americans in the U.S., celebrated House passage of the Korean American VALOR Act. This bill, which Gomez is an original cosponsor of, allows veterans who served in the armed forces of the Republic of Korea during the Vietnam War and have since become naturalized U.S. citizens to be eligible for healthcare services through the VA.

“The bravery, sacrifice and strength of Korean and Korean-American veterans of the Vietnam War cannot be overstated, and it’s a grave injustice that they are not eligible for VA health care services,” said Rep. Gomez. “As the congressional representative of the largest Korean American community in the nation, I take great pride in the passage of our legislation that corrects this wrong and ensures these brave servicemembers, many of whom live in my district, can access the care they need and deserve.” “Naturalized Korean American Vietnam War veterans fought bravely alongside their U.S brothers and sisters but have never been eligible for VA healthcare services,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “I am ecstatic that the House passed my bipartisan Korean American VALOR Act which would rectify this injustice. With this passage, we are one step closer to ensuring that Korean American Vietnam war veterans get the VA medical care that they deserve.”   Since 1958, the VA has provided healthcare services to veterans of allied European nations during World War I and World War II through it Allied Beneficiary Program. The Korean American VALOR Act would amend title 38 of the United States Code to allow the VA Secretary to enter into a similar reciprocal agreement with the Republic of Korea. Approximately 3,000 Korean American Vietnam veterans are naturalized citizens, and the Valor Act would provide an avenue for these veterans to access medical services and care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

Original source can be found here.