Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has secured commitments from Doug Collins, the nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Trump. These commitments focus on addressing critical issues faced by veterans in Alaska.

During a recent session, Senator Sullivan emphasized the unique challenges that Alaska veterans face due to the state's vast size and lack of a full-service veteran hospital. He highlighted past problems with the VA system in Alaska, including a significant backlog caused by call centers located outside the state.

Sullivan stated, "We had people making appointments for Alaska veterans based in the lower 48 who didn't have a clue about our state." He noted that last year there was a backlog of up to 12,000 veterans waiting for care.

Collins acknowledged these concerns and expressed his willingness to address them. "I agree, it’s a disaster," he said regarding the appointment backlog. Collins committed to visiting Alaska and working towards re-establishing a VA call center within the state to better serve its veterans.

Senator Sullivan also stressed the importance of collaboration with Alaska Native health organizations to extend healthcare reach into rural areas. He pointed out that these organizations have historically partnered with the VA to provide care not only for Native Alaskan veterans but also for non-Native residents in remote communities.

Collins assured his commitment to maintaining and enhancing these partnerships: "I'm willing to commit to do that also in any other district across this country where we can partner."

The discussion reflects ongoing efforts to improve healthcare access for veterans in regions facing logistical challenges due to geography and infrastructure limitations.