S. 3436 — Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act

This section requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), not later than one year after enactment, to furnish telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits to veterans residing in the Freely Associated States (FAS) (i.e., the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands) who are eligible for VA healthcare under the applicable Compacts of Free Association; and to make mandatory beneficiary travel payments (i.e., from discretionary) to such veterans. (As background: The FAS compacts provide U.S. economic assistance in exchange for defense responsibilities and limited VA healthcare access for resident veterans.) The section further requires VA to submit quarterly reports to the congressional Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and Appropriations on the status and costs of implementing these requirements.