(Washington, D.C.)- The Department of Veterans Affairs formally rescinded its interim final rule, Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication,on February 27, following my February 18 letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins urging its withdrawal. The Department had previously halted implementation of the rule after widespread concerns were raised and has now fully withdrawn the policy.

I thank Secretary Collins for taking veterans' concerns seriously and reversing a rule that raised significant questions about fairness in the disability evaluation process. Veterans who responsibly follow their prescribed treatment plans should never be placed at a disadvantage when seeking the benefits they earned through their service.

This final decision provides important reassurance to veterans in Guam and across our nation that their disability evaluations will continue under fair and established standards.

I will continue working with the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and my colleagues in Congress to protect the integrity of the disability evaluation system. Our veterans answered our nation's call to serve, and we must continue to stand with them.

I thank the veterans and constituents who contacted my office to raise their concerns on this issue. Your voices play a vital role in ensuring that policies reflect the realities of our community.

My office stands ready to help Guam's veterans navigate federal programs and I encourage anyone in need of support to contact us at (671) 922-6673.

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