VA home loans in the Federated States of Micronesia

We, the undersigned are citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) currently on active duty in the United States Armed Forces. Under the Compact of Free Association with the United States, FSM citizens may volunteer to enlist in the United States Armed Forces. In October, 1987 the four branches of military service began recruiting young men and women from the FSM to join their fighting forces to defend the freedom and liberty of this great nation. Since then, we have faithfully served this country and fought side by side with our comrades in four separate conflicts; Invasion of Haiti, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, War in Afghanistan, and the Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are hereby petition both houses of the U.S. Congress specifically the Committee of Veterans Affair to place the following issues in your agenda for the upcoming session.
To consider Veterans Administration (VA) to be included among those federal agencies already emplaced to assist the government of the Federated States of Micronesia as specified under Article II, Section 221 of the compact, as amended. These federal agencies are: the United States Weather Service, the United States Postal Service, the United States Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.
Availability of Veterans Administration in the Federated States of Micronesia, particularily the Guranteed Home Loan Programs will not only allow active duty personnel to purchase or build homes for their families while they are still in active duty; it would greatly enhance the quality of life for the service members and their families after returning to thier homeland. At the same time these programs will provide tremendous contribution to economic development of both nations.
Currently, the only active home loan program available to FSM citizens is provided by U.S. government under United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. Citizens of the Freely Associated States (FAS) are considered eligible for Section 502 and Section 504 housing programs. However, these programs are designed for low and very low income families which disqualify active duty military from applying. Their regulations also require service members to provide proof of dicharge from the military, DD 214 (Certificate of Retirement) or official copy of retirement orders. These regulations make it absolutely impossible for FSM citizens in active duty to have homes available for their families immediately following their ultimate sacrifices for this country. These brave warriors may find themselves and their families living on the street if the United States government neglect to accommodate these service members grievances in terms of benefits and entitlements. That is why we ask the United States Congress to seriously consider this petition as it may determine future enlistment of FSM citizens in the Armed Forces.