US Senate approves WWII veterans compensation bill

[Dave H]

US Senate approves WWII veterans compensation bill
04/25/2008 | 10:33 AM

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(Updated 11:30 a.m.) CHICAGO, Illinois - The United States Senate has approved a veterans’ benefits law, helping the cause of Filipino war veterans looking to receive pensions from both Manila and Washington.

The Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act (S. 1315) was passed by an overwhelming 96-1 votes in the US chamber which has 100 senators.

The bill now moves to the US Congress for debate and a floor vote. If the proposed law passes muster, it will then go to President George W. Bush for his signature.

Once approved, it will allow some 13,000 Filipino war veterans to receive $300 as monthly pension and other benefits from the US government. It will also allow them to receive benefits from the Philippines.

The Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 would provide a veterans’ pension to Filipino veterans of World War II residing in the US and in the Philippines.

Under the proposed bill, veterans residing in the Philippines would receive a smaller pension than those residing in the US, to account for differences in cost-of-living in the two countries.

The Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 also includes a multitude of improvements to veterans’ benefits, including provisions to establish a new program of insurance for service-connected disabled veterans; expand eligibility for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under Service members’ group life insurance; increase the maximum amount of veterans’ mortgage life insurance that a service-connected disabled veteran may purchase;
provide individuals with severe burn injuries specially adapted housing benefits; and extend for two years the monthly educational assistance allowance for apprenticeship or other on-the-job training.

The US bill’s Senate enactment was delayed for some time since a Philippine law forfeited Filipino veterans’ benefits should they choose to secure pension from the United States.

Republic Act No. 6948 also known as “An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and Their Dependents" was later amended by Philippine Senator Richard J. Gordon, allowing Filipino veterans to receive benefits from governments of both countries.

When the bill was introduced in the US Senate floor, the proposed law provided for a flat rate of $3,600 annual non-service disability pension for single Filipino veterans living in the Philippines, $4,500 annually for married veterans, and $2,400 annually for surviving spouses.

A similar bill pending at the US Congress currently pending before Chairman Bob Filner seeks higher benefits.

US presidential hopeful hails passage of veterans’ bill

“Our veterans and service members have made incredible sacrifices for our nation, and today, the Senate honored their service by providing them with the care and benefits they deserve," Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama said in a statement.

For his part, Senator Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii, who also chairs the US Veterans Affairs’ Committee, applauded his colleagues for passing the bill.

Prior to voting on the bill’s final passage, the US Senate debated on an amendment to remove a provision providing a limited pension for Filipino World War II veterans residing in the Philippines.

This amendment was defeated by a vote of 56-41, with Akaka leading the charge for the Filipino veterans’ pension.

According to Jon Meligrito, press spokesman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), for the amendment to pull through, it required 49 votes since there were 97 senators present.

Six Republicans joined the Democrats in rejecting what was widely viewed as a highly discriminatory act against Filipino veterans.

NaFFAA National Chair Alma Kern asked the Filipino American community members not to rest on this milestone yet.

“They have to keep on calling members of the House of Representatives to urge them to support the Filipino Veterans Act. We have to see this campaign thru to the finish. It’s up to us to make it happen," Kern said.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye, sponsor of the original S. 57, the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill, hailed the passage of legislation that provides approximately $166 million for a special pension for Filipino veterans who fought alongside US forces during World War II.

“Senate approval of the benefits for the surviving Filipino veterans is the first step in removing a more than 60-year-old stain on our national honor," Inouye said. “Senate approval was the right action to take, and it fulfills our long-held promise to our Filipino comrades in arms."

For nearly 20 years, Senator Inouye has fought to have the Filipino veterans’ benefits restored. - GMANews.TV

[Dave H]

Senate Floor Statement: Akaka introduces amendment to immigration bill, the "Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act"
Amemdment passed 87-9
May 24, 2007

Mr. President, my amendment seeks to address and resolve an immigration issue that, while rooted in a set of historical circumstances that occurred more than seven decades ago, and sadly remains unresolved to this day.

It is an issue of great concern to all Americans who care about justice and fairness.

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order, drafting more than 200,000 Filipino citizens into the United States military.

During the course of the war, it was understood that the Filipino soldiers would be treated like their American comrades-in-arms, and be eligible for the same benefits.  But this has never occurred. 

In 1990, the World War II service of Filipino veterans was finally recognized by the U.S. government, which offered Filipino veterans the opportunity to obtain U.S. citizenship; today there are 7,000 Filipino World War II veterans in the U.S. 

The opportunity to obtain U.S. citizenship was not, extended to the veterans' sons and daughters, about 20,000 of whom have been waiting for their visas for years.

While the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 raises the worldwide ceiling for family based visa, the fact remains that many of the naturalized Filipino World War II veterans residing in the U.S. are in their eighties and nineties, and their children should be able to come to America to take care of their parents.

My amendment makes this possible.

Mr. President, as I noted in my prior remarks on my amendment, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.