[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16] [House] [Pages 22869-22870] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND OUR THANKS The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, in April of 1999 I was proud to join the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), in introducing H.R. 1594, the Filipino Veterans' Benefit Improvement Act. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Preliminary steps have already been taken toward restoring fairness to the veterans of World War II who are of Filipino descent. In 1996, Members of this House and our colleagues in the Senate passed concurrent resolutions to recognize these brave veterans for their service and contribution toward the successful outcome of World War II. In October of 1996, President Clinton issued a presidential proclamation recalling the courage, the sacrifice, and the loyalty of the Filipino veterans of World War II and honoring them for their contribution to our freedom. Hearings have been held in both the House and the Senate on the issue of benefits for Filipino World War II veterans; and the President included a line item in both FY 1999 and FY 2000 presidential budgets for Filipino World War II veterans. Then just 3 months ago, the Filipino Veterans' SSI Extension Act, H.R. 26, was incorporated into H.R. 1802, which passed this House. This bill will allow Filipino World War II veterans who are currently on SSI and living in the United States to return to the Philippines if they wish to do so, taking a portion of their SSI with them. Many are currently living alone and in poverty, financially unable to bring their families to the United States, nor to return to their homeland. Most importantly, H.R. 1802 will allow those who wish to return to the Philippines to be with their loved ones in their final days, but it also saves the U.S. Government money, money that could be used to balance the costs of the bill that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and I have introduced, the Filipino Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act. These actions are important first steps in our quest for justice and equity. Now is the time to build upon these steps and restore the benefits that Filipino World War II veterans were promised when they were drafted into military service by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. With their vital participation so crucial to the successful outcome of this war, one would assume that the United States would be grateful to their Filipino comrades. So it is hard to believe that soon after the [[Page 22870]] war ended, the 79th Congress voted to take away the benefits and recognition of Filipino World War II veterans in what was called the Rescissions Act of 1946. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and I, along with 209 cosponsors of last year's Veterans Equity Act, are now asking our colleagues to correct this injustice that these veterans have endured for over 50 years. Because the Filipino World War II veterans are in their seventies and eighties, their most urgent need is for health care. Our bill that we have introduced will provide access to VA medical facilities for these veterans, both in the United States and in the Philippines. We have designed the bill so that it will also provide greater access to VA medical facilities in the Philippines for U.S. veterans who are living abroad. In addition, the bill will also increase the service-connected disability compensation from what is called the peso rate to the full dollar amount for Filipino World War II veterans living in the United States, as called for in the President's budget. The rationale for a lower payment simply does not exist for the veterans who are now U.S. citizens. All this can be achieved, Mr. Speaker, for $36 million a year. This should be included in our final budget negotiations. I would urge my colleagues to support this cost- effective humanitarian measure. Taken together, these acts are the steps we must take during this session of Congress on behalf of our brave colleagues who serve side by side with the forces from the United States. The House has passed the SSI Extension Act. Let us now join together in a bipartisan effort to restore health benefits to the Filipino World War II benefits. Let us pass H.R. 1594, the Filipino Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act. ____________________