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REP. BOB FILNER SAYS THERE'S MONEY FOR FILIPINO
EQUITY BILL -- House Vets' Chair says, "Oh yes,
the
money is there. They always said we did not
have enough money. Now we do."
World War II Filipino veterans.
For more information on Filipino vets and the
equity bill, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/ses
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Story here...
http://www.philippinenews.
com/news/view_article.html?article_id=
8d1409f0dc789ee2f248b0a2fb0e128c
Story below:
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Filner says there’s money for equity bill
Rita M. Gerona-Adkins
WASHINGTON, D.C. – There is money to fund the
Filipino World War II veterans’ equity bill, which has been separately
approved in both the Senate and House veterans’ affairs committees.
“Oh yes, the money is there,” Rep. Bob Filner, chair of the House
committee and primary author of H.R. 760, the House version of the
“Filipino Veterans’ Equity Act of 2007,” told Philippine News when asked
if funding for the proposed law is available, and where would it come
from.
“It will come from the fact that the veterans’ budget is $13 billion
more this year than last year’s. So, now is the time to do this. They
always said we did not have enough money. Now we do,” Filner explained
when interviewed at the Philippine-U.S. Friendship Caucus hosted July
26, 2007 at the Rayburn House Office Building by Ambassador Willy C. Gaa.
Filner also disclosed that he was meeting the next day with Sen. Daniel
K. Akaka, chair of the Senate veterans’ affairs committee and author of
the Senate version of the equity bill S.1315, to discuss the differences
between both chambers’ bills, especially on their respective dollar sums
to be earmarked for Filipino veterans in the Philippines.
The Senate committee had approved $300 a month for each veteran living
in the U.S., while the House committee proposed $500. Both chambers also
approved the proposal that Filipino American veterans should receive the
same pensions U.S. veterans are entitled to.
“I hope the Senate will go along with our bill,” Filner said.
The reconciled bill is expected to be voted on the floor by both
chambers if not before Congress breaks for its Aug. 6 to Sept. 3 summer
recess, soon after its return.
Rep. Mike Honda, a member of the Philippine-U.S. Friendship Caucus,
suggested that there should be an effort to reach out to other veterans
groups in the U.S. for support of the Filipino equity bill.
“It is critical that you speak to the veterans’ associations to get them
on your side,” he told the 15-some Filipino veterans and their
supporters who attended the caucus reception. “Because they think that
you are taking money away from the veterans.”
It is commonly known at the Hill that the Disabled Association of
Veterans, which commands a sizable number and lobby clout, has opposed
expenditure for Filipino veterans for fear that this would reduce or
deprive them of wide congressional and executive support.
This sentiment has also been the crux of the Republican leaders’
lukewarm attitude toward the equity bill.
Rep. Steve Buyer, a member of the House veterans’ affairs committee, had
argued in the July 17 mark-up debate, that funds would be taken from the
“elderly, indigent, disabled homebound veterans” in order to “create an
entitlement program for another group of veterans.”
“It is not acceptable…most unconscionable to take U.S. dollars from the
disabled to give to non-resident veterans,” he said.
Amb. Gaa gave profuse thanks to the members of the caucus, which also
include Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Todd Tiahrt
(R-KS), Robert Scott (D-VA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Chaka
Fattah (D-PA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), and Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam).
“It is the 66th anniversary date when U.S. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt called Filipino soldiers to the US military forces,” Gaa said
in his welcome remarks. “Without their courageous contributions to the
Allied war effort in the Pacific, perhaps the history of World War II
may have had a very different ending.”
Rep. Rohrabacher referred to the Filipino WWII veterans present as those
“who fought along the side of my father,” recalling his late father’s
military service that took him to the Philippines.
The event was co-hosted by the National Federation of Filipino American
Associations, represented by national officers Alma Quintan Kerns,
president; Rozita Lee, vice president; Doy Heredia, executive director;
JoAnn Fields, youth coordinator, Bing Cardenas Branigin, outreach
coordinator; and regional officers Nony Abrajano and Gil Zulueta.
Support also came from veterans’ organizations namely, the American
Coalition for Filipino Veterans (represented by Eric Lachica, executive
director, Guillermo Rumingan, service officer, and 15 other members),
and the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans’ Equity (represented by
Ben de Guzman, executive director, and others).
Other guests included supporters of veterans’ issues who have donated
services and resources, notably Annie Wilderman among them.
Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, head of the Philippine Embassy Office for
Veterans’ Affairs, publicly acknowledged the financial support of Robert
Sanchez, president and CEO of Globaltel, a telecommunications company.
Earlier in the day, veterans and organizations’ members visited several
congressional offices to urge continued support for the passage of the
equity bill, followed by more meetings and visits the next day.
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Larry Scott --
