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FILIPINO WWII VETERANS HOPEFUL EQUITY
LEGISLATION
WILL PASS THIS YEAR -- "I think this bill has a
good chance of passing."
Story here...
http://www.asianjournal.com/
?c=124&a=18006
Story below:
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Filipino WWII Veterans Hopeful to Pass Equity
Bill in 2007
Joseph Pimentel/Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES - At a press conference to update
efforts on legislative bills benefiting Filipino World War II Veterans,
Colonel Romy Monteyro of San Diego addressed the Filipino Veterans
Foundation at the Lake Street Park Community Hall that this is the year
that Filipino Veterans, their widows and their family will finally
receive the same benefits as their American counterparts.
“I have been associated with Rep. Bob Filner, (D-Calif.) for the past
nine years,” said Col. Monteyro. “I would like to emphasize that I do
not speak for him, he can only speak for himself but what I can tell you
today is what he has already declared to Filipino veterans across the
country and that is the equity bill will pass this year.”
“[Rep. Filner] told us that the equity bill has been re-filed in the
Senate and calls for the amendment of the recession act of 1946 which
took away not only your benefits but your dignity and honor. He also
said he will introduce a rider to benefit your children and
grandchildren below the age of 21.”
Col. Monteyro also said once the bill is passed it will take effect on
January 1, 2007 and World War II Filipino Veterans will get the same
benefits as their American counterparts.
The press conference comes on the heels of
continuing efforts by Senate leaders to finally approve the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act and rescind the Rescission Act of 1946. The Act of
1946 said that the service of Filipinos “shall not be deemed to be or to
have been service in the military or national forces of the United
States or any component thereof or any law of the United States
conferring rights, privileges or benefits.”
Earlier this year, Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) filed S. 57, also
known as The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, in the United States
110th Congress on Jan. 4.
The S. 57 bill plans to amend title 38 Veterans
Benefits, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized
military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of
benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.
The likelihood seems bright for Filipino World War II Vets since the
induction of a new majority Democratic House and prominent leaders in
key House and Senate committees. Col. Monteyro said Senator Diane
Feinstein (D-Calif.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), new House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Sen.
Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), now the chairmanship of the Senate committee,
and Rep. Filner, head of the House veterans committee, all support the
bill.
“Last time I spoke to Senator Akaka on Dec. 6, 2006, he promised us that
there will be a majority of Democratic Senators to support the bill. He
said that even though they don’t have the majority in the Senate. They
will campaign hard to finally get this bill out of the Senate. He
assured us we don’t have to worry about the bill not passing this year.
Of course, until they sign it into law we cannot be sure. All I know is
that there is a ground swell of support from the Senators and also from
Congress to pass this bill,” said Col. Monteyro.
Besides the Filipino Equity bill, Monteyro asked the congressman to add
a $20,000 rider as a bonus to include in the bill for each Filipino WWII
Veteran as an either/ or proposition. This rider is for veterans in
their 80s and 90s.
“I am also asking the Gov. for a $1 million donation to the Filipino
Veteran hospital until the last Filipino veteran passes away,” said
Monteyro.
“Rep. Filner told me to prepare a cost study and submit it to him,” said
Col. Monteyro. “[Filner] said he can only pass the equity bill and place
it on the rider but it is the appropriations committee to disperse the
money. And he also said tell the veterans I will also fight for this.”
General Tagumpay Nanadiego also addressed the crowd of Filipino veterans
and their supporters. Gen. Nanadiego expressed concerns that the reason
why this bill has yet to be passed is because Filipinos have not been
united.
“The veterans have not been united with this issue. I remember an old
saying hanging in the wall of former President Ronald Reagan. It says
‘There is no limit to what you can do if you don’t mind who gets the
credit’ so anybody here can do what can be done to pass the Equity
Bill,” said Gen. Nanadiego.
“This is our golden opportunity we cannot miss it,” said Gen. Nandiego.
“One error in this campaign and it could be the end of our efforts to
passing this bill.”
Most of the surviving Filipino veterans currently are depending heavily
on Supplemental Security Income, Food Stamps, and Medicaid, said Alberto
Alpasan, Jr., Veterans Claims Representative in Los Angeles.
“I think this bill has a good chance of passing,” said Alpasan, jr. “It
was hard before the past few years with the Republicans holding control
but now since the Democrats are taking over, it has a good chance.”
Along with the update of Legislation, The Filipino Veterans Foundation
also announced its sponsorship of the 65th Anniversary of the Day of
Valor. Held on April 9 every year, The Day of Valor honors and
commemorates the survivors of the Bataan Death March during World War
II.
Dr. Jenny L. Batongmalaque, executive director Filipino Veterans
Foundation, said she has been informed that all veterans of from
different wars are going to sponsor the event. The movement is to
finally recognize the services of the Filipino WWII veterans.
“The beginning of our history will be displayed before the American
public starting with April 9,” said Dr. Batongmalaque. “This year theme
is ‘Remember Bataan and Corregidor.’”
Dr. Batongmalaque also said the second objective the press conference is
to reach out to the young people of America. “The 6th, 9th and 11th
graders are our targets because they are mandated to learn about the
participation of military-ship and efforts to give us our freedom and
democracy. Unfortunately as of today, the Filipino WWII veterans
struggle have not been included. We will take it upon ourselves as a
community to be sure that our children will not ever forget the
Filipinos participation,” Dr. Batongmalaque.
The Filipino Veterans Foundation officials said their number one
priority is recognition of their services in the United States. “To this
day we continue to wait for the Filipino Veterans Equity act to be
passed and we have waited many years but today it seems to be the
beginning of the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Dr. Batongmalaque.
“Go back to your families come and join us and tell them ‘Remember
Bataan and Corregidor’ and they will be part of this movement.”
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Larry Scott --
