110 HR 6645 IH: Filipino Veterans Assistance Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2008-07-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6645 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2008 Mr. Rohrabacher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To authorize assistance to the Republic of the Philippines for the purpose of providing benefits to certain Filipino World War II veterans, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Filipino Veterans Assistance Act of 2008.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)The Philippine Islands were acquired by the United States in 1898 and remained a possession of the United States until 1946. (2)On July 26, 1941, the President of the United States issued an Executive order inducting all military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines under the command of a newly created command structure called the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE). (3)The Rescission Acts of 1946 stripped the military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines that were under the command of USAFFE from receiving certain benefits under programs administered by the Veterans’ Administration. (4)The Organized Military Forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts, having served a significant role in combat alongside United States Armed Forces during World War II, should be granted benefits similar to those given to United States veterans.

3.

Assistance to the Republic of the Philippines for the purpose of providing benefits to certain Filipino World War II veterans

(a)

Authorization of assistance

The President is authorized to provide assistance to the Republic of the Philippines for the purpose of providing benefits, including the benefits described in subsection (b), to individuals who engaged in the service described in subsection (c) and to certain dependents of such individuals. (b)

Benefits described

Benefits described in this subsection are the following: (1)Compensation for service-connected disabilities. (2)In the case of an individual who engaged in the service described in subsection (c) and died as a result of such service, dependency and indemnity compensation for the individual’s surviving spouse, children, and parents. (3)Medical care. (4)Education benefits. (5)Education benefits for children of an individual who engaged in the service described in subsection (c). (6)Death pensions. (c)

Service described

Service described in this subsection is service— (1)before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the military order of the President dated July 26, 1941, including among such military forces organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the Army of the United States; or (2)in the Philippine Scouts under section 14 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 (59 Stat. 538).

4.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

To carry out this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to the President $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2009. (b)

Additional authorities

Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a)— (1)are authorized to remain available until expended; and (2)are in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes.