IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 636 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 27, 2012 Mr. Berman (for himself, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Heinrich) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Expressing support for designation of the period beginning April 9, 2012, and ending May 6, 2012, as Bataan-Corregidor Month.

Whereas April 9, 2012, and May 6, 2012, mark the 70th anniversaries of the fall of Bataan and Corregidor, respectively, to Japanese forces; Whereas upon the outbreak of war between the United States and Japan in World War II, approximately 100,000 members of the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines who had been called into the service of the United States Armed Forces by order of President Roosevelt dated July 26, 1941, were committed to battle, along with United States personnel, against Japanese forces that invaded the Philippines on December 8, 1941; Whereas the Filipino and United States defenders of the Philippines engaged Japanese forces from the beaches of the Philippine islands to the last defense of Bataan and Corregidor in a grueling battle lasting 150 days; Whereas the enormous sacrifices of the defenders in the battles of Bataan and Corregidor provided the United States and its Allies with valuable time to prepare their armed forces for a counteroffensive campaign against Japan; Whereas in that defense, the members of the Filipino forces and their United States counterparts struggled against difficult odds and desperate circumstances and faced, with indomitable spirit, fortitude, and loyalty to the United States, powerful Japanese forces; Whereas the surrender of United States and Filipino troops on April 9, 1942, on the Bataan Peninsula led to the infamous Bataan Death March; Whereas as many as 11,000 of the approximately 78,000 prisoners of war (12,000 United States and 66,000 Filipino troops) died during the march to Camp O’Donnell prison camp; Whereas the survivors’ suffering did not end with the march, as over twice as many prisoners died in the first two months of imprisonment at Camp O’Donnell as did on the march, and thousands later died of malnourishment, disease, exhaustion, physical abuse, or by execution; Whereas members of the Filipino forces acquitted themselves nobly during the Bataan Death March, during their internment in death camps, and throughout 3 years of resistance against Japanese occupation of the Philippines; Whereas more than 140,000 Filipino soldiers fought in units of the United States Army during World War II, and many other Filipinos fought during World War II in units that had no ties or only informal ties to the United States Army; Whereas the remains of over 17,000 members of the United States Armed Forces are buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines; Whereas the United States and the Philippines enjoy strong historical ties and an enduring friendship; and Whereas the United States recognizes the sacrifice, loyalty, and valuable contribution of the Filipino and United States World War II veterans to the causes of peace, freedom, and human dignity: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1)the House of Representatives— (A)supports the designation of Bataan-Corregidor Month; and (B)requests that the President issue a proclamation designating such a month and calling upon the people of the United States to observe that period with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including the recognition of veterans who served in the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor in the Philippines during World War II; and (2)it is the sense of the House of Representatives that United States and Filipino veterans deserve recognition for their bravery in defending Bataan and Corregidor and valiant service during World War II.