[House Hearing, 110 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
EQUITY FOR FILIPINO VETERANS
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
FEBRUARY 15, 2007
__________
Serial No. 110-3
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
BOB FILNER, California, Chairman
CORRINE BROWN, Florida STEVE BUYER, Indiana, Ranking
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas CLIFF STEARNS, Florida
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine DAN BURTON, Indiana
STEPHANIE HERSETH, South Dakota JERRY MORAN, Kansas
HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona RICHARD H. BAKER, Louisiana
JOHN J. HALL, New York HENRY E. BROWN, JR., South
PHIL HARE, Illinois Carolina
MICHAEL F. DOYLE, Pennsylvania JEFF MILLER, Florida
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
JOHN T. SALAZAR, Colorado GINNY BROWN-WAITE, Florida
CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
JOE DONNELLY, Indiana BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California
JERRY McNERNEY, California DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
ZACHARY T. SPACE, Ohio GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota
Malcom A. Shorter, Staff Director
Pursuant to clause 2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, public
hearing records of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs are also
published in electronic form. The printed hearing record remains the
official version. Because electronic submissions are used to prepare
both printed and electronic versions of the hearing record, the process
of converting between various electronic formats may introduce
unintentional errors or omissions. Such occurrences are inherent in the
current publication process and should diminish as the process is
further refined.
C O N T E N T S
__________
February 15, 2007
Page
Equity for Filipino Veterans..................................... 1
OPENING STATEMENTS
Hon. Bob Filner, Chairman, Full Committee on Veterans' Affairs... 1
Prepared statement of Chairman Bob Filner.................... 37
Hon. Cliff Stearns............................................... 2
Prepared statement of Congressman Cliff Stearns.............. 38
Hon. John Boozman, prepared statement of......................... 38
Hon. Doug Lamborn, prepared statement of......................... 38
WITNESSES
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ronald R. Aument, Deputy
Under Secretary for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration. 5
Prepared statement of Mr. Aument............................. 42
______
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc., Franco Arcebal,
Vice President for Membership.................................. 28
Prepared statement of Mr. Arcebal............................ 51
American Legion, Alec Petkoff, Assistant Director, Veterans
Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission.......................... 34
Prepared statement of Mr. Petkoff............................ 56
Bordallo, Hon. Madeleine Z., a Representative in Congress from
the Territory of Guam.......................................... 17
Prepared statement of Congresswoman Bordallo................. 44
Filipino American Service Group, Inc., Susan Espiritu Dilkes,
Executive Director, and Member, National Alliance for Filipino
Equity......................................................... 30
Prepared statement of Ms. Dilkes............................. 54
Filipino World War II Veterans Federation of San Diego County,
Vista, CA, Col. Romeo M. Monteyro, PA (Ret.), Advisor.......... 24
Prepared statement of Col. Monteyro.......................... 48
Hirono, Hon. Mazie K., a Representative in Congress from the
State of Hawaii................................................ 19
Prepared statement of Congresswoman Hirono................... 45
Honda, Hon. Michael M., a Representative in Congress from the
State of California............................................ 14
Prepared statement of Congressman Honda...................... 46
National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Alma Q.
Kerns, National Chair.......................................... 31
Prepared statement of Ms. Kerns.............................. 55
National Network for Veterans Equity, Lourdes Santos Tancinco,
Esq., Co-Chair, and Chair, San Francisco Veterans Equity Center 27
Prepared statement of Mr. Tancinco........................... 49
Philippines, Republic of, Carlos D. Sorreta, Charge d'Affaires,
Embassy of the Philippines..................................... 7
Prepared statement of Mr. Sorreta............................ 40
Ramsey, Lt. Col. Edwin Price, AUS (Ret.), Los Angeles, CA........ 22
Prepared statement of Lt. Col. Ramsey........................ 47
Vietnam Veterans of America, Richard F. Weidman, Executive
Director for Policy and Government Affairs..................... 35
Prepared statement of Mr. Weidman............................ 56
SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD
Abercrombie, Hon. Neil, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Hawaii, statement..................................... 58
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Jacksonville, FL,
Patrick G. Ganio, Sr., National President, statement and
attachment..................................................... 52
Batongmalaque, Jenny L., M.D., Executive Director, Filipino
Veterans Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, statement................ 62
Bautista, Teresita Cataag, Filipino Civil Rights Advocates,
Oakland, CA, statement......................................... 61
Braga, Manuel, Spring Valley, CA, statement...................... 58
Buyer, Hon. Steve, Ranking Republican Member, Full Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, and a Representative in Congress from the
State of Indiana, statement.................................... 39
Filipino Civil Rights Advocates, Chicago, IL, Chapter, Vanessa
B.M. Vergara, Esq., Co-Chair, statement and attachment......... 59
Filipino Civil Rights Advocates, Oakland, CA, Teresita Cataag
Bautista, statement............................................ 61
Filipinos for Affirmative Action, Oakland, CA, Lillian Galedo,
Executive Director, joint statement............................ 68
Filipino Veterans Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, Jenny L.
Batongmalaque, M.D., Executive Director, statement............. 62
Galedo, Lillian, Co-Chair, National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity, and Executive Director, Filipinos for
Affirmative Action, Oakland, CA, joint statement............... 68
Ganio, Patrick G., Sr., National President, American Coalition
for Filipino Veterans, Jacksonville, FL, statement and
attachment..................................................... 52
Inouye, Hon. Daniel K., a United States Senator from the State of
Hawaii, statement.............................................. 64
Issa, Hon. Darrell, a Representative in Congress from the State
of California, statement....................................... 65
Lantos, Hon. Tom, a Representative in Congress from the State of
California, statement.......................................... 66
Millender-McDonald, Hon. Juanita, a Representative in Congress
from the State of California, statement........................ 66
Nanadiego, Brig. Gen. Tagumpay, AFP (Ret.), Orange, CA, statement
and attachment................................................. 67
National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity, Oakland, CA,
Lillian Galedo, Co-Chair, joint statement...................... 68
National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Region IV,
Pembroke Pines, FL, Ernesto G. Ramos, Chair, statement......... 69
Sagisi, Jaymee Faith, Student Action for Veterans Equity, San
Francisco, CA, statement....................................... 72
Scott, Hon. Robert ``Bobby'' C., a Representative in Congress
from the State of Virginia, statement.......................... 71
Student Action for Veterans Equity, San Francisco, CA, Jaymee
Faith Sagisi, statement........................................ 72
Vergara, Vanessa B.M., Esq., Co-Chair, Filipino Civil Rights
Advocates, Chicago, IL, Chapter, statement and attachment...... 59
Zulueta, Gil P., Virginia Beach, VA, statement................... 73
MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD
Post-Hearing Questions and Responses for the Record:
Chairman Bob Filner to VA Secretary Nicholson, letter dated
February 21, 2007.......................................... 75
Hon. Steve Buyer to VA Secretary Nicholson, letter dated May
1, 2007.................................................... 77
Hon. Steve Buyer to Mr. Carlos D. Sorreta, Embassy of the
Philippines, letter dated May 1, 2007, and response from
His Excellency Willy C. Gaa, Ambassador, Embassy of the
Philippines, letter dated May 29, 2007..................... 78
EQUITY FOR FILIPINO VETERANS
----------
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2007
U.S. House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m., in
Room 334, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Bob Filner
[Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
Present:
Representatives Filner, Michaud, Hare, McNerney, Walz, Berkley,
Rodriguez, Stearns, Lamborn, Moran, Boozman, Brown-Waite.
OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN FILNER
The Chairman. This hearing of the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs will be in order. We have a full morning ahead of us. I
thank everybody for being here. Good morning to all of you. I
am very happy to be able to hold this hearing.
Many of you know that since I was first elected to Congress
14 years ago I have been involved in this issue. And, in fact,
this year marks the tenth anniversary of a protest that took
place with some of the people in this room in front of the
White House demanding equitable treatment in which a bunch of
us were arrested. But we were able to give a lot of publicity
to the issue and, in fact, made some gains.
I am hoping that with the change of leadership in the
Congress, we can get past these demonstrations and protest
marches and get on to the legislative path to correct an
injustice inflicted on Filipino veterans more than 60 years
ago.
As most of you know, Filipino servicemembers played a
critical role in the United States victory in the Pacific
during World War II. These brave Filipino soldiers, drafted
into our Armed Forces by President Franklin Roosevelt,
exhibited great courage in the epic battles of Bataan and
Corregidor.
In addition, these soldiers, while putting themselves and
their families at great risk, participated in many guerrilla
actions in the Philippines which prevented enemy forces from
leaving and prosecuting the war in other areas.
The schedule of the Japanese was held up many, many months
because of the heroic action of the Filipino guerrillas.
But despite these gallant efforts during the war, Congress
in 1946 broke a promise and denied these veterans their
benefits with the passage of the so-called ``Rescission Acts.''
Particularly unfortunate was the language that said that
service in the Philippine forces was not to be considered
active military service for the purpose of veterans' benefits.
This language took away not only rightfully-earned
benefits, but also the honor and respect due these veterans who
served under the direct command of General Douglas MacArthur.
The ``Rescission Acts'' shocked the thousands of Filipinos who
fought side by side with Americans and suffered brutality
during the Bataan Death March and as prisoners of war.
When President Truman signed the ``Rescission Acts,'' which
included various other appropriations matters, he stated that a
great injustice was being done. I quote President Truman:
``Filipino Army veterans are nationals of the United States.
They fought with gallantry and courage under the most difficult
conditions during the recent conflict. Their officers were
commissioned by us. Their official organization, the Army of
the Philippine Commonwealth, was taken into the Armed Forces of
the United States by Executive Order of President Roosevelt.
That order has never been revoked or amended. I consider it a
moral obligation of the United States to look after the welfare
of the Filipino Army veteran.''
That is what President Truman said in 1946, and that moral
obligation remains with us 60 years later. A wrong has existed
that must be righted. I urge everyone here to think of the
morality, of the dignity, of the honor of these brave men.
There is scarcely a Filipino family today in either the
United States or the Philippines that does not include a World
War II veteran or a son or daughter of veterans. Sixty years of
injustice burns in the hearts of these veterans. Now in their
eighties and nineties, their last wish is the restoration of
the honor and dignity that is due them.
It is time that our Nation adequately recognizes their
contributions to the successful outcome of World War II,
recognize the injustice visited upon them, and act to correct
this injustice.
To those who ask if we can afford to redeem this debt, I
answer we cannot afford not to. The historical record remains
blotted until we recognize these veterans.
There is a precedent, of course, providing veterans'
benefits to noncitizen soldiers. Previously in 1976, we
provided such benefits to citizens of both Poland and of
Czechoslovakia.
I look forward to hearing the testimony of those who served
during World War II. In addition, I am interested in learning
more about the efforts of organizations and individuals across
the country to educate the public about the injustice done.
I would yield to Mr. Stearns, Ranking Member, for an
opening statement.
[The prepared statement of Chairman Filner appears on p.
37.]
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. CLIFF STEARNS
Mr. Stearns. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And I am acting as the Ranking Member for my colleague, the
actual Ranking Member, Mr. Buyer, of the Committee. Mr. Buyer
is absent in order to attend a funeral for our good friend,
Congressman Charlie Norwood, but he sends his greetings. And he
has asked me to help him out as the Ranking Member, Acting
Ranking Member.
So I am delighted to support him and to be here. And I
obviously want to welcome all the witnesses this morning and
thank them for their testimony.
I also thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important
hearing. You have been a strong advocate for many years as I
served on the Veterans' Committee and know of your strong
feelings on this matter.
But I think this side, we just have a question that we have
for you. There is some confusion on our side of the aisle over
the type of hearing we are having today. Based on most of the
prepared testimony that we have seen and our staff, the
witnesses are here to endorse House Resolution 760.
Our side is under the impression that this is not a
legislative hearing and that if you choose to bring that bill
before the Committee, you obviously do it using the regular
order, a legislative hearing followed by obviously a markup.
And I just wanted to confirm that that is our understanding and
perhaps is yours.
The Chairman. Would you like to give me an official
definition of a legislative hearing versus what we are
supposedly doing today?
Mr. Stearns. Well, a legislative hearing is that perhaps
after this, you would suddenly take this bill, not suddenly,
but you would take the bill, start marking it up, and it would
be not an opportunity to have a normal order of going through
the Subcommittees. We are now in a full Committee.
But as you know, lots of times in Congress, they bring
bills on the floor without going through the regular order,
which is the Subcommittee has a hearing. The Chairman and the
Ranking Member on both sides have an opportunity to discuss it.
It goes to the full Committee for discussion and we have the
process which gives equal opportunity for all to speak on it.
So we are just hoping that that is ultimately what you
intend and that what we have here is what we have often is just
a hearing to hear witnesses and to gather information so
ultimately we can all better understand the issue because, as
you know, we have a lot of new Members who perhaps do not
understand your long advocacy for this group and cannot respect
the amount of hard work you have done and testimony and the
bills that you have advocated when you were in the minority.
So I think my question is just a fair one for our side just
to clarify.
The Chairman. If the gentleman would yield.
Mr. Stearns. Absolutely, yes.
The Chairman. I thought because of the number of new
Members here we would have, in fact, a legislative hearing in
front of the full Committee so everybody would have the
advantage of that, and I would intend to move to a markup at
some point within the next few weeks of this bill at the full
Committee.
Mr. Stearns. Okay. So could I ask you then, Mr. Chairman,
would it go through the Subcommittee of jurisdiction first?
The Chairman. No. We are the Committee of jurisdiction in
this case, so we will----
Mr. Stearns. So we will skip the Subcommittee and----
The Chairman. We have had many hearings on this over the
last decade, so----
Mr. Stearns. Okay. Well, I think we are just trying to
clarify. And I think what you are saying this morning is we are
listening to witnesses, but we are not marking up the bill
today.
The Chairman. Exactly.
Mr. Stearns. Okay. Well, I think you have confirmed what we
in this side believe was the case.
And if I can continue, we are here today to discuss the
question of equity. Specifically what is the equity for
Filipino veterans who fought alongside our veterans to defeat
the empire of Japan in World War II and free their country.
In this discussion, myself and other Members were here to
listen to all sides of the issue. I understand, and I certainly
appreciate the valor and courage of Filipinos in combat 60
years ago.
House Resolution 622 which passed last session recognized
and honored those veterans for their defense of Democratic
ideals and their important contributions to the outcome of
World War II. No doubt about it.
The history of the issue, however, is mixed. There have
been claims that Filipino veterans were promised full benefits
by General Douglas MacArthur. While there are no records
supporting such claim and the General would not have been
empowered by the United States law to make such promises, we
do, my colleagues, know that Filipino men, many of them in
their teens, fought and died for freedom.
For the benefit of all of us in this discussion, at a
Veterans' Committee hearing on this issue in 1998, now retired
congressional research analyst, Dennis Nook, said, ``Filipino
soldiers apparently believe that their service was a basis for
becoming entitled to whatever benefit might be given to the
United States military personnel.''
He said further, ``In part, this belief could have been
based on ill-advised promises made by United States officers.
No U.S. official was authorized to make such promises, and no
evidence has been uncovered which suggests that such promises
were made, whether or not such authority existed to make
them.''
[The referenced hearing before the full Committee on
Veterans' Affairs on July 22, 1998, entitled, ``Benefits for
Filipino Veterans,'' Serial 105-44, can be accessed at http://
commdocs.house.gov/committees/vets/hvr072298.000/
hvr072298_0f.htm. The Committee no longer has printed copies of
this hearing, but hard copies may be viewed at any GPO
Depository Library. Locations of GPO Depository Libraries are
listed at the following web address http://www.gpoaccess.gov/
libraries.html.]
Now, my colleagues, Dr. Clayton Lorie, a historian with the
United States Army Center for Military History, said
essentially the same thing in that hearing. So there is
something less than full clarity on what the United States
intended in those days.
But we do know, as the Chairman just mentioned, that
President Harry Truman supported these benefits. We also know
that since then, Americans have supported additional benefits
in recognition of the valor and contribution of Filipino
warriors.
With that, Mr. Buyer, who is the Ranking Member, and my
colleagues on this side, we are open, receptive to ideas and
discussion that would help identify what is fair, what is
equitable for all veterans, those here in the United States,
those abroad, and the American taxpayers who ultimately pay for
this solution.
So I look forward to today's hearing. I want to thank our
witnesses for coming. And I regret that Mr. Buyer, who is down
in Georgia, he is at the funeral of our good friend,
Congressman Charlie Norwood, but he sends his greetings and
solicitations, and he also looks forward to reading the
testimony of this hearing.
And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
[The prepared statement of Congressman Stearns appears on
p. 38.]
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Stearns.
And we will get right to the first panel since they have
other obligations. We have here with us Deputy Under Secretary
for Benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Ron
Aument. And we have the Charge d'Affaires from the Embassy of
the Philippines, Carlos Sorreta, who I think will be joining us
shortly.
Thank you for being here. And I guess you will announce it,
but I want to thank the Secretary who called me yesterday and
said that he was prepared to continue what had been a practice
under the previous Secretary of making a $500,000 grant to the
veterans hospital in Manila to help make sure that veterans in
the Philippines would have access to higher quality healthcare,
and we thank the Secretary for his commitment there.
Please.
STATEMENTS OF CARLOS D. SORRETA, CHARGE d'AFFAIRES, EMBASSY OF
THE PHILIPPINES; AND RONALD R. AUMENT, DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY
FOR BENEFITS, VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; ACCOMPANIED BY ROBERT WEIBE, DIRECTOR OF
VETERANS INTEGRATED SERVICE, NETWORK 21
STATEMENT OF RONALD R. AUMENT
Mr. Aument. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, it is my pleasure
to be here today to discuss the benefits that the Department of
Veterans Affairs provides to World War II Filipino veterans. I
am pleased to be accompanied by Dr. Robert Weibe, Director of
Veterans Integrated Service, Network 21.
For purposes of VA benefits and services, members of the
Filipino Armed Forces can be recognized as having served in one
of four groups, Regular Philippine Scouts, Commonwealth Army of
the Philippines, recognized guerrilla units, and New Philippine
Scouts.
Veterans who served in the Regular Philippine Scouts have
always qualified for the full range of VA benefits and services
as veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Ms. Berkley. Mr. Chairman, could you ask our witness to
speak into the mike. Some of our guests are not able to hear
him so very clearly.
Mr. Aument. Pardon me.
Ms. Berkley. I am sorry. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you, Ms. Berkley.
Mr. Aument. Congress limited the rates of disability and
death compensation to the equivalent of 50 cents on the U.S.
dollar and did not authorize eligibility for VA need-based
pension, healthcare, or readjustment benefits for veterans of
the Commonwealth Army, recognized guerrilla units, and New
Philippine Scouts.
Legislative history indicates that the benefits were
limited to 50 cents on the dollar in recognition of the
different standards of living in the United States and the
Philippines.
Congress also anticipated that the newly-independent
Republic of the Philippines would rightfully assume additional
responsibilities for its veterans.
Under legislation enacted over the past 6 years, veterans
of the Commonwealth Army, recognized guerrilla forces, and New
Philippine Scouts who lawfully reside in the United States and
are United States citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for
permanent residency in the United States now qualify for
disability compensation at the full U.S. dollar rate. They also
have eligibility for VA healthcare and burial benefits similar
to other veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
The survivors of veterans who served in the Commonwealth
Army, recognized guerrilla forces, or New Philippine Scouts who
reside in the United States and are U.S. citizens or legally-
admitted alien residents qualify for dependency and indemnity
compensation benefits at the full dollar rate.
If the veteran or survivor does not meet the above
residency requirements, VA pays disability compensation, DIC,
and burial benefits based on the half-dollar rate.
Service-connected World War II Filipino veterans residing
in the United States can obtain hospital and outpatient medical
services for any condition on the same basis as veterans of the
United States Armed Forces.
The United States also provides assistance to the
Philippines in a number of different ways to facilitate the
provision of medical care to World War II Filipino veterans. VA
has historically provided grants in the form of monetary
support or equipment to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in
Manila.
Since 2002, VA has contributed over $3.5 million to the
VMMC and VA provided the funding under its authority to assist
the Philippine government in fulfilling its obligations to
provide medical care for Filipino veterans who fought with the
United States Armed Forces in World War II.
And we are pleased, Mr. Chairman, that the Secretary was
able to share with you his decision to continue that grant
again this year based upon the Senate's passage of the House
approved continuing resolution for 2007.
The Manila Regional Office administers a wide range of
benefits and services for veterans, their families, and their
survivors residing in the Philippines, including compensation,
pension, DIC, education benefits, and vocational rehabilitation
and employment services.
The Manila Regional Office has jurisdiction over all cases
involving veterans of the Commonwealth Army, recognized
guerrilla units, and New Philippine Scouts no matter where they
reside.
As of January 2007, the Manila Regional Office provides
disability compensation, pension, and DIC to approximately
17,000 veterans and survivors. This includes 6,400 veterans who
receive disability compensation of which 3,500 are World War II
Filipino veterans and the remainder of the United States Armed
Forces veterans from all periods of service.
The Manila Regional Office also provides DIC benefits to
approximately 6,700 survivors which includes 5,100 survivors of
World War II Filipino veterans. Nearly 15,000 of the 17,000
beneficiaries paid by the Manila Regional Office reside in the
Philippines.
Our records indicate that about 690 Filipino veterans and
430 survivors of Filipino veterans currently receive benefits
at the full dollar rate based upon their residence in the
United States.
We are very pleased that Congress has in recent years
improved the benefits for those Filipino veterans and survivors
facing living expenses comparable to the United States
veterans. We believe these improvements were extremely
important as they allowed VA to maintain parity in the
provision of veterans' benefits among similarly situated
Filipino beneficiaries.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony, and I greatly
appreciate being here today and look forward to answering your
questions.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Aument appears on p. 42.]
The Chairman. Thank you, sir.
Is there a representative from the Filipino Embassy here
that--would you like to introduce yourself and give us your
testimony?
I think the Charge d'Affaires has just arrived. If you want
to introduce him.
General Lorenzana. The Charge d'Affaires is already here.
The Chairman. Good timing, sir.
Thank you, General, for your willingness to step in. Mr.
Charge d'Affaires.
STATEMENT OF CARLOS D. SORRETA
Mr. Sorreta. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And I
apologize for my tardiness.
The Chairman. If you would introduce yourself for the
record, please.
Mr. Sorreta. Yes. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and all
Members. My name is Carlos Sorreta. I am the Deputy Chief of
Mission and Charge d'Affaires. The Ambassador is currently out
of town and offers his deep apologies for being unable to
attend this very important meeting.
Mr. Chairman, may I proceed?
The Chairman. Please.
Mr. Sorreta. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Chairman, all Members of the Committee, thank you very
much for inviting us to appear before you and to speak on an
issue of great importance to my country and to my people.
Mr. Chairman, when the war ended in the Pacific, Filipino
soldiers set their weapons aside, buried and laid to rest their
fallen comrades, and collected the shattered pieces of their
lives. For them, the end of the war came peace and with peace,
they believed they had hope.
Little did they know that although the carnage and
destruction of war had ended, they would once more be entering
into another battle, one that would rage and drag on for
decades.
Mr. Chairman, this new battle would be a fight that would
once more call upon the courage, perseverance, and sacrifice
that our veterans had unselfishly shown in the bloodied
foxholes of Bataan and Corregidor and the steaming jungles of
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and the death camps of Capas,
Fort Santiago, and Muntinlupa.
This would be another tragic battle that would make them
stand witness once more and watch as their comrades would fall
one by one, not by the bullets of an enemy nor their bayonets,
but by their averages of time and the pain of equity.
Today few of these living symbols of the very freedoms and
liberties that we now enjoy remain. By month's end, there will
be fewer still, but the Gods of war have not totally abandoned
them. For in this new battle, they did not stand alone.
There have been many in the Congress of the United States
who have stood by our brave soldiers, possessed with a profound
sense of history and a great appreciation of the common values
that both our countries stand for and share and have fought
for.
Many in this and past Congresses have waged their own
battle on behalf of our veterans for justice and equity. On
behalf of my government and the Filipino people, let me express
our deep gratitude to our friends and partners in the U.S.
Congress for their continued support for the Filipino World War
II veteran.
Mr. Chairman, in this battle, our veterans have also
marched on side by side with many Filipino-American
organizations and individuals whose resolve and commitment have
given all of us renewed strength to forge on.
Many of these groups and individuals are with us here
today, and we thank them for their invaluable and tireless work
and for their unqualified dedication.
Mr. Chairman, the Philippine government and the Filipino
people continue to maintain that Filipino soldiers who served
in the United States Army, particularly in the period between
July 1941 and October 1945, are veterans under existing U.S.
laws and are, therefore, entitled to all benefits that accrued
to U.S. veterans.
We, therefore, welcome the filing and urge the passage of
House Resolution 760 and its companion bill in the Senate to
restore the veterans' benefits that were removed by Public Law
79-301.
Mr. Chairman, we make this call based on assertions that
are clearly based on facts and historical record. And I will
not dwell on this because it is clearly on the record, but I
would just like to attach to my statement a reiteration of the
arguments and respectfully request that it be made part of the
hearing record.
The Chairman. It will be made part of the record.
Mr. Sorreta. Mr. Chairman, Filipino World War II veterans
were treated unfairly in 1946. At the critical juncture in both
our countries' history, they heeded the call of President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They left their families. They left
their homes for an unsure fait. They fought bravely, valiantly,
and with uncommon courage. They fought against great odds and
they fought without the support that they had been promised.
Of the 470,000 Filipino veterans supported by the U.S.
Veterans' Administration in 1946, barely 20,000 remain, 13,000
in the Philippines and 7,000 here in the United States. Those
who remain, they have very little time left. Many are sick.
Many are infirmed.
Mr. Chairman, honorable Members of the Committee, as an
official and representative of the Philippine government, I ask
on behalf of a nation that has stood by yours in the name of
liberty, freedom, and democracy in World War II and the decades
of uncertainty after and in facing today's new and grave
challenges to please finally allow these brave soldiers to
leave the battlefield with their dignity intact, with the honor
that they truly deserve, and, finally, with a victory that has
alluded them for far too long.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Sorreta appears on p. 40.]
The Chairman. Thank you.
And Members may ask this panel questions. I want to
recognize Mr. Hare, whose predecessor from his district, Lane
Evans, was a strong supporter of this legislation the whole
time he was in Congress, and I hope you will pass on,
Congressman, our deep gratitude to Congressman Evans.
Mr. Hare. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will.
Let me just say that, you know, I am the new kid around, I
suppose, but that was the most compelling testimony I have
heard in a long time. And I want you to know, and I
congratulate the Chairman for this bill, I fully support it. I
cannot for the life of me understand why it has taken so many
years to do what is basically and fundamentally the right thing
to do.
Whether somebody told somebody and did not have the right
to tell them that, I do not know. But it seems to me that, you
know, a veteran is a veteran and the Filipino veterans have
been discriminated against. And it is my hope that this
legislation will come out of this Committee quickly and that we
will have a vote on it and then we can right a wrong. And we
have the opportunity to do that.
So I guess the only question that I have for you is, and
perhaps, you know--I do not know if you have the answer, but,
you know, you are fighting this battle, and for the Filipino
veterans, I am assuming they have a great sense of feeling that
somehow they have been let down by this country for what they
have been able to do.
Mr. Sorreta. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Sir, the Filipino veterans can speak most eloquently for
themselves. But if I may have the honor to speak for them, they
have shown the same patience over the decades that they have
shown when they were facing the enemy, when they were in the
jungles with barely anything. It is the same feeling. Low on
ammunition, low on support, feeling abandoned, but they did not
lose hope, sir, and they fight on.
Thank you, sir.
Mr. Hare. Well, it has never been easy. And let me just
close by saying that, as I said before, I commend the Chairman
for his strong support of this piece of legislation.
I will do everything I can, Mr. Chairman, to help get this
wrong rectified, and we can get this bill passed and signed
into law. It is long overdue.
Thank you very much. I yield back.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Hare.
Mr. Stearns.
Mr. Stearns. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Let me also echo my colleague's comment about the eloquent
speech that you just gave, Mr. Sorreta. My father fought in Iwo
Jima, and I am well aware of the sacrifice the Filipinos made.
And so I think everybody in this Committee is sympathetic,
empathetic.
There are some questions that as sort of the bouncer for
the taxpayers, we just have to understand what it is going to
cost, and I think some of the fair questions, if you do not
mind, we will ask Mr. Aument, you also.
What would this cost based upon your analysis of this bill
over, let's say, a ten-year period? What would it cost?
Mr. Aument. Congressman, no bill has yet been referred to
us.
Mr. Stearns. I think you have to put your mike on.
Mr. Aument. Excuse me.
Mr. Stearns. That is all right.
Mr. Aument. I said the Committee has not yet referred us
this bill for the Department and Administration's views, so we
have really taken no action to cost this legislation at this
time.
I know in previous bills that had been introduced, you
know, some time back, I believe the projected cost of
legislation that had been introduced in, I believe, the 109th
Congress showed a 10-year cost of around $2.7 billion. But,
again, that was less than a formal estimate. And should the
Committee refer us this legislation for our views, we will very
carefully cost it out. So right now----
The Chairman. If the gentleman would yield for a second.
Mr. Aument. Absolutely, sure.
The Chairman. Before the markup comes, we will have both a
VA and a CBO official scoring. The CBO gave us an initial
estimate, but we believe their assumptions were not necessarily
sound.
So we are working with them. They came up with an estimate
recently about half of what was just mentioned. But, again, the
numbers of veterans and their longevity, I think, were
assumptions that were not fully, I think----
Mr. Stearns. Well, I think, Mr. Chairman, regardless of how
we all feel, we should know what it is going to cost. You have
given an estimate of $1.2 billion. Our staff shows that CBO
shows it would cost just under a billion.
The Chairman has indicated some of the assumptions were
wrong, and I think we all have an opportunity to find out what
the real cost would be.
I ask the staff to go back and look at historically when
the bill was drawn up in fiscal year 2006. The Ranking Member,
Lane Evans, suggested an appropriation of $22 million. That
would be used to give each qualifying Filipino veteran about
$200 a month.
Chairman Filner in 2006 supported this plan which estimated
that the cost to the U.S. Government would be around $22.6
million. So that is for 1 year and that was for 2008.
So we have some varying proposals from 2006 fiscal year and
we have now estimates as high as $1.2 billion over the 10
years. And I guess after you see the cost and knowing how all
of us have seen these dollars are so important, the question
would be, you know, can we afford it. If we cannot, what can we
afford.
Maybe the original numbers that Mr. Filner, Chairman Filner
has brought to our attention at $22.6 million is more
appropriate to what we should do instead of $1.2 billion over
10 years.
Then the next question is, what is the Filipino Government
doing for its veterans, because if the United States Government
gives support to the Filipino veterans and the Filipino
Government gives support, how does that play out?
According to our Census Bureau, the average per capita
income in the Philippines is about $1,400. So if we took what
we see in this bill--and, Mr. Aument, you can help me out on
this--it is our understanding that if this bill was made into
law, every Filipino would receive compensation at the full
rates and an old-age pension that would make his or her income
a minimum of $10,579.
Is that what your understanding is also, that that would be
the average income of a Filipino in the Philippines? The
Filipino would have from the United States Government $10,600,
he would make every year living in the Philippines when the
average per capita income is around $1,400? Are my figures
correct?
Mr. Aument. Well, the pension program, Congressman,
typically makes up the difference between whatever is
determined to be the poverty level for pension purposes and the
income that that veteran already makes. It would bring pension-
eligible veterans up to that $10,500 figure you just mentioned,
but it may be paying each individual something less than that--
--
Mr. Stearns. No, but----
Mr. Aument [continuing]. Than the income that they
already----
Mr. Stearns [continuing]. We could have that maximum.
Mr. Aument. Uh-huh.
Mr. Stearns. And I would just conclude by saying that that
would probably be higher than many veterans in the United
States are making. Is that a true statement proportionately?
Mr. Aument. The purchasing power of that income certainly
would favor the Filipino national, yes.
Mr. Stearns. Okay. Well, my time is expired. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Stearns.
Ms. Berkley, any comment?
Ms. Berkley. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I
unfortunately have battling Committee assignments today, so I
am leaving. And I appreciate your courtesy.
I have been a cosponsor of this legislation every time it
comes up before Congress, and I am appalled that we have not
rectified a 61-year wrong.
With the amount of money that the United States Government
wastes on a daily basis does not even begin to compensate the
Filipino veterans who helped the United States of America win
the war, win World War II. And we are all better and safer for
their efforts on our behalf.
I would hope that this Committee and the U.S. Congress move
with all deliberate speed to rectify this injustice as quickly
as we possibly can.
And it would give me great pleasure to be able to introduce
to you, Mr. Chairman, somebody from my congressional district
who was here, Rosita Lee. She was Vice Chairman of the
Association. She came all the way here from Nevada to add her
voice. And I have heard what she has to say and I fully support
it.
And I yield back my time.
The Chairman. Thank you, Ms. Berkley.
Mr. Lamborn, comment or questions?
Mr. Lamborn. I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Walz. No.
The Chairman. Mr. Moran.
Mr. Moran. Thank you. I, too, have supported your efforts
and I commend you on your leadership on trying to rectify the
apparent injustice that has occurred in regard to Filipino
veterans.
And I also associate with the remarks of Mr. Stearns in
regard to trying to find the appropriate solution to this
problem, but it is one that should be resolved much more
quickly than we have been able to do.
My only question is of the Charge d'Affaires, Mr. Sorreta.
Can you give us an estimate of how many eligible World War II
veterans are now still living in the Philippines.
Mr. Sorreta. Mr. Chairman, thank you, sir.
Sir, our estimates are, at the end of the war, there were
470,000. These are the numbers counted by the U.S. Veterans
Administration. As of today, there are 20,000 left, sir, 20,000
in the Philippines.
Mr. Moran. That are living in the Philippines?
Mr. Sorreta. That are living in the Philippines.
Mr. Moran. And their average age?
Mr. Sorreta. Their average age, they are close to about 70
to 80, sir.
Mr. Moran. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, sir.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Boozman.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And, again, I appreciate your hard work over many, many
years in trying to rectify the situation that we find ourselves
in. And we appreciate all the veterans being here. Certainly
your presence here makes a statement in itself.
A question I have, if we were able--again, we have this
problem. We have got problems with our atomic veterans. We have
all kinds of things that we are going to be trying to work
through in the next 2 years and, in fact, in the next several
years.
But if we are able to reach a compromise, my understanding
is that if we strike a deal with $200 a month or whatever, that
under current law in the Philippines, that the pension that is
being given there now would no longer continue by the
government. Is that true? So they do not help us with the
amount that they are getting now. But if we increase that by
$200, would they no longer receive their pension under current
law?
Mr. Sorreta. Mr. Chair, sir.
Thank you for that question. The funds that the government
has dedicated to the veterans form part of a larger group of
funds for all retirees in the Philippine government. It forms
part of the funds for benefits, retirement, and all these funds
that go to Government employees when they retire.
To be fair to all the others, if one group receives more
than what has been allocated to them, then those funds that
were given to them would go back to the pool. So it could help
out others who are also in dire need.
We are talking about retired nurses and Government
employees. It is part of a bigger fund. We wish we could have
devoted a very specific fund to the veterans, but the resources
are just not that much.
What I would just like to add, sir, is that it does not
reflect on our desire not to help the veterans if they get this
additional funding. They are getting support of medical,
burial. All the other support that goes to a veteran would go
to them except for the pension portion, which actually is also
quite small. That money would not go into it. It would go back
to the fund that helps other Government retirees.
I would just like to add, sir, that after the war, the
United States would have spent close to $4 billion. For 6
decades, we have carried the burden for the veteran. I am not
going to quibble over where we will not be giving them any more
if they are given the equity. But I would just like to
reiterate, sir, that we do support their quest for equity.
Thank you, sir.
Mr. Boozman. And I understand that. I guess what we are
trying to do in the process of this is figuring out how much
better off the veteran would be once we participated. So right
now do they get $50 a month or $100 a month or----
Mr. Sorreta. Mr. Chairman, it amounts to about $100.
Mr. Boozman. Okay. So if we passed legislation here giving
them $200 a month, they would lose the $100?
Mr. Sorreta. Yes, they would lose that $100, but their net
would be $200, sir, or $100.
Mr. Boozman. Okay. The other thing, too, is you mentioned--
and, again, maybe you all can help me with the history, but
after the war, did we not contribute several hundred million
dollars to set up a fund to be helpful in this regard?
Mr. Sorreta. Right after the war, sir, the U.S. Government
gave an amount of $200 million. We were very thankful for that.
But recovering from the ravages of war, sir, that $200 million
went to very good causes, but did not last too long.
Mr. Boozman. Okay.
Mr. Sorreta. It just did not, sir, compared to, for
example, to what was given to Europe or to Japan to recover
from the war. I am not going to compare devastations between
all these victims of war, but we were thankful. But, sir, it
was just not enough. And we are fighting for equity.
Mr. Boozman. The gentleman here, did you have a comment
that you wanted to make?
General Lorenzana. I am General Lorenzana. I am the head of
the Veterans' Affairs Office at the Philippine Embassy.
Going back to the question of Mr. Boozman about this $100
being taken away if and when the Filipino war veterans are
given a pension from the United States, yes, sir, it is true.
It will be taken away from them because of a law that was
passed in 1990.
But there is an effort now to amend that law to remove the
effect of that, so that even if the Filipino war veterans get
the pension from the United States, they will continue
receiving $100 worth of Philippine money.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Boozman.
Mr. Rodriguez, did you want to say anything before we move
on?
Mr. Rodriguez. Mr. Chairman, first of all, let me
congratulate you because I served 8 years on this Committee
before I left for a while, and I know that you brought this
issue before us not once, not twice, but every time you have
had an opportunity. And I know I have listened to the data
through the years, and I just feel it is, you know, about time
that we do the right thing.
And I just personally want to thank each and every one of
you for what you have done not only in terms of defending your
own country but also being there for us. And so I want to thank
you for that. And hopefully we eventually will do the right
thing on this issue.
And just thank you, Mr. Chairman, for bringing forth your
tenacity on this issue. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.
We thank your panel for being here. We will get that
request to the VA. Our regards to the Ambassador. One of
General D. Lorenzana's predecessors, General Nanadiego, who we
wish would be here, called me yesterday and said he was ill and
also had to take care of his wife. And if you also would give
him my regards.
Thank you very much.
We have a panel of Members of Congress who are here with us
today. If they will join us, and then we will hear from them
before we hear from some veterans from World War II.
Mr. Honda, you have been a tenacious supporter of this
legislation and as Chair of the Asian Pacific Americans in the
Congress, we thank you for being here. And you may proceed with
your testimony.
STATEMENTS OF HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA;
HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM
THE U.S. TERRITORY OF GUAM; AND HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO, A
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII
STATEMENT OF HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA
Mr. Honda. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the
Committee.
Ranking Member Buyer, Chairman Filner, we really appreciate
you holding this critically important hearing concerning the
injustices done to some of the bravest men to have fought on
behalf of the United States, the Filipino World War II
veterans.
Mr. Chairman, I also commend you for your tireless
leadership on efforts to rectify the situation and for
reintroducing House Resolution 760, the ``Filipino Veterans
Equity Act.''
As Members of the Committee know, I have been a vocal
advocate for the equitable treatment of Filipino World War II
veterans. I consider the recision of U.S. military status from
approximately 250,000 Filipino World War II veterans who fought
under the U.S. command and our flag as one of the greatest
injustices ever perpetrated by this Congress.
After six decades of our disgrace, we have the
responsibility--and this is not a partisan issue--we have a
responsibility to correct this injustice and honor their
service and sacrifice, and our window of opportunity to make
these brave veterans whole is rapidly closing.
In 1934, when the Philippine Islands were a U.S. territory,
Congress enacted Public Law 73-127 requiring the Commonwealth
Army of the Philippines to respond to the call of the U.S.
President.
On July 26, 1941, with the Nation facing the threat of
Japanese aggression in the Pacific, that call to arms came when
President Franklin Roosevelt signed a military order for the
Commonwealth Army to serve with the U.S. Army Forces--Far East
(USAFFE) under the command of the U.S. military leaders. These
Filipino soldiers bravely fought alongside their American
brothers in arms until the end of World War II.
With the enactment of Public Law 79-190 in 1945, Congress
recruited an additional 50,000 Filipino soldiers, known as the
New Philippine Scouts, in anticipation of needing occupation
forces for captured enemy territories. At the time of
recruitment, the U.S. Government promised that all that
responded to the call would be treated as U.S. veterans for the
purposes of their benefits.
As a sidebar, I want us to remember part of the history of
our U.S. Army when MacArthur had to leave under orders that the
Filipino veterans were still there with our prisoners of war
under the Japanese Imperial Army.
We all remember the Bataan Death March. These Filipinos
stayed by their side, harassed the Imperial Army in order to
make sure that the maximum number of our POWs survived the
Bataan Death March. Through the loss of their limbs and through
the loss of their lives, they had dared to help the POWs to
survive that Bataan Death March.
In 1946, just after the conclusion of the war, Congress
rescinded this promise, turning their backs only on the brave
Filipino veterans. I say only. When passing the first and
second ``Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Acts,''
commonly referred to as the ``Rescission Acts,'' Congress
sought to reduce the amount of previously appropriated funds
devoted to the war effort.
Within these bills, however, contained the specific
provisions that declared that service by the members of the
Commonwealth Army and the New Philippine Scouts should not be
deemed to have been service in the United States military,
effectively stripping the Filipino soldiers of their U.S.
veteran status.
You might want to ask yourself, if you had read the
``Rescission Act,'' that it was precisely written to only
affect and impact one group of veterans. And you must ask
yourself how many other non-U.S. veterans that fought under our
flag with us who were not U.S. citizens but were granted U.S.
veterans benefits? How many of those non-U.S. veterans had
fought under the U.S. flag and how much did they receive and
how many countries did they represent while they fought on our
behalf?
Although President Harry Truman signed the ``Rescission
Acts'' into law, he recognized the heroic contributions of the
Filipino soldiers and requested that efforts be made to correct
the injustice. And I quote, ``The passage and approval of this
legislation do not release the United States from its moral
obligation to provide for the heroic Philippine veterans who
sacrificed so much for the common cause during the war.''
Since 1946, piecemeal benefits have been hard won by the
Filipino World War II veterans. However, full veteran benefits
are still denied. To correct the injustice, I have been a
steadfast supporter of the ``Filipino Veterans Equity Act,''
which would provide the full benefits promised to all Filipino
veterans who fought under the U.S. Command during World War II.
I am encouraged by the Chairman's dedication to facilitate
a quick passage of this legislation and the large number of
Members participating in this hearing.
As Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American
Caucus (CAPAC), I can also voice the Caucus's united support on
this concern. We have prioritized the plight of the Filipino
World War II veterans as a top legislative goal. CAPAC will
continue to work to educate and recruit support from our
colleagues and the public.
Other Members may cite the cost of the ``Filipino Veterans
Equity Act'' as an obstacle, but who among us can refute the
injustice that has been done? Congress must return the promised
veteran status to the courageous World War II Filipino
soldiers.
During the war, there were nearly 250,000 Filipino soldiers
who had served under the U.S. Command. At this point, only an
estimated 22,000 are still living.
To put things in perspective, the funding necessary to
provide these remaining Filipino veterans with full equity of
benefits is roughly equal to what we are currently spending in
1 or 2 days in Iraq. Must we wait for more of these deserved
Filipinos to pass away to justify the cost? Is this how we
should repay our courageous veterans? I think not.
Mr. Chairman, these World War II heroes are in the twilight
of their lives, and time is running out for Congress to
recognize their service. A promise made should be a promise
kept, especially when it comes to veterans.
Bolstered by our country's sense of moral values and honor,
we say that our word is our bond. If we are to be a legislative
body dedicated to the ideals of justice and dignity, then it is
imperative we honor the promise made to our Filipino veterans
and restore their benefits.
Mr. Chairman, I wish to close with a roll call of Filipino
veterans of World War II from my home in northern California,
Bay area that passed away last Congress.
I call this a roll call: Boayes, Guillermo, he died at the
age of 87; Carino, Demetrio died at age 91; Duenos, Magdaleno
died age 91; Fabricante, Salomon died age 81; Galang, Dioniso
died age 81; Gomez, Godofredo died age 83; Pelaez, Ariston died
age 75. There were many more before this congressional session.
There are very few left.
We talk about the cost of this. What is the cost of our
honor? What is the cost of their dignity? And the cost
diminishes every year as each one of these veterans pass away.
So it is my hope and desire that the Congress of WWII is
still the Congress of this country of 2007. We are an esteemed
body. We are the same institution with the same promises that
need to be kept.
Congress must not wait any longer to correct the dishonor
that our disgraceful actions has imposed upon our Filipino
veterans of World War II. We can do no less than keep our word.
I appreciate the time.
[The prepared statement of Congressman Honda appears on p.
46.]
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Honda.
The distinguished delegate from Guam, Ms. Bordallo, please.
STATEMENT OF HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO
Ms. Bordallo. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the
invitation to appear before this Committee today.
I represent the U.S. territory of Guam, closest neighbor to
the Philippines, in the U.S. Congress. Forty percent of our
population in Guam is made up of Filipinos, including a number
of the Philippine Scouts who reside there today, and many have
died in recent years.
I have submitted my full statement for the record, but wish
to offer a few words of support, Mr. Chairman, and
encouragement for our Filipino veterans.
At the very heart of this hearing today and central to the
issue before us is the question of equity. The national effort
to fully restore the rights, privileges, and benefits of
veteran status to surviving World War II veterans of the
Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, to all of the Philippine
Scouts, and to those individuals from the Philippines who
served in the United States Armed Forces organized resistant
units is an effort in the name of justice.
These soldiers, as we have been so reminded this morning,
served shoulder to shoulder with American servicemen under the
command of General Douglas MacArthur who resisted the Imperial
Japanese forces in their homeland in the greatest conflict of
the 20th century.
They were seen and treated as equals in the line of duty
and in the battle to secure freedom and democracy against the
perils of the second World War. There was no inequity on the
frontlines of the war, no distinction between the sacrifices of
our soldiers both Filipino and American alike, and no
differences in their calls to duty as servicemembers under the
United States Armed Forces.
Yet, we have an existing and lingering inequity in our
government's treatment of our World War II veterans today. This
is the inequity which compels us as Members of Congress to come
here today to testify on behalf of bringing justice to our
Filipino veterans.
The values, Mr. Chairman, of freedom, Democratic
governance, and the rule of law were cherished and sought by
the people of the Philippines in the early part of the 20th
century. The extent to which these values were inherent in the
character of the people of the Philippines was evidenced by the
service and sacrifices of the approximately 250,000 of their
countrymen that upon order of our President, Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, were inducted into the United States Armed Forces.
The campaign to liberate the Philippines reportedly
included some of the bloodiest fighting of the second World
War. We all know the heroic stories of the intense fighting at
Bataan and Corregidor. The capture of soldiers by the Imperial
Japanese forces during these battles knew no bounds. Filipino
and American soldiers were captured together and sacrificed
together in the cause of freedom.
The United States Congress, however, withheld benefits from
our Filipino veterans with the passage of the ``Rescission
Acts'' of 1946. The continued withholding of these benefits
strikes against the very principles of justice and fairness
that these soldiers so valiantly fought to defend.
Mr. Chairman, Filipinos are the only national group singled
out for denial of full U.S. veteran status while the soldiers
of more than 66 other U.S. allied countries who were similarly
inducted into the service of the Armed Forces of the United
States during World War II were granted full U.S. veteran
status. You ask yourself how could this have happened.
Today there are fewer and fewer surviving Filipino veterans
of the second World War with each passing year. The need for
Congress to honor their service by enacting legislation to
fully restore veteran benefits for them is now more important
than ever before.
As a Member of the Congressional Asian-Pacific American
Caucus under the chairmanship of Mr. Mike Honda, I strongly
support and have supported in the past House Resolution 760,
the ``Filipino Veterans Equity Act'' of 2007.
If signed into law, House Resolution 760 would fulfill our
country's long overdue commitment to these loyal and honorable
veterans. We must act now, Mr. Chairman, to fulfill the United
States Government's responsibilities to those who served
willingly and ably in the defense of freedom.
Filipino veterans deserve no less than our best commitment
to bring them equity and justice in the name of good faith of
the United States Government.
I urge this Committee to favorably report your legislation,
Mr. Chairman, to the full House as soon as possible. And I
thank the Members of the Veterans' Committee who are here
today.
I thank especially, Mr. Chairman, the Filipino leaders in
this room today that are participating in this hearing who
continue all these years, 61 years, to pursue this course in
the name of the veterans.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Congresswoman Bordallo appears
on p. 44.]
The Chairman. Thank you very much.
From Hawaii, we have a new Member from Congress, and we
welcome her and we welcome her testimony, Congresswoman Mazie
Hirono.
STATEMENT OF HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO
Ms. Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the
Committee. I am honored to sit here to testify with my very
eloquent colleagues, Mr. Honda and Ms. Bordello.
Thank you very much for the opportunity today to testify on
a matter of equity for Filipino veterans of World War II. This
is an important issue for me and for the rest of the
congressional delegation from Hawaii and for the many families
in Hawaii.
Hawaii last year celebrated the 100th anniversary of the
first Filipino immigrants to Hawaii. It is long past due for us
to pass this legislation and to do the right thing.
As you know, Filipino veterans are those that honorably
answered the call of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served
alongside our Armed Forces during World War II. They fought
shoulder to shoulder with American servicemen. They sacrificed
for the same just cause.
We made a promise to provide full veterans' benefits to
those who served with our troops. And while we have made
appreciable progress toward fulfilling that promise, we have
not yet achieved the full equity that Filipino veterans
deserve.
I am proud to be an original cosponsor of House Resolution
760, the ``Filipino Veterans Equity Act'' of 2007, which was
introduced by the Chairman to provide the necessary
reclassification of the service of Filipino veterans to make
them eligible for all the veterans benefits programs
administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
In essence, House Resolution 760 makes good on the promise
our government made to these brave men over 60 years ago.
Today, out of the 250,000 veterans, only about 22,000 remain
and of that number, approximately 2,000 reside in my home State
of Hawaii.
As Filipino veterans are entering the sunset years of their
lives, Congress is running out of time to fulfill our
obligations to them.
I would also like to take this time to discuss very briefly
an effort that I am jointly working on with Senator Daniel
Akaka to provide for the expedited reunification of the
families of our Filipino veterans.
Prospective family-based immigration applicants from the
Philippines face substantially, often decade-long waits for
Visas. It is our aim to introduce a bill that would further the
recognition of the service of Filipino veterans by granting
their children a special immigration status that would allow
them to immigrate to the United States and be unified with
their aging parents.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I thank you again
for the opportunity to speak today on the need to fulfill our
obligations to our Filipino World War II veterans. And I know
that our congressional delegation consisting of Representative
Neal Abercrombie and Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye
would lend their strong voices as they have for many years in
support of this measure.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Congresswoman Hirono appears on
p. 45.]
The Chairman. Thank you. We thank all of you for taking the
time to be here. We will enter into the record the statements
of almost a dozen other congressional colleagues who wanted to
be heard on this in the record.
Are there any questions from Mr. Hare?
Mr. Hare. Not a question, Mr. Chairman. But I was doing
some math as my colleague, Mr. Honda, was testifying. And I
hope we can all put this in perspective because I think it
drives home what you have worked so hard on.
We are spending $11 million an hour, as you mentioned, on
Iraq. And if my math is correct, if this legislation passed and
it cost $1.1 billion, that would be the equivalent of four and
one-half days of what we are spending, number one.
Number two, this is 61 years, not four and one-half days,
and 228,000 people who fought alongside our troops to keep them
safe and gave their lives for this country. And the question
is, from my perspective, Mr. Chairman, is not can we afford to
do this. The question is, can we certainly afford not to do
this.
So I just again want to go back and say to my colleagues, I
am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. And it just seems to
me that regardless of what a person makes living in the
Philippines per month, they served, they served admirably,
courageously, and for $200 a month, when you look at what this
government throws out the window every single day, were this
not so tragic, it would almost be silly to even be talking
about the cost of this legislation.
I yield back.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Stearns, any comments?
Mr. Stearns. No, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the testimony.
The Chairman. Okay. Mr. McNerney.
Mr. McNerney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And I want to thank this panel for their heartfelt
testimony and the previous speaker as well.
I reflect the pride that I feel many in our district, and
there is a strong Filipino community in the City of Stockton,
share for the service that the Filipinos did and gave of their
lives in World War II. And we all feel eternal gratitude for
their service.
I see many Filipino veterans in the audience, and I
personally thank you for the service that you gave to the
United States and to the Philippines during this period.
My father served in the Philippine Islands in World War II,
and he often spoke of the valor and the industry of the people
that he worked with. It was a matter of pride. He brought back
many mementoes that he showed us throughout the years of his
life that I looked on with pleasure and with pride.
And I want to say that I feel there is an urgent need to
undo an injustice and to move forward with this legislation.
And so I stand up in strong support, and I urge my colleagues
to do the same.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Mr. Boozman.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you all for coming to testify. I enjoyed
your testimony.
And first of all, I want to go on record as saying that, I
feel at this point, Mr. Filner, we will come up with something
that I very definitely will support as far as legislation.
But we have had a lot of different numbers bandied around.
In the bill, it talks about $10,000. Mr. Hare mentioned $200
which would really only mean $100 to the individual because
they are going to take away their pension. So we have got some
things we have got to get sorted out.
What I do not want is for us to put a bill out, though,
that has no chance of going anywhere. As you all know, the
budget constraints that we have got now going are, a billion
dollars is going to be tough to find.
In a little bit, I am going to go over and visit--we are
going to have a press conference with the GI Bill. Myself and
several others are trying to push the inequity in the GI Bill
for the Reservists.
The comments being made about Iraq, this has been going on
for 4 years. The question is, why hadn't we done this 56 years
prior to that.
So, the problem has been that Congress has just not seen
this as a priority. And, I do not know that without Iraq, they
would have seen it as a priority as they did for the previous
56 years.
So, again, I appreciate your testimony. I agree with you.
What I want, I know is what you all want, is something that we
can get before the Budget Committee, get before the
appropriators, well, the Budget Committee.
In reality, we are talking about mandatory spending and to
get something passed that will make a difference for the
individuals that have survived and did such a tremendous job in
service to our country many years ago.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Boozman.
And, Mr. Honda.
Mr. Honda. If I may.
The Chairman. Please.
Mr. Honda. I have a possible model of cost that I would
like to submit to the Chair for his perusal and share with the
Members of the Committee. That was put together by Colonel
Romeo Monteyro. You probably know him. And I think that it
bears some study as to the possible model that you may want to
look at.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Boozman, the figures will be clarified before the
markup. We will need to have those. And the billion, by the
way, that is referred is over 10 years. It is not a 1-year
cost. So we will have all those figures and try to have some
recommendations on how we can meet those needs because I agree
with you. There is no sense doing something that is not going
to be passed.
So thank you again for your concern.
Mr. Rodriguez?
Mr. Rodriguez. Once again, Mr. Chairman, I want to
personally thank you for bringing forth this piece of
legislation, and I know you have worked really hard on that.
And I would just also want to thank each one of the
presenters, and I know that somehow we always argue about and
discuss whether there are resources or not. Six years ago, we
had the largest surplus in recorded history and we did not do
anything.
And so I think it just a matter of doing the right thing
and moving forward. When the priority is there, we find the
money to do that. And we just seem not to be able to, even for
some of our American veterans, to be able to provide some of
the needs that they have.
And I am still thinking of our National Guard that were
brought back from Iraq and we had to provide resources for them
to be able to fly home, which is ridiculous, you know. And so I
think we have just got to do the right thing and indicate that
it is an important priority that we have to uphold.
You have been there for us when we needed you. We need to
be there for you. And I know it is a little bit late, but, you
know, we need to do the right thing and move forward and know
the resources are never going to be there. We have just got to
prioritize and move forward.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Thank you, our colleagues. Mr. Honda, your honor roll was
particularly compelling, and we will continually think of those
brave men.
If panel three will come forward. I hope any Members can
stay. We have some living history coming before us. And Colonel
Edwin Ramsey, who is a legendary figure in the Pacific, and we
thank him for being here, joined by Colonel Romeo Monteyro, who
is with the Filipino World War II Veterans Federation.
And, Colonel, thank you for your constant support and
pressure on this.
Colonel Ramsey, you have the floor.
Mr. Boozman. Mr. Chairman, can I just make a comment----
The Chairman. Yes.
Mr. Boozman [continuing]. With your permission? Again, I
apologize. We have a lot of Members missing today. Charlie
Norwood, the gentleman that was a Member of Congress from
Georgia, passed away earlier this week and his funeral is going
on this afternoon. And many Members, they are taking a
congressional plane to that funeral. So we have many Members
that are attending the funeral. So I just wanted to make the
audience aware of that.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Boozman.
Colonel.
STATEMENTS OF LT. COL. EDWIN PRICE RAMSEY, AUS (RET.),
LOS ANGELES, CA; AND COL. ROMEO M. MONTEYRO, PA (RET.),
ADVISOR, FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS FEDERATION OF SAN DIEGO
COUNTY, VISTA, CA
STATEMENT OF LT. COL. EDWIN PRICE RAMSEY
Colonel Ramsey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of
the Committee.
I would first like to say, the previous speakers, I would
like to say amen because they have already stolen much of what
I was going to say.
My name is Edwin Ramsey. I came from Los Angeles to attend
this hearing, and I thank you for the opportunity to appear
before you here today.
Having appeared before the same Committee on November the
5th of 1993, again on July the 2nd of 1998, and since I will
turn 90 on May the 9th of this year, I will never have another
chance to contribute in some small way to correcting a
longstanding gross injustice to the Filipino veterans of World
War II.
It is important that you be aware of why I had a unique
position during that period of time. In 1941, I was a
Lieutenant in the 26th Calvary of Philippine Scouts with whom I
fought from the Japanese landing in Lingayen Gulf through the
Battle of Bataan.
After Bataan surrendered on April the 9th of 1942, my troop
commander, Captain Joseph Barker, II, and myself escaped and
made our way to Pampanga Province in central Luzon where we
meet Colonel Claude Thorp who General MacArthur had sent out of
Bataan to establish resistance behind enemy lines.
We joined Colonel Thorp and began the guerrilla forces in
central Luzon designated by Colonel Thorp to be the east-
central Luzon guerrilla area under the Luzon guerrilla Army
forces of Thorp.
After capture of both Thorp and Barker and their later
execution, in early January of 1943, I became the commander of
the east-central Luzon guerrilla area or ECLG for short. By the
liberation of central Luzon, it had grown to approximately
45,000 guerrilla troops.
With that background, I would like to address the question,
the status of Filipino veterans and their treatment, especially
in respect to the ``Rescission Act'' of 1946.
In July of 1941, President Roosevelt authorized through the
War Department the formation of the United States Army Forces
in the Far East or USAFFE under the command of General Douglas
MacArthur. And he ordered the induction of the military forces
of the Commonwealth of the Philippines as part of the USAFFE.
It is impossible to see how these Filipino troops could be
federalized into the USAFFE and not be part of the United
States Army.
Further, when we inducted the Filipinos into the guerrilla
forces, we required that they all swear allegiance to the
United States of America and the Commonwealth of the
Philippines. Therefore, all those guerrillas that were
recognized after the liberation would have the same status.
And in that connection, I question why there was a
difference in the treatment accorded to the 65,000 or so
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico troops and those from Hawaii and
elsewhere who served in the U.S. Army and were later treated
the same as American veterans.
The USAFFE forces fought courageously, delaying the
Japanese time table for several months instead of the 6 weeks
that General Homma had been given by the Japanese high command
to conquer Bataan.
Also, remember that only the Filipinos remained loyal to
their former colonial masters while the Indo-Chinese turned on
the French, the Indonesians on the Dutch, and Malaya and Burma
turned on the British. It was just unbelievable loyalty that
provided the environment necessary to build the massive
guerrilla forces that made it impossible for the Japanese to
defend in any serious way against the liberation, the allied
forces, and ultimately save thousands of American and allied
lives.
General MacArthur personally confirmed this to me in a
meeting I had with him in Tokyo in March 1947. And at that
time, he gave me an autographed photo signed ``To Ramsey with
the admiration and affection of his old comrade in arms,
Douglas MacArthur.'' That is my prized memento.
For the sake of brevity, since we have so little time
today, for more detail, please refer to the previous testimony
that I submitted in the earlier hearings in 1993 and again in
1998, and they were incorporated into the hearing records.
I would especially call your attention to a paragraph on
page four of that letter of July the 22nd, 1998, my letter in
the hearing, referring to President Roosevelt's message to
Congress on October 6th, 1943, calling for our government to
provide full rehabilitation of the Philippines at the
conclusion of the war.
And I have a copy with me of that letter from General
MacArthur forwarding this to us by submarine in the Philippines
and the guerrilla forces indicating the recommendation that
President Roosevelt had made to Congress at that time.
I thank you, gentlemen, and I would be happy after the
meeting is over if you would like to speak to me, I would be
available.
The Chairman. Thank you, Colonel.
Colonel Ramsey. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Lt. Col. Ramsey appears on p.
47.]
The Chairman. Colonel Monteyro.
STATEMENT OF COL. ROMEO M. MONTEYRO
Colonel Monteyro. I am Colonel Romeo Monteyro, Army,
retired, and the advisor to the Filipino War Veterans of San
Diego County.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for inviting me here today. In the
next 5 minutes, allow me to dwell on the particular subject,
the loyalty of the Filipinos to America before, during, and
beyond World War II.
Private Tomas Claudio, a Filipino, was a member of the
American Expeditionary Forces to France. And their footnote in
history, he is not known to Americans, but U.S. Army records
place him as the first Filipino to die for America. He was a
farm worker in California when America entered the first World
War. He need not enlist, but he did out of patriotism and love
for his adopted country.
Then there was Jose Abad Santos, Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Philippine Commonwealth. He became the
caretaker of the Commonwealth government after President Manuel
Quezon was ordered out by President Roosevelt.
The enemy caught up with him in Lanao and was told to
publicly renounce his allegiance to America and pledge loyalty
to the Japanese government. When he refused, he was tried by a
kangaroo court and was sentenced to die by firing squad.
On the eve of his execution, he told his son do not cry, my
son. Show these people that you are brave. Not everyone is
given the chance to die for his country. The loyal and brave
Chief Justice chose to die for America.
In the movie, the ``Great Raid,'' the loyalty of the
Filipinos to America was depicted factually. Filipinos in
billions risked their lives by smuggling food, medicine, and
money to starving and sick American prisoners of war.
Resistance fighters blocked a stronger Japanese force and
prevented it from reinforcing the prison guards at Cabanatuan
City, paving the way of the successful rescue of more than 500
American POWs by a battalion of U.S. Army Rangers.
President Harry S. Truman said as he reluctantly signed the
``Rescission Act'' of 1946, ``This does not absolve America of
its moral obligation to the Filipino veterans.''
President Bill Clinton commented during the award ceremony
for World War II Congressional Medal of Honor winners of
Japanese and Filipino descents 59 years later, ``Rarely has a
country been so well-served by a people it has so ill treated.
They risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty. And
in so doing, they did more than defend America. In the face of
painful prejudice, they helped define America at its best.''
In Bataan, soldier Lieutenant Henry G. Lee wrote this poem
after he watched a haggard group of Filipino Commonwealth Army
troops.
Obsolete rifle without a sling and a bolo tied with a piece
of string. Coconut hat and canvas shoes and shoddy, dust white,
denim blues. These are the men who fought and fled and fought
again and left their dead, who fought and died as the white man
planned and never quite learn to understand. Poorly officered,
underfed, often driven but never led. Lied to and cheated and
sent to die for a foreign flag in their native sky.
Lieutenant Lee survived Bataan and even the POW camp, but
was ironically killed by American bombs dropped on the ship
transporting him to Japan. Owed a moral obligation. Served well
though ill-treated, subjected to painful prejudice, lied to and
cheated, and sent to die for a foreign flag in their native
sky. Yet, they remained steadfastly loyal.
Ladies and gentlemen of this Committee, isn't it high time
the Filipino soldiers who fought for America in World War II be
invited if only for their loyalty. I know it will probably be a
question of money again.
Former Congressman Stump, who headed this Committee during
his time in Congress, once asked, and where do you suggest we
get the money to pay the Filipino veterans. My answer to that
is from the same source that funds the Iraq War.
The Iraqis have not done anything to defend America. In
fact, most of them hate us and even as we speak are trying
their best to kill American soldiers. On the other hand, the
Filipino veterans fought for America and their shabby treatment
notwithstanding have remained loyal and ever ready to stand by
America.
How loyal were the Filipino soldiers to America? Ask
General Ramsey. The living testimony to their loyalty. If he
had been in another country in World War II, they would have
sent him over to the enemy or, worse, kill him and collect the
prize money on his head. Yet, today, General Ramsey is here
with us because the Filipinos remained loyal to the United
States.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of this Committee. That
concludes my testimony today.
[The statement of Col. Monteyro appears on p. 48.]
The Chairman. Thank you both for moving and educating us.
Mr. Hare, any questions, comment?
Mr. Hare. Well, I just want to again thank you for your
testimony. And let me just again reiterate, and I hate to sound
like a broken record, but you are absolutely right. We are
spending money as we speak and, yet, we cannot seem to find the
money. We will find it. We are going to work very hard to find
it. It is not just the right thing to do. It is more than that.
It is a moral obligation, I believe. And this Chairman, I
think, does not get the credit that he deserves for continuing
to push this issue. It would be easy to forget because a lot of
people have, but we will not forget. This is a new Congress.
This is a new Chair, a new Committee.
And, you know, I will do everything I can, Mr. Chairman,
and talk to as many of my colleagues as I can. We have 41 new
Members on our side. And when I leave this hearing today, I am
going to bring this topic up at our caucus. It is high time
that we do something, and I can assure you 61 years, hopefully
we will not have to wait 61 more days.
And with that, I yield back.
The Chairman. Again, thank you, Mr. Hare.
Mr. Boozman, anything further?
Mr. Boozman. I really do not have any questions.
I appreciate your testimony. It was very helpful. And I
appreciate your service to our country. And I need to visit
with you after this is over and you tell me what you have been
doing all these years to stay in such good health. And so thank
you very much for being here.
Colonel Ramsey. You are quite welcome.
The Chairman. We thank both of you. You have both come a
long way and both have spent a lot of time over many years
fighting for this. You have educated a lot of us. You continue
to do so, and we will not let you down. So thank you very much.
Thank you, both of you.
Panel four is made up of representatives from various
organizations that have been working on this issue, and we
welcome you. Many of you also have come a long way, and we
thank you.
Lourdes Santos Tancinco is the Co-Chair of the National
Network for Veterans Equity and Chair of the San Francisco
Veterans Equity Center. Thank you for joining us, Ms. Tancinco,
and your testimony is next.
STATEMENTS OF LOURDES SANTOS TANCINCO, ESQ.,
CO-CHAIR, NATIONAL NETWORK FOR VETERANS EQUITY, AND CHAIR, SAN
FRANCISCO VETERANS EQUITY CENTER;
FRANCO ARCEBAL, VICE PRESIDENT FOR MEMBERSHIP, AMERICAN
COALITION FOR FILIPINO VETERANS, INC.; SUSAN ESPIRITU DILKES,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FILIPINO AMERICAN SERVICE GROUP, INC., AND
MEMBER, NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR FILIPINO EQUITY; AND ALMA Q.
KERNS, NATIONAL CHAIR, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN
ASSOCIATIONS
STATEMENT OF LOURDES SANTOS TANCINCO
Ms. Tancinco. Thank you.
Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of this Committee,
my name is Lourdes Santos Tancinco. I speak on behalf of the
National Network for Veterans Equity and the San Francisco
Veterans Equity Center.
The Veterans Equity Center is one of the pioneer agencies
providing services to Filipino World War II veterans. As of
today, we have served more than 1,000 veterans in the Bay area.
The National Network for Veterans Equity is a loose
coalition of different national and local organizations
advocating justice and equity for our Filipino veterans.
Gentlemen of this Committee, as advocates, our mission is a
consistent commitment to attain full recognition and
restoration of equal benefits to all our veterans.
We face different challenges in pursuit of full equity, but
we shall never give up. Time is a critical element for the
passage of this bill. It is public knowledge that this greatest
generation is diminishing at an accelerated rate. There is a
small percentage of surviving veterans still waiting for
receipt of their well-deserved benefits.
A decade ago, as an immigration law attorney, I led the
establishment of a legal clinic and was afforded an opportunity
to meet face to face our veterans. Through the years, we have
seen thousands of veterans, have heard their stories, and they
always want to see full equity passed into law.
For us and for these veterans, it is a matter of honor and
dignity that they be granted recognition for their services and
be treated equally as U.S. veterans. Most of those who passed
away had a dying wish unfulfilled, questioning why they were
treated inequitably. It is very disheartening, but there is
still time for the few survivors.
On our part, we are engaging an extensive public education
campaign about the bill ensuring that there is an accurate
presentation of the peculiar history and relationship between
the U.S. and the Philippines during World War II. This campaign
resulted in increased awareness and gathered support from
various individuals, organizations, state and local governments
in support of the equity bill.
One of the major challenges we are forced to face is the
issue of cost. The rate that these veterans die is faster than
projected. Veterans Equity Center is witnessing a faster rate
of dying veterans than as reported in the 2000 VA study. Hence,
if there is indeed a cost, it is a diminishing cost.
The majority of the veterans also residing in the U.S. are
SSA recipients. Hence, there will be transfer of budget from
SSA from this agency to the VA should the equity bill be
passed. If indeed cost is an issue, then answer our two
questions. When is the cost of freedom ever free? How can the
United States ever have a short memory of the sacrifices of our
veterans?
Benefit improvement bills that enhance certain benefits for
certain veterans are not responsive to this issue. Creating
disparity for those who fought equally and those who risked
their lives together is a greater injustice to those who are
excluded. We are only for full equity, nothing more, nothing
less.
The plight of the Filipino veterans is no longer a Filipino
issue of injustice, but an American issue of injustice that has
been clamoring for final resolution. For us who believe in the
cost of freedom and democracy, for us who believe in fairness
to those that fought for us, we are challenged to do what is
right and advocate for what our veterans deserve.
We take on the fight for them. Our generation believes in
our Democratic idealism and have faith that this country shall
not ignore the sacrifices, courage, blood and tears of our
veterans. There is no better time to correct this historical
error than now. War veterans should be treated right. They
deserve no less than equity.
Mr. Magdaleno Duenos, who died at the age of 91, staved
then U.S. soldiers from captivity and waited all his life for
full recognition which he never received. Instead, he lived a
life of poverty in San Francisco, a standard of living not
fitting for a war hero, but he never lost hope until his last
breath waiting for the equity bill to pass.
Major Demetrio Carino, a World War II veteran, passed at
the age of 91. Major Carino demonstrated heroism during the
war. He inspired all of us by his undying commitment to seek
justice for his colleagues.
During his last years, he was battling no longer with arms,
but with his pen writing each and every Member of Congress to
support passage of this bill. Like thousands of his colleagues,
Major Carino ran out of time. He died fighting for justice.
We thank representatives Mike Honda, Bob Filner, and
Speaker Pelosi for their untiring support to this bill, and we
strongly urge this Committee to do the same.
I thank you for the opportunity to speak.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Tancinco appears on p. 49]
The Chairman. Thank you.
Next we will hear from a Filipino World War II veteran, Mr.
Franco Arcebal, who represents the American Coalition for
Filipino Veterans.
STATEMENT OF FRANCO ARCEBAL
Mr. Arcebal. Honorable Chairman and Members of the House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, good morning, and Happy
Valentine's Day.
Thank you for including me in this panel today. My name is
Franco Arcebal, a Filipino World War II veteran, and the Vice
President of Membership of the American Coalition for Filipino
Veterans, Incorporated.
Our nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization has more
than 4,000 individual members in the United States. I am now 83
years old and a retired sales executive. I reside in Los
Angeles.
Thank you for holding this early hearing on the equity
bill, House Resolution 760 for Filipino World War II veterans.
Never in the history of our long quest for recognition has this
hearing been scheduled within 2 weeks after it was introduced.
We owe this to the Honorable Bob Filner, our undaunted and
tireless champion.
May we have an applause for him.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. You are all out of order.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Arcebal. With twelve of my comrades for this
allegiance, when we chained ourselves in front of the White
House in July 1997--that is almost 10 years ago--sadly, we were
unable to convince the Clinton Administration to support our
bill.
I am honored to present the appeal of my comrades today.
Like all of us, we have personal stories to tell about the war,
and I want to give you a brief one.
During the second World War, I was a guerrilla intelligence
officer. I was caught and severely tortured by the Japanese
soldier as a spy. I was sentenced by decapitation. Lucky for
me, during the rainstorm at night, I was able to escape and
fought again in the liberation of the Philippines against
General Lee Amashita for seven continuous months in north Luzon
until he surrendered in September 1945.
In 1997, I became a new U.S. permanent resident. At that
time, I had a painful dental problem. I sought treatment at the
Los Angeles VA clinic. I was terribly shocked when I was told
my service in the U.S. Army forces was by law deemed not active
service for the purposes of VA benefits.
I concluded that the United States whom I served loyally
and risked my life did me injustice. I felt discriminated
against. The denial of my benefit was a result of the
``Rescission Act'' of February 18, 1946, 60 years today this
month. This law was enacted over the objection of President
Truman. Before this law, Filipino veterans were recognized as
American veterans and entitled to all benefits.
And today I expect many credible witnesses to present
testimonies in favor of our bill. And I join this Colonel
because it is my duty to speak on behalf of my comrades who are
now elderly, disabled, and poor.
Over the past decades, our coalition mission was to restore
full U.S. Government recognition and win equitable VA benefits.
We believe that by passing the ``Filipino Equity Act'' or the
realistic bill of our sponsors, we can finally overcome the
discriminatory effects of the ``Rescission Act.''
We estimate that about 4,000 Filipino veterans in the
United States and about 10,000 in the Philippines may benefit
if this bill is approved.
Mr. Chairman, there are three requests I would like to make
today from this Committee. First, pass an authorizing language
of the equity bill, House Resolution 760, with a strong
bipartisan support from this Committee.
Second, obtain an estimated budget of no less than $18
million from the Appropriations Committee with the support of
President Bush and the support of our VA Secretary Nicholson
that would provide an equitable VA benefit monthly in the
amount of $200 per month for us low-income veterans.
Third, and this is very crucial to us, create a task force
of representatives of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee,
representative of the Secretary of the Veterans'
Administration, a representative of the Philippine government,
Philippine Embassy, and the leaders of key groups.
This task force should determine within 45 days the
accurate number of living World War II Filipino veterans in the
United States and in the Philippines, assess their economic and
health needs, actual needs, and recommend a realistic budget.
We must solve this national travesty now.
Let me close by quoting President Truman on February 20,
1946, when he objected to the ``Rescission Act.'' And he said,
I quote, ``I consider it a moral obligation of the United
States to look after the welfare of the Filipino veterans.''
Thank you. I will answer some replies if you have some for
me.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Arcebal appears on p. 51.]
The Chairman. Thank you very much.
Susan Dilkes from the Filipino-American Service Group.
STATEMENT OF SUSAN ESPIRITU DILKES
Ms. Dilkes. Good morning. First of all, I would like to
thank Congressman Bob Filner, the Members of the Committee, and
Congressman Bob Filner's staff for giving me an opportunity to
testify on behalf of the Filipino-American World War II
veterans.
My name is Susan Dilkes. I am a daughter of a Filipino
World War II veteran, a member of the Steering Committee of the
National Alliance of Filipino Veterans Equity, and a founding
member of the American Coalition of Filipino Veterans.
I am also the Executive Director of Filipino-American
Service Group, FASGI, a community-based social service agency
in Los Angeles County, which was started in October of 1981
when a homeless Filipino World War II veteran was found
sleeping in the garage of our founding member, Remedios Geaga.
Since then, FASGI has assisted thousands of Filipino-
American World War II veterans with temporary shelter, health
and mental health issues, food distribution and others. FASGI
operates a transitional housing shelter for independent living
for more than 400 World War II veterans.
In 1996, with the help of Filipino World War II veteran
volunteers, FASGI launched FILVOTE, the Filipino-American
Voters Mobilization, and has registered more than 13,000
Filipino-American voters in Los Angeles County.
Last year, 2006, FASGI obtained a grant from the State of
California, Department of Community Services and developed a
service block grant to outreach Filipino-American veterans who
are still alive and living in the Los Angeles area.
The goal of the outreach is to reduce the risk of poor
health resulting from inadequate housing and to refer homeless
Filipino World War II veterans to our shelter, to our Healthy
Active Lifestyle Program, and to assist and to advocate for the
Filipino World War II veterans for the benefits that were
promised to them by the government of the United States in 1942
by President Delano Roosevelt.
For the past twelve months, FASGI has worked at this
outreach program, but has referred only six Filipino-American
veterans to our transitional shelter because there are few of
them left.
These men are now in their eighties and many are in very
poor health. If Congress doesn't act soon, there will be no one
left. This is your last chance to correct a wrong which is now
more than a half century old. I believe you are men and women
of good intention and now it is time for those intentions to be
converted into law.
Indeed there are benefits beyond those that are visible on
the face of this legislation. First, the passing of House
Resolution 760 granting full equity benefits for the Filipino-
American World War II veterans provides the United States with
an opportunity to rescue its reputation as a fair, honest and
reputable country that honors its commitment by helping the
remaining 5,000 to 7,000 Filipino-American World War II
veterans currently living in the United States. Our country can
take a long step toward rescuing its honor.
Second, passing House Resolution 760 improves the foreign
relation between the Philippines and the United States. It
reduces the political irritation of unfulfilled commitment for
13,000 Filipino-American World War II veterans who are living
in the Philippines.
And to the extent payments are made, it will improve the
flow of cash to the Philippines, a poor country, in dire needs
of foreign support and liquidity.
Earlier someone asked a question how much this bill will
cost. It does not occur to me to think about the cost. I have a
son who called me and he said to me, ``Mom, I am here in
Afghanistan.'' For Mother's Day, he called me and said, ``Happy
Mother's Day Mom, I love you. I am here in Iraq.'' And it never
occurred to me that you would ask this question, ``How much
will it cost?'' I said, ``Son, I am proud of you. Fight for the
United States. I love you.'' I did not ask the cost of the life
of my son to defend our country and neither should you.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Dilkes appears on p. 54.]
The Chairman. Thank you and we wish your family the best.
Alma Kerns, who is the National Chair of the National
Federation of Filipino-American Associations.
STATEMENT OF ALMA KERNS
Ms. Kerns. Good morning. I thank you, Congressman Filner,
and all the Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
for holding this historic hearing on the ``Filipino Veterans
Act'' of 2007.
My name is Alma Kerns from Seattle, Washington, and I am
Chair of the National Federation of Filipino-American
Associations, better known by its acronym, NAFFAA.
I am deeply honored to speak on behalf of the National
Federation of Filipino-American Associations and the National
Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity, which represent many
veterans' advocates, service providers, community activists,
and national Filipino-American organizations.
Founded ten years ago, NAFFAA aims to empower the nearly
three million Filipinos in America to become active
participants and leaders in all aspects of U.S. society.
The Filipino population is among the fastest growing ethnic
groups in the country today with one of the highest
naturalization rates and a 76 percent voter turnout nationwide.
We have significant concentrations of Filipino-Americans in
almost every congressional district throughout the nation. I do
not exaggerate when I say that there is a Filipino in every
town and city in the United States today, each one making a
meaningful contribution to the political, cultural, commercial,
and social life of this country.
I am here before you today primarily as the daughter of a
World War II veteran. My father and four uncles survived the
brutalities of the war, the Bataan Death March, the
concentration camp, and life-threatening diseases like malaria,
typhoid, and dysentery. They have now passed on, but their
bravery and their pride as soldiers have not been forgotten by
us, their children and grandchildren.
I owe it to them and all their comrades, the valiant
Filipinos who risked their lives for the sake of freedom and
democracy, to speak before you today and appeal to you, our
honorable legislators, to correct a tragic error of omission
and give the Filipino veterans the dignity and recognition they
deserve.
The second reason I am here today is due to a pledge I made
as NAFFAA's National Chair to continue to fight for the passage
of the veteran equity bill. It was our rallying cry when more
than 2,000 community leaders and veterans gathered in
Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1997. It is indeed time for
America to honor its promise to our ailing and aging veterans.
They only have a few more years to live.
Over the years, NAFFAA has worked closely with Filipino
veterans' groups, civil rights organizations, and community
advocate groups to press Congress to rectify a grievous error
in judgment, a betrayal that was shamefully enacted by the 1946
``Rescission Act.'' It has been 61 years, but Congress to this
day has yet to act and do the right thing.
These are the sentiments of the millions of Filipino-
Americans who believe that this is an American justice issue,
that this is a matter of honor and dignity not just for
Filipinos but for all Americans.
In Seattle where I live, it pains me to see our aging
veterans living in substandard conditions, suffering in
loneliness, separated from their children and grandchildren,
waiting patiently for the equity bill to pass so they can go
home.
For example, Benito Valdez, 83 years old, and Julian
Nicolas, 85 years old, two of the last three remaining
Filipinos who helped in the Great Raid that rescued 600
American and Canadian prisoners of war from the Cabanatuan
Garrison Camp, live in my beloved State of Washington. These
two gallant warriors, silent in their anguish and
disappointment, cannot understand why the U.S. Congress is
taking so long to fulfill its broken promise.
Together with members of the National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity formed solely to secure the passage of the
equity bill, I am urging you, our legislators, to search deep
into your hearts and conscience and once and for all give
justice to our veterans who have remained loyal to this country
and whose love for freedom and democracy will never fade.
NAFFAA and its partners in the National Alliance will not
give up this fight to restore our veterans' rightful status as
American veterans. We want to assure our children and
grandchildren that our generation has remained steadfast and
strong in our resolve to see that justice is done.
We will never be at peace with ourselves if we do not tell
the story of a broken promise. We will do it because we believe
that this great country called America is still the fountain of
fairness and justice and a beacon of hope for all mankind. The
time is here now to show the whole world that this country does
not forget the courage and bravery of those who fought for its
freedom.
To the esteemed Members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee,
we implore you to act honorably on our message, that the
Filipino World War II veterans have been treated unfairly by
the United States during the past 61 years.
We also urge the American people to stand with us and
support our veterans' cause as this is an issue that cries out
for American justice and a matter of honor not just for our
generation but for generations to come.
I now appeal to you, our national legislators, to pass the
Filipino veterans equity bill without delay. Thank you very
much.
The Chairman. Thank you all for your very eloquent
testimony. I think the comment is right that this is our last
chance, and we thank you for making that so clear to us.
Ms. Kerns. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Kerns appears on p. 55.]
The Chairman. Ms. Brown-Waite, do you have any comments,
questions?
Mrs. Brown-Waite. No questions. I certainly want to thank
the witnesses also. I apologize. I was not here earlier. I have
three Committee meetings going on simultaneously.
I have a large number of Filipino-Americans living in my
district. Many of them have such a zest for life, people who
served in the 1950s in the Korean war all the way down to those
who served in the Vietnam War.
I just want to tell you that very often I say to them I
want to know what they drink because they nowhere near look
their age and they have such a love of life, and they truly are
a segment of the military that we could not have done without.
And the pension bill obviously is one that has been around
and one that I know Mr. Filner feels very, very passionately
about as do many Members of the Committee.
And I thank you all for being here.
The Chairman. Thank you.
We do have a final panel, representatives from the American
Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America. If they will come
forward.
Alec Petkoff, who represents the Veterans Affairs
Rehabilitation Commission of the American Legion, thank you for
joining us today.
STATEMENTS OF ALEC PETKOFF, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION COMMISSION,
AMERICAN LEGION; AND RICHARD F. WEIDMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
POLICY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA
STATEMENT OF ALEC PETKOFF
Mr. Petkoff. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I would like to
submit my written testimony for the record.
The Chairman. It will be entered. Thanks.
Mr. Petkoff. And I would certainly like to thank you for
the opportunity to testify before you on rectifying the
injustice that Filipino veterans are currently enduring.
The American Legion applauds the Chairman's leadership in
addressing this issue by introducing House Resolution 760, the
``Filipino Veterans Equity Act'' of 2007.
I would like to also recognize those legionnaires who are
here today supporting this important legislation.
The American Legion by adoption of a national resolution to
support legislation to grant Filipino World War II veterans
equal VA benefits supports full recognition and benefits to
Filipino veterans who were part of the defense of the
Philippine Islands during World War II.
While Filipino veterans have recently been somewhat
successful in incrementally increasing benefits to parity with
other U.S. veterans, it is time to finally undo the wrong
resulting from the enactment of the ``Rescission Acts,'' which
legally revoked their status as U.S. veterans and subsequently
denied them the benefits they earned through their service.
The passing of House Resolution 760 will finally give these
brave veterans, wherever they may live, the full VA benefits
they have earned.
With each passing day, the number of these heroes grows
smaller. The American Legion urges Congress to quickly pass
House Resolution 760 and end the shameful policy that Filipino
veterans and their dependents have had to endure for the last
60 years.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I appreciate the
opportunity to present the American Legion's view on this bill
and to be a voice in support of completely rectifying this
national shame.
I welcome any questions you might have.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Petkoff appears on p. 56.]
The Chairman. Thank you for your strong support.
Mr. Weidman from the Vietnam Veterans of America.
STATEMENT OF RICHARD F. WEIDMAN
Mr. Weidman. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity
for Vietnam Veterans of America to present our views here today
and ask that our written statement be submitted into the
record.
As you know, Vietnam veterans know more than a little bit
about being treated as second-class citizens when we came home.
It is not an accident that the founding principle of Vietnam
Veterans of America is never again shall one generation of
American veterans abandon another generation of American
veterans.
That includes our fathers' generation as well as our sons
and daughters and nieces and nephews serving today in the
Persian Gulf and elsewhere in the world in the Global War on
Terrorism.
So for that reason, Vietnam Veterans of America supports
House Resolution 760 and equity. Redress for those who have
already passed on will never happen, and it is truly a case of
justice delayed is justice denied. But for the complete equity
of those who, no matter where they live, to draw the same
benefits as any other World War II veteran is something that we
are deeply committed to.
And whether that be through the vehicle of House Resolution
760 or another vehicle, we think it is long overdue that the
Congress take the steps in order to bring these fine
individuals, who fought for America's freedom when we were
truly indeed threatened, up to parity with every single other
one.
Some people will not say it flat out. We will say it flat
out. The ``Rescission Act'' of 1946 was a racist move on the
part of some people in the Congress. And, unfortunately, it
prevailed.
As you will recall the history of the GI Bill in 1944,
there were some in the House of Representatives who were
fighting that bill because they did not want any benefits to go
to persons of color. And the key Committee vote prevailed by
one vote only thanks to Eddie Rickenbacher, the World War I
ace, flying a particular Congressman in that gave them a
majority. If you look at the record, it is unanimous, but it
was not unanimous.
So that scar, if you will, on our Nation's history having
to do with men and women and in this case men and Filipinos who
fought bravely alongside American GIs needs to be rectified and
rectified now.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for allowing Vietnam
Veterans of America to offer our views this morning.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Weidman appears on p. 56.]
The Chairman. Thank you. I think your two statements on
behalf of justice show that the Filipino-Americans are not
alone, that you bring with your organizations and others that
support this the comradeship and the support of veterans all
across our Nation. And I think it is very significant. The
people in the audience who heard your statements are very much
moved by that, and we certainly appreciate that.
Ms. Brown-Waite, any----
Mrs. Brown-Waite. Just a question for both members of the
panel. How would you define pension equity for those World War
II veterans still living in the Philippines?
Mr. Petkoff. As far as the question of pension equity and
describing it, the American Legion believes that these veterans
are U.S. veterans and deserve the full benefits that any U.S.
veteran should get and does get.
As far as comparing what they would get if they were living
in the Philippines or here is not the issue to use. The issue
is that they are veterans and should be equally treated as
such.
Mr. Weidman. I think the point, Ms. Brown-Waite, if I may
suggest it, that you were driving at is the cost of living in
the Philippines is so much less than the cost of living in
America.
I would point out that the cost of living State to State in
America varies dramatically. What is costs to live north of
Cordilane is less than half, much less than half of what it
costs to live in your district in Florida, ma'am. And so there
already is a variance.
I can tell you that I know Vietnam veterans who reside in
Belize and Guatemala and Mexico and in Vietnam and other places
because it will stretch their compensation and they are able to
live a more decent life. We do not recommend that.
But as long as there is not an adjustment in compensation
or service-connected or in pension, based on the cost of living
where one lives, we think it should be across the board. And
equity in this case would mean parity, ma'am.
Mrs. Brown-Waite. I would challenge the gentleman to come
down to my district and listen to people complain about the
very high cost of insurance, property and casualty insurance,
and taxes. Unfortunately, Florida is no longer an inexpensive
place to live.
The Chairman. Again, as Mr. Weidman pointed out, there is
no difference in cost of living anywhere that we apply, and we
do not change things when people move from place to place. So
it probably would be more of a waste of money to do that than
just go by the book.
We thank all of you who are here today. Many of you have
come a long way. I think it is very important that you did
come. The record will be clear about what you said and the
impact that you have made.
We intend to have a markup of this within several weeks. We
will let you all know about that, and we will deal with these
issues of cost and equity at that time.
Thank you so much, everybody, for educating us today. This
hearing is adjourned.
[Applause.]
[Whereupon, at 12:13 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
----------
Prepared Statement of Hon. Bob Filner
Chairman, Full Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Good Morning--Magandang umaga. Thank you all for coming. As you
already know, I am very happy to be able to hold this hearing today.
Ever since first being elected to Congress in 1992, I have been heavily
involved in the Filipino veterans' equity issue. In fact, this year
marks the 10-year anniversary of my protest, along with Filipino
veterans, in front of the White House demanding equitable treatment. I
am hoping that with the change of leadership here in Congress, we can
get past the demonstrations and protest marches and get on the
legislative path to correct the injustice inflicted on Filipino
veterans over 60 years ago.
As most know, Filipino service members played a critical role in
the United States' victory in the Pacific during World War II. The
brave Filipino soldiers, drafted into our Armed Forces by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, exhibited great courage in the epic battles of
Bataan and Corregidor. In addition, these soldiers, while putting
themselves and their families at risk, participated in many guerilla
actions in the Philippines, which prevented enemy forces from leaving
and prosecuting the war in other areas. Despite the gallant efforts of
Filipino veterans during the war, Congress, in 1946, denied these
veterans their benefits with the passage of the Rescission Acts.
Particularly unfortunate was the language of the Rescission Acts
which said that service in the Philippine forces was not to be
considered active military service for the purposes of veterans'
benefits. This language took away not only rightfully earned benefits,
but also the honor and respect due these veterans who served under the
direct command of General Douglas MacArthur. The Rescission Acts
shocked the thousands of Filipinos who fought side-by-side with
Americans and suffered brutality during the Bataan Death March and as
prisoners of war.
When President Harry S. Truman signed the Rescission Acts, which
included various other appropriations matters, he stated that a great
injustice was being done.
``Filipino Army veterans are nationals of the United States.
. . . They fought with gallantry and courage under the most
difficult conditions during the recent conflict. Their officers
were commissioned by us. Their official organization, the Army
of the Philippine Commonwealth, was taken into the Armed Forces
of the United States by Executive Order of President Roosevelt.
That order has never been revoked or amended. I consider it a
moral obligation of the United States to look after the welfare
of the Filipino Army veteran.''
That was President Truman in 1946. That moral obligation remains wit
h us today.
For more than sixty years, a wrong has existed that must be
righted. I urge everyone here to think of morality, of dignity, of
honor. There is scarcely a Filipino family today, in either the United
States or in the Philippines, that does not include a World War II
veteran or a son or daughter of a veteran. Sixty years of injustice
burns in the hearts of these veterans. Now in their 80s and 90s, their
last wish is the restoration of the honor and dignity due them.
It is time that our nation adequately recognizes their
contributions to the successful outcome of World War II, recognize the
injustice visited upon them, and act to correct this injustice. To
those who ask if we can afford to redeem this debt, I answer: ``We
can't afford not to.'' The historical record remains blotted until we
recognize these veterans.
Also, I would like to point out that providing veterans' benefits
to non-citizen soldiers is not without precedent. Previously, in 1976,
Congress provided veterans' benefits to citizens of both Poland and
Czechoslovakia.
Finally, I look forward to hearing the testimony of those who
served during World War II. In addition, I am interested in learning
more about the efforts of organizations and individuals across the
country to educate the public about the injustice done to Filipino
veterans.
Prepared Statement of Hon. Cliff Stearns
Good Morning.
I want to welcome all of the witnesses and thank them for their
testimony. I also thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important
hearing.
We are here today to discuss the question of equity; specifically
what is equitable for Filipino veterans who fought alongside our forces
to defeat the Empire of Japan in World War II and free their country.
In this discussion, I am here to listen to all sides of the issue.
I do appreciate and understand the valor and courage of Filipinos
in combat sixty years ago. House Resolution 622, which passed last
session, recognized and honored these veterans for their defense of
democratic ideals and their important contribution to the outcome of
World War II.
There have been claims that Filipino veterans were promised full
benefits by General Douglas MacArthur. While there are no records
supporting such claims, and the general would not have been empowered
by U.S. law to make such promises, we do know that Filipino men, many
in their teen years, fought and died for freedom.
For the benefit of us all in this discussion, at a Veterans'
Committee hearing on this issued in 1998, now-retired Congressional
Research Analyst Dennis Snook said, ``Many Filipino soldiers apparently
believe that their service was a basis for becoming entitled to
whatever benefits might be given to U.S. military personnel.''
He said further, ``In part, this belief could have been based on
ill-advised promises made by U.S officers. No U.S. official was
authorized to make such promises, and no evidence has been uncovered
which suggests that such promises were made whether or not such
authority existed to make them.''
Dr. Clayton Laurie, a historian with the U.S. Army's Center for
Military History, said essentially the same thing in that hearing.
So there is something less than full clarity on what the U.S.
intended in those days. We know that President Truman supported
benefits. We also know that since then, Americans have supported
additional benefits in recognition of the valor and contributions of
Filipino warriors.
With that, I am open to ideas and discussion that would help
identify what is equitable--for all veterans, those here in the U.S.,
those abroad, and the American taxpayers who will pay for our solution.
I look forward to hearing today's testimony.
Again, I want to once again thank our witnesses who have traveled
far to testify on this important issue.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back my time.
Prepared Statement of Hon. John Boozman
Mr. Chairman, I would note that in the past you have stated that
your district has more Filipino veterans than any other district in the
nation. So, I understand why this is an important issue to you.
For those of us who do not have a large Filipino population, the
issue of equity is less of a political issue than a larger moral one. I
am sure that every Member here recognizes the noble service rendered by
Filipino veterans to both the United States and their about-to-be
independent nation of the Philippines.
I assume that sometime in the near future, you will bring H.R. 760
before the Committee and at that point, all of the Members will be
presented with the larger equity issue of where to spend our scarce
paygo funds among the myriad of needed program improvements.
I yield back my time.
Prepared Statement of Hon. Doug Lamborn
Good Morning.
Growing up, I read of the brave struggles that occurred in the
early weeks of the war in the Pacific. Outnumbered American troops
fought side-by-side with Filipino patriots in arms; many of them
suffered years of captivity under the most brutal of conditions.
Then and throughout World War II, Filipinos earned our respect and
admiration in a heroic effort that helped the allies secure that
hemisphere from the darkness of imperialism.
Over the past six decades, beginning with U.S. aid to the newly
independent Republic of the Philippines, our nation has demonstrated a
steady resolve to treat Filipino veterans with equity.
I am honored to be here today to continue the discussion of equity
in the treatment of these brave veterans, and I look forward to hearing
from our distinguished panelists.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back my time.
Prepared Statement of Hon. Steve Buyer
Ranking Republican Member, Full Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Mr. Chairman as I have written you, I am absent from today's
hearing to attend the funeral of Rep. Charlie Norwood. Congressman
Norwood was a colleague, veteran friend, and a statesman dedicated to
the Americans he served.
I thank the witnesses here today for their testimony, and those
who, under arms, served the American and Philippine people in World War
II, I especially thank you for your service.
I submit for the record an opinion piece that was published in The
Washington Post on January 28, 1998. The article, entitled ``Filipino
Vets and Fairness'' was written by the former Chairman of the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs, Congressman Bob Stump.
I associate myself with his remarks and I look forward to a
continuation in the equity with which we have provided Filipino
veterans of World War II with VA healthcare and benefits.
__________
The Washington Post
January 28, 1998
By Bob Stump
Filipino Vets and Fairness
Much has been made recently of the renewed demands by Filipino
veterans of World War II for an increase in payments of U.S. veterans'
benefits [``Under the American Flag,'' editorial, Dec. 13]. As a World
War II Navy veteran of the Pacific theater and of the liberation of the
Philippines, I respect the service rendered by Filipino veterans. But
it is important to view current policy in its historical context. While
Filipino forces certainly aided the U.S. war effort, in the end they
fought for their own, soon-to-be independent Philippine nation. I do
not believe that simply serving under U.S. command meets the test of
swearing allegiance to the Constitution of the United States.
Fairness is a concept often mentioned when discussing veterans'
benefits for Filipinos. Fairness is certainly important. That is why I
am disappointed that Filipino veterans look to the United States for
increased benefits, since it was Philippine soil on which the U.S. and
Philippine armies fought the Japanese. I strongly believe the
government of the Philippines bears responsibility for its veterans.
Yet the benefits provided by the United States far exceed those
provided by the Philippines. I believe that is one measure of fairness.
Should U.S. veterans ask for benefits from the Philippines or any other
country they liberated in World War II?
News accounts about promises of full U.S. veterans benefits being
made to Filipino veterans during World War II appear to be
unsubstantiated, despite our best-faith efforts to find such
documentation. Using the experts at the Congressional Research Service,
our investigations have determined five important points. First, the
records of President Franklin Roosevelt, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the
War Department clearly show no intent to offer Filipinos full U.S.
benefits. Second, most Filipinos who were under the command of the U.S.
Armed Forces were considered members of the Philippine Army. Third, the
original Philippine Scouts, who were part of the U.S. Army since 1900,
are receiving full benefits. Fourth, at least two court cases have
upheld the current benefit program. Finally, Filipinos are the only
group of non-U.S. veterans receiving VA service-connected disability
compensation and survivors' benefits. No other Allied nation's veterans
receive such benefits from the United States. According to the
Department of Veterans Affairs, in 1997, the United States paid nearly
$50 million worldwide to Filipino veterans and their survivors.
Additionally, the VA spent $3.2 million for contract medical care
delivered to Filipino veterans in the Philippines.
Two categories of Filipino veterans currently receive full U.S.
benefits, while three categories receive benefits at the one-half rate.
Even at the one-half rate, the compensation is generous. A 100 percent
disabled Filipino veteran receives $962 per month--nearly 12 times the
Philippine per capita income, while a veteran rated 20 percent disabled
receives about $90 per month--roughly equal to their national per
capita income. The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payment
to survivors of Filipino veterans is $416 per month, or five times per
capita income. I wish we could do that well for our own veterans. If a
U.S. DIC recipient were to receive a payment equal to five times U.S.
per capita income, it would be nearly $90,000 per year instead of the
roughly $10,000 they now receive.
We are not ignoring the concerns of the Filipino community and are
treating it fairly. In 1997 I had the honor of meeting with several
representatives of the Philippine American Heritage Federation,
including retired Brig. Gen. Tagumpay Nanadiego of the Philippine
Embassy and attorneys Joel Bander and Jon Melegrito. This was the third
time I have met with various Filipino veterans in the last several
months, including Antonio Ty, commander for the Philippine Department
of the American Legion.
It is clear to me, after meeting with Filipino veterans, that many
do not understand the benefits for which they are now eligible. I have
asked the VA to increase its outreach to the Filipino community in that
regard. There also seems to be a misperception among the Filipinos that
every American World War II veteran is receiving a VA pension. That is
hardly the case. Of the roughly 7 million World War II veterans still
living, only about 233,000 (3 percent) are receiving a VA nonservice-
connected disability pension. The Filipinos I met were also surprised
to learn that I do not receive anything from the VA for my World War II
service in the Philippines.
These meetings with the Filipinos do not mark the end of our
efforts. I have instructed my staff to work with the Philippine
American Heritage Federation to arrive at a common understanding of the
U.S. and Philippine benefit programs and their historical context.
The United States continues to be generous to Filipino veterans,
and I continue to believe that the basic structure of U.S. programs is
appropriate. I believe we have been fair.
______
The writer, a Republican representative from Arizona, is Chairman
of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Statement of Carlos D. Sorreta, Charge d'Affaires,
Embassy of the Philippines
Mr. Chairman and Members of the House Veterans Committee.
Thank you for inviting us to appear before this Committee and for
the opportunity to speak on an issue of great importance to my
government and to the Filipino people.
When the war in the Pacific ended, Filipino soldiers set their
weapons aside, buried their fallen comrades and started to collect the
shattered remains of their lives.
For them, with peace, had come hope.
Little did they know that while the carnage and destruction of war
had ended, they would be facing a new battle--one that would last for
decades.
This would be a fight that would once more call upon the courage,
perseverance and sacrifice that they had unselfishly shown in the
foxholes of Bataan and Corregidor, in the jungles of Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao, and in the prisons of Capas, Fort Santiago and Muntinlupa.
This would be a battle that would once again force them to witness
their comrades fall one by one, not by the bullets or bayonets of an
enemy, but by the ravages of time and the pain of inequity.
Today, few of these living symbols of the very freedoms and
liberties that we now enjoy, remain. By the end of this month, a few
more would have fallen.
But they have not been alone in this battle.
For there have been those in Congress who have stood boldly by our
brave soldiers--those whose profound sense of history, and whose deep
appreciation for the common values that both our countries share and
have fought for, have made them wage their own battles in Congress for
justice and equity.
On behalf of my government and the Filipino people, let me express
our thanks to the U.S. Congress for its continued support for the
Filipino WWII veteran.
In this battle, our veterans have also marched on side-by-side with
many Filipino-American groups and individuals whose resolve and
commitment have given all of us renewed strength and hope.
Many of these groups and individuals are with us today, and we
thank them for their invaluable and tireless work and for their
unqualified dedication.
Mr. Chairman, the Philippine Government and the Filipino people
continue to maintain that the Filipino soldiers who fought and served
under the U.S. Army during WWII, specifically during the period between
July 1941-October 1945, are U.S. veterans under then existing U.S. laws
and are entitled to all benefits due a U.S. veteran.
We therefore welcome the filing and urge the passage of H.R. 760
and its companion bill in the Senate, S. 57 into law, to restore
veterans' benefits that were removed by P.L. 79-301.
We make this call based on assertions that are supported by clear
facts and historical records. I have attached to this statement a
reiteration of our arguments and respectfully request that these be
made part of the record.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, the Filipino WWII
veterans were treated unfairly by the 79th Congress and the
U.S. Government in 1946.
At a critical juncture in both our countries' history, they
willingly responded to the urgent call of President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt and left their families and homes for an uncertain fate.
They fought valiantly, bravely and with uncommon courage, against
great odds and lacking the support that they had been promised.
Out of the 470,000 reported by the VA in 1946 less than 20,000
remain--13,000 in the Philippines and 7,000 in the United States.
Those who remain have very little time left. Many are sick and
infirm.
I ask, on behalf of a nation that has stood by yours in the name of
freedom, liberty and democracy in World War II, in the uncertain
decades after, and in facing today's new and grave challenges, to let
these old soldiers finally leave the field of battle, with their
dignity intact and with the honor that they so truly deserve.
Thank you.
Legal, Moral and Historical Basis for Filipino Veterans Full Equity
We have based our arguments on the following facts verifiable from
U.S. Congress archives:
1. The Philippines Was Then a Colony of the U.S.--The Philippines was
then a colony of the U.S. and the U.S. President, under the Tydings-
McDuffie Act of 1934 (also known as the Philippine Independence Act of
1934) was vested with the authority to call the Philippine Commonwealth
Army and other forces so organized to serve under the U.S. Army. This
power was in fact exercised by President Franklin Roosevelt on July 26,
1941 when U.S.-Japan war became imminent.
2. The U.S. Assumed Command of All Forces--Shortly thereafter, General
MacArthur, having been designated the Commander of the newly organized
United States Army Forces in the Far East with Headquarters in Manila,
issued an order assuming command of all U.S. Army Forces in the
Philippines including the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines.
3. Public Law 79-301 was Grossly Unfair--On February 18, 1946, barely
5 months before the scheduled Independence of the Philippines, Public
Law 79-301, now famously known as the Rescission Act of 1946, was
enacted into law by the U.S. Government. Included in this rider was the
appropriation of $200M to the Philippine Army with the proviso that
``service 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 of the United States dated July 26, 1941, shall not be
deemed to be or to have been service in the military or naval forces of
the U.S. or any component thereof for any law of the U.S. conferring
rights, privileges or benefits upon any such person by reason of
service of such person or any other person in the military or naval
forces of the U.S. or any component thereof.''
4. Key U.S. Officials Admitted Eligibility for Equity--During the
hearing for Public Law 79-301 the head of the U.S. Veterans
Administration was called to testify. His testimony included the
following: there were 472,000 Filipino WWII veterans in 1946, they were
eligible to VA benefits (THE SERVICE OF THE FILIPINO COMMONWEALTH ARMY
INTO THE U.S. ARMED SERVICES DURING WWII HAVE MET THE STATUTORY
DEFINITION OF A U.S. VETERAN), and it would cost the U.S. $3.2B: to
cover Filipino WWII veterans on equal basis with their American
counterparts.
a.
Statement of President Harry S. Truman Clearly Recognized that
Filipino Veterans Deserved Equity--Before signing P.L. 79-301 into law,
President Harry S. Truman stated:
b.
The effect of this rider is to bar Philippine Army veterans from
all benefits under the GI Bill of Rights with the exception of
disability and death benefits.
c.
The passage and approval of this legislation does not release the
U.S. from its moral obligation to provide for the heroic Philippine
veterans who sacrificed so much for the common cause during the war.
d.
Philippine Army veterans are nationals of the U.S. and will
continue in that status until July 4, 1946. They fought as American
nationals, under the American flag, and under the direction of our
military leaders.
e.
It is a moral obligation of the United States to look after the
welfare of the Philippine Army veterans.
Statement of Ronald R. Aument, Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, it is my pleasure to be
here today to discuss the benefits the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) provides to World War II Filipino veterans. I am pleased to be
accompanied by Dr. Robert Wiebe, Director of the Veterans Integrated
Service Network 21.
Historical Background
For purposes of VA benefits and services, members of the Philippine
armed forces can be categorized as having served in one of four groups:
Regular Philippine Scouts, Commonwealth Army of the Philippines,
recognized guerrilla units, and New Philippine Scouts. These four
categories of World War II Filipino veterans and their eligibility for
VA benefits are best understood in a historical context.
In 1901, the United States established the Regular Philippine
Scouts, a force that Congress soon thereafter incorporated into the
United States Army. Individuals who served in the Regular Philippine
Scouts and their survivors have always been entitled to the same VA
benefits as veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
In 1934, Congress passed the Philippine Independence Act, which
provided for the self-government of the Philippines after a period of
10 years. Because of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and World
War II, independence was conferred on July 4, 1946. The Government of
the Commonwealth of the Philippines established the Philippine Army in
1935. Pursuant to the 1934 Act, the United States reserved the right to
call into service any forces organized by the Philippine government. In
July 1941, President Roosevelt exercised this authority by calling into
service all organized military forces of the Government of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines. These Commonwealth Army members began
serving on or after July 26, 1941 and ended their service on or before
June 30, 1946.
After the May 7, 1942 surrender of the Philippine Islands to the
Japanese, the residual elements of the United States military in the
Philippines and members of the Philippine Army formed guerrilla units.
Recognized guerrilla units fought alongside the United States military
from April 20, 1942 until June 30, 1946. After the liberation of the
Philippine Islands, individuals who fought in recognized guerrilla
units were given membership status in the Commonwealth Army or the
United States Armed Forces.
Following the Japanese surrender in 1945, Congress authorized the
Secretary of War to enlist Philippine citizens into the United States
Armed Forces. The New Philippine Scouts participated in the occupation
of Japan from October 6, 1945, until June 30, 1947.
In 1946, Congress declared veterans of the Commonwealth Army and
New Philippine Scouts and their survivors to be eligible for benefits
under VA programs of National Service Life Insurance, disability
compensation, and death compensation. Congress limited the rates of
disability and death compensation to the equivalent of 50 cents on the
U.S. dollar. Congress did not authorize eligibility for VA need-based
pension, health care, or readjustment benefits. In 1958, Congress made
former members of the organized guerrilla units eligible for VA
benefits on the same basis as Commonwealth Army veterans.
Legislative history indicates that benefits were limited to 50
cents on the dollar in recognition of the different standards of living
in the United States and the Philippines. Congress also anticipated
that the newly independent Republic of the Philippines would rightfully
assume additional responsibilities for its veterans. Within months of
gaining independence, the Philippine government began developing a
fairly extensive program of veterans' benefits including compensation
for service-connected death and disability, education benefits,
reemployment rights, preference in public employment, home loans, and
hospitalization benefits.
VBA Benefits Currently Provided to World War II Filipino Veterans
Veterans who served in the Regular Philippine Scouts qualify for
the full range of VA benefits and services as veterans of the United
States Armed Forces. Under legislation enacted over the past 6 years,
veterans of the Commonwealth Army, recognized guerrilla forces, and New
Philippine Scouts who lawfully reside in the United States and are U.S.
citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residency in the
United States now qualify for disability compensation at the full U.S.
dollar rate. They also have eligibility for VA health care and burial
benefits similar to other veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
The survivors of veterans who served in the Commonwealth Army,
recognized guerrilla forces, or New Philippine Scouts who reside in the
United States and are U.S. citizens or legally admitted resident aliens
qualify for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits at the
full-dollar rate. If the veteran or survivor does not meet the above
residency requirements, VA pays disability compensation, DIC, and
burial benefits based on the half-dollar rate.
Chronological Summary of Recent Legislative Changes
In October 2000, Congress enacted legislation that expanded VA
benefits for veterans of the Commonwealth Army and recognized guerrilla
units. Veterans of the Commonwealth Army and recognized guerrilla units
now qualify for disability compensation at the full-dollar rate,
provided that the veteran is lawfully residing in the United States and
is a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence in the United States. In addition, the bill extended VA
hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans of
the Commonwealth Army and recognized guerrilla units in cases where the
veteran lawfully resides in the United States and is a United States
citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the
United States and receiving VA compensation. Congress also authorized
the Manila VA Outpatient Clinic to provide medical services to service-
connected veterans for their non-service-connected disabilities.
In November 2000, Congress passed the Veterans Benefits and Health
Care Improvement Act of 2000, expanding eligibility for interment in
national cemeteries to veterans of the Commonwealth Army and recognized
guerrilla forces if the veteran resided in the United States at the
time of death and was a United States citizen or alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence in the United States. Congress also
authorized VA to pay the full-dollar amount for burial benefits to
veterans who met the above residency requirements and were also
receiving VA disability compensation or would have met the disability
and income requirements for VA pension.
On December 6, 2003, Congress extended full VA health care
eligibility to veterans of the New Philippine Scouts residing in the
United States and removed the requirement that veterans of the
Commonwealth Army and recognized guerrilla veterans, who are residing
in the United States, must be in receipt of compensation in order to
qualify for VA treatment of non-service-connected disabilities.
On December 16, 2003, Congress enacted the Veterans Benefits Act of
2003, which expanded compensation benefit payments and burial benefit
payments to the full-dollar rate for New Philippine Scouts if they are
either United States citizens or lawfully admitted permanent resident
aliens, and made New Philippine Scouts eligible for other burial
benefits including interment in national cemeteries. In addition,
Congress expanded DIC benefits to the full-dollar rate for survivors of
veterans who served in the New Philippine Scouts, the Philippine
Commonwealth Army, or recognized guerrilla forces, provided that the
survivor is residing in the United States and is either a United States
citizen or a legally admitted alien. Congress also extended the
authority to maintain a regional office in the Republic of the
Philippines until December 2009.
The result of the above laws is that veterans and survivors of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army, recognized guerrilla forces, and the New
Philippine Scouts who lawfully reside in the United States are eligible
for disability compensation, DIC, burial benefits, and VA health care
to the same extent as veterans and survivors of the United States Armed
Forces.
Veterans of the Commonwealth Army, recognized guerrilla units, and
New Philippine Scouts are not eligible for VA pensions or readjustment
benefits such as home loan guaranties, education benefits, vocational
rehabilitation, adaptive housing grants, and adaptive vehicle grants.
Survivors or dependents of veterans of the Commonwealth Army,
recognized guerrilla units, and New Philippine Scouts are not eligible
for death pension or education benefits.
Health Care in the Philippines
Veterans of the United States Armed Forces and Regular Philippine
Scouts residing in the Philippines can obtain hospital care and
outpatient medical services if such care and services are needed for
the treatment of a service-connected disability. Service-connected
United States veterans and Regular Philippine Scouts can obtain
outpatient medical services at the Manila VA Outpatient Clinic for any
condition as long as it is within the services provided by the Clinic.
The United States has provided assistance to the Philippines in a
number of different ways in order to facilitate the provision of
medical care to World War II Filipino veterans. VA has historically
provided grants in the form of monetary support or equipment to the
Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Manila. In June 2002, VA
announced that $500,000 would be provided annually to furnish, install,
and maintain equipment at the VMMC. In 2006, Secretary Nicholson
provided a $500,000 grant to upgrade equipment for the VMMC. Since
2002, VA has contributed over $3.5 million to the VMMC. VA provided the
funding under its authority to assist the Philippine government in
fulfilling its obligation to provide medical care for Filipino veterans
who fought with the United States Armed Forces in World War II. VA
worked directly with the VMMC to identify the highest equipment
priorities. VA directly purchases the equipment and assures that it is
properly installed and maintained.
The Manila Regional Office
The Manila Regional Office (RO) is responsible for administering a
wide range of benefits and services for veterans, their families, and
their survivors residing in the Philippines, including compensation,
pension, DIC, education benefits, and vocational rehabilitation and
employment services. The Manila RO has jurisdiction over all cases
involving veterans of the Commonwealth Army, recognized guerrilla
units, and New Philippine Scouts, no matter where they reside.
As of January 2007, the Manila RO provides disability compensation,
pension, and DIC to approximately 17,000 veterans and survivors. This
includes 6,400 veterans who receive disability compensation, of which
3,500 are World War II Filipino veterans and the remaining are United
States Armed Forces veterans from all periods of service. The Manila RO
also provides DIC benefits to 6,700 survivors, which includes 5,150
survivors of World War II Filipino veterans. Nearly 15,000 of the
17,000 beneficiaries paid by the Manila RO reside in the Philippines.
Our records indicate that about 690 Filipino veterans and 430
survivors of Filipino veterans currently receive benefits at the full-
dollar rate based on their residence in the United States. We are very
pleased that Congress has in recent years recognized the inequity of
applying the payment restrictions, which were intended to reflect the
different economic conditions between the Philippines and the United
States, to Filipino beneficiaries residing in the United States and
improved the benefits for those facing living expenses comparable to
United States veterans. We believe these improvements were extremely
important, as they allowed VA to maintain parity in the provision of
veterans' benefits among similarly situated Filipino beneficiaries.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I greatly appreciate
being here today and look forward to answering your questions.
Statement of Hon. Madeleine Z. Bordallo
a Representative in Congress from the Territory of Guam
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before the
Committee today to testify in support of legislation that would provide
for full restoration of veterans benefits to surviving World War II
veterans of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, the Philippine
Scouts, and to those individuals from the Philippines who served in
United States Armed Forces organized resistance units. As a member of
the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the United States-
Philippines Friendship Caucus, I strongly support H.R. 760, the
Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007. I, too, commend you, Mr.
Chairman, for championing during your distinguished service in this
institution the restoration of benefits for Filipino veterans.
Spain ceded the Philippines, along with Guam and despite the
Philippine Government having declared independence, to the United
States through the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the peace
agreement that ended the Spanish-American War. The values of freedom,
democratic governance and the rule of law were cherished and sought by
the people of the Philippines in the early part of the 20th
century. The extent to which these values were inherent in the
character of the people of the Philippines was evidenced by the service
and sacrifice of the approximately 200,000 of their countrymen that,
upon order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, were inducted into
the United States Armed Forces following the invasion of the Philippine
Islands by the military forces of Imperial Japan in 1941.
These Filipino soldiers--who became known as the Philippine
Scouts--served shoulder to shoulder with American servicemen fighting
against the Imperial Japanese Forces. General Douglas MacArthur greatly
valued the service of these Filipino soldiers. Their skills as
reconnaissance men and guerilla fighters were displayed as General
MacArthur ordered his forces to retreat to Bataan Peninsula and nearby
Corregidor Island. There the poorly-supplied American and Filipino
troops, ably led by the Philippine Scouts, mounted a heroic, storied,
but ultimately abortive defense against the well-equipped forces of
Imperial Japan. Many American and Filipino soldiers were captured as a
result of the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. Those captured were forced
to endure the Bataan death march, confinement in concentration camps,
forced labor, and imprisonment on ships. Those who escaped capture were
organized into guerrilla bands to resist the Imperial Japanese
occupation forces.
The Filipino soldiers' abilities and commitment to the United
States were displayed again as General MacArthur, then supreme
commander of Allied forces in the southwest Pacific, made good on his
vow to return to the Philippines to help them liberate their country
from Imperial Japanese Forces. The campaign to liberate the
Philippines, which began in earnest in late 1944, reportedly included
some of the bloodiest fighting of the Second World War. Filipino
soldiers, throughout the course of that bloody struggle, fought
shoulder to shoulder with and died along with United States
servicemembers.
Conscripted Filipino soldiers were supposed to be entitled then to
full veterans' benefits and they were so promised in the name of the
good faith of the United States Government. Congress, however, withheld
these benefits from them with the passage of the Rescission Acts of
1946. In 1990, many of these veterans were extended the opportunity to
become United States citizens. Reportedly, nearly 24,000 veterans chose
to do so. Full veterans' benefits, however, have never been extended to
them. The enactment of H.R. 760 would correct this mistake and remedy
this injustice.
The Congressional Research Service, in a January 10, 2006, report
entitled, ``The Republic of the Philippines: Background and U.S.
Relations'' states that approximately 30,000 of 200,000 Filipino
veterans of the Second World War are still alive, of whom 7,000 reside
in the United States. While estimates may vary what we do know to be
fact today is that there are fewer and fewer surviving Filipino
veterans of the Second World War with each passing year. The need for
Congress to honor their service by enacting H.R. 760 is now more
important than ever. If signed into law, H.R. 760 would fulfill our
country's long overdue commitment to these loyal and honorable
veterans. We must act now to fulfill the United States Government's
responsibilities to those who served willingly and ably in the defense
of freedom. Filipino veterans deserve no less than our best commitment
to bring them equity and justice in the name of the good faith of the
United States Government.
I urge this Committee to favorably report your legislation Mr.
Chairman to the full House as soon as possible. Thank you again, Mr.
Chairman, Mr. Buyer, and Members of the Committee, for the opportunity
to appear before you today to add my voice in support of this most
worthy cause. It is a privilege and an honor to join our colleagues on
this panel and to cosponsor H.R. 760.
Statement of Hon. Mazie K. Hirono
a Representative in Congress from the State of Hawaii
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the matter of
equity for Filipino veterans of World War II. This is an important
issue for me and many families in Hawaii.
As you know, Filipino veterans are those that honorably answered
the call of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served alongside our
armed forces during World War II. They fought shoulder to shoulder with
American servicemen; they sacrificed for the same just cause. We made a
promise to provide full veterans' benefits to those who served with our
troops. And while we have made appreciable progress toward fulfilling
that promise, we have not yet achieved the full equity that the
Filipino veterans deserve.
I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 760, the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act of 2007, which was introduced by the Chairman to
provide the necessary reclassification of the service of Filipino
veterans to make them eligible for all the veterans' benefits programs
administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs. In essence,
H.R. 760 makes good on the promise our government made to these brave
men over sixty years ago.
Today, out of the 250,000 veterans, only 22,000 remain and of that
number 2,000 reside in my home State of Hawaii. As Filipino veterans
are entering the sunset years of their lives, Congress is running out
of time to fulfill our obligations to them.
I would also like to take this time to discuss an effort that I am
jointly working on with Senator Daniel K. Akaka to provide for the
expedited reunification of the families of our Filipino veterans.
Prospective family-based immigration applicants from the Philippines
face substantial, often decade-long waits for visas. It is our aim to
introduce a bill that would further the recognition of the service of
Filipino veterans by granting their children a special immigration
status that would allow them to immigrate to the United States and be
reunified with their aging parents.
Mr. Chairman, thank you again for the opportunity to speak today on
the need to fulfill our obligations to our Filipino World War II
veterans.
Statement of Hon. Michael Honda
a Representative in Congress from the State of California
Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, and Members of the
Committee, thank you for holding this critically important hearing
concerning the injustice done to some of the bravest men to have fought
on behalf of the United States, the Filipino WWII veterans. Mr.
Chairman, I also commend you for your tireless leadership on efforts to
rectify this situation and for reintroducing H.R. 760, the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act.
As Members of the Committee know, I have been a vocal advocate for
the equitable treatment of Filipino WWII veterans. I consider the
rescission of U.S. military status from approximately 250,000 Filipino
WWII veterans who fought under U.S. command as one of the greatest
injustices ever perpetrated by the Congress. After six decades of
disgrace, we have the responsibility to correct this injustice and
honor their service and sacrifice, and our window of opportunity to
make these brave veterans whole is rapidly closing.
In 1934, when the Philippine Islands were a U.S. territory,
Congress enacted Public Law 73-127 requiring the Commonwealth Army of
the Philippines to respond to the call of the U.S. President. On July
26, 1941, with the Nation facing the threat of Japanese aggression in
the Pacific, that call to arms came when President Franklin Roosevelt
signed a military order for the Commonwealth Army to serve with the
U.S. Army Forces--Far East (USAFFE), under the command of U.S. military
leaders. These Filipino soldiers bravely fought alongside their
American brothers in arms until the end of WWII.
With the enactment of P.L. 79-190 in 1945, Congress recruited an
additional 50,000 Filipino soldiers, known as the New Philippine
Scouts, in anticipation of needing occupation forces for captured enemy
territories. At the time of recruitment, the U.S. Government promised
that all that responded to the call would be treated as U.S. veterans
for the purposes of their benefits.
In 1946, just after the conclusion of the war, Congress rescinded
this promise, turning their backs only on the brave Filipino veterans.
When passing the First and Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriations
Rescission Acts, commonly referred as the Rescission Acts, Congress
sought to reduce the amount of previously appropriated funds devoted to
the war effort. Within these bills, however, contained specific
provisions that declared that service by the members of the
Commonwealth Army and the New Philippine Scouts should not be deemed to
have been service in the U.S. military, effectively stripping the
Filipino soldiers of their U.S. veteran status.
Although President Harry Truman signed both Rescission Acts into
law, he recognized the heroic contributions of the Filipino soldiers
and requested that efforts be made to correct the injustice:
``The passage and approval of this legislation do not release
the United States from its moral obligation to provide for the
heroic Philippine veterans who sacrificed so much for the
common cause during the war.''
Since 1946, piecemeal benefits have been hard-won by the Filipino
WWII veterans. However, full veteran benefits are still denied. To
correct the injustice, I have been a steadfast supporter of the
Filipino Veterans Equity Act, which would provide the full benefits
promised to all Filipino veterans who fought under U.S. command during
WWII. I am encouraged by the Chairman's dedication to facilitating
quick passage of this legislation and the large number of Members
participating in this hearing.
As Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I
can also voice the Caucus's united support on this concern. We have
prioritized the plight of the Filipino WWII veterans as a top
legislative goal. CAPAC will continue to work to educate and recruit
support from our colleagues and the public.
Other Members may cite the cost of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act
as an obstacle, but who among us can refute the injustice that has been
done? Congress must return the promised veteran status to the
courageous WWII Filipino soldiers. During the war, there were nearly
250,000 Filipino solders who had served under U.S. command. At this
point, only an estimated 22,000 are still living. To put things in
perspective, the funding necessary to provide these remaining Filipino
veterans with full equity of benefits is roughly equal to what we are
currently spending in 1 or 2 days in Iraq. Must we wait for more of
these deserved Filipinos to pass away to justify the cost? Is this how
we should repay our courageous veterans?
Mr. Chairman, these WWII heroes are in the twilight of their lives,
and time is running out for Congress to recognize their service. A
promise made should be a promise kept, especially when it comes to
veterans. If we are to be a legislative body dedicated to the ideals of
justice and dignity, then it is imperative we honor the promise made to
our Filipino veterans, and restore their benefits.
Thank you.
Statement of Lt. Col. Edwin Price Ramsey, AUS (Ret.), Los Angeles, CA
Chairman Filner and Honorable Members of the House of
Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs:
My name is Edwin Price Ramsey, I came from Los Angeles to attend
this hearing and I thank you for the opportunity to appear before you
here today. Having appeared before the Committee on November 5, 1993
and again on July 2, 1998, and since I will turn 90 years of age on May
9th of this year, I will never have another chance to contribute in
some small way, to correcting a longstanding gross injustice to the
Filipino Veterans of World War II.
To do so, it is important that you be aware of why I had a unique
position during that time and have considerable knowledge in this
matter.
In 1941, I was a lieutenant in the 26th Cavalry
Regiment, Philippine Scouts, with whom I fought from the Japanese
Landing in Lingayen Gulf through the Battle of Bataan. After Bataan
surrendered on April 9, 1942, my troop commander, Capt. Joseph R.
Barker II and I escaped and made our way to Pampanga Province in
Central Luzon, where we met Col. Claude Thorp whom General MacArthur
had sent out of Bataan to establish resistance behind the enemy lines.
We joined Col. Thorp and began the Guerrilla forces in Central Luzon
designated by Col. Thorp to be the ``East Central Luzon Guerrilla
area'' under the ``Luzon Guerrilla Army Forces'' of Thorp. After the
capture of both Thorp and Barker, and their later execution, in early
January 1943, I became the commander of the ``East Central Luzon
Guerrilla Area'' (ECLGA). By the liberation of Central Luzon, it had
grown to approximately 45,000 guerrilla troops.
With that background, I would like to address the question of the
status of Filipino veterans and their treatment, especially with
respect to the Recession Acts of 1946.
In July of 1941, President Roosevelt authorized, through the War
Department, the formation of the ``United States Army Forces in the Far
East'' (USAFFE) under the command of General Douglas MacArthur and
ordered the induction of the military forces of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines into and as part of USAFFE. It is impossible to see how
these Philippine troops could be federalized into the USAFFE and not be
part of the United States Army. Further, when we inducted the Filipinos
into the guerrilla forces, we required that they all swear an oath of
allegiance to the United States of America and the Commonwealth of the
Philippines. Therefore, all those guerrillas that were recognized after
the liberation would have the same status. In that connection, I
question why there was a difference in the treatment accorded to the
65,000 or so Commonwealth of Puerto Rico troops and those from Hawaii
and elsewhere, who served in the U.S. Army and were later treated the
same as American Veterans.
The USAFFE forces fought courageously, delaying the Japanese time
table for several months, instead of the 6 weeks General Homma had been
given by the Japanese High Command to conquer Bataan. Also, remember
that only the Filipinos remained loyal to their former colonial masters
while the Indo-Chinese turned on the French, the Indonesians the Dutch,
and Malaya and Burma turned on the British. It was this unbelievable
loyalty that provided the environment necessary to build the massive
guerrilla forces that made it impossible for the Japanese to defend, in
any serious way, against the liberating Allied Forces and ultimately
saved thousands of American and Allied lives. General MacArthur
personally confirmed this to me in a meeting I had with him in Tokyo in
March of 1947. At that time, he gave me an autographed photo signed,
``To Ramsey with the Admiration and Affection of His Old Comrade in
Arms, Douglas MacArthur.'' My most prized memento.
For the sake of brevity, since we have so little time today, for
more detail, please refer to my previous testimonial letters submitted
in the earlier hearings on November 5, 1993 and July 22, 1998 and were
incorporated in the hearing records. I would especially call your
attention to the paragraphs on page 4 of my letter re: the July 22,
1998 hearing, referring to President Roosevelt's message to Congress on
October 6, 1943, calling for our government to provide full
rehabilitation of the Philippines at the conclusion of the war.
In accordance with the rules of the House of Representatives'
requirement for witnesses, I have appended hereto a copy of my
curriculum vitae and I hereby affirm that I have had no federal grants
or contract with the government within the current or past many years.
Edwin Price Ramsey
Statement of Colonel Romeo M. Monteyro, PA (Ret.), Advisor
Filipino World War II Veterans Federation of San Diego County, Vista,
CA
Mr. Chairman, Members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee,
ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for inviting me here today. In the next 5
minutes, allow me to dwell on a particular subject--the loyalty of the
Filipinos to America, before, during and beyond World War II.
Private Tomas Claudio, a Filipino, was a member of the American
Expeditionary Forces which fought in France in World War I. A mere
footnote in history, he is unknown to Americans, but U.S. Army records
place him as the first Filipino to die for America. He was a farmworker
in California when America entered the First World War. He need not
enlist, but he did, out of patriotism and love for his adoptive
country.
Then there was Jose Abad Santos, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the Philippine Commonwealth. He became the caretaker of the
Commonwealth government after President Manuel L. Quezon was ordered
out by President Roosevelt. The enemy caught up with him in Lanao,
Mindanao and was told to publicly renounce his allegiance to America
and pledge loyalty to the Japanese government. When he refused he was
tried by a kangaroo court and was sentenced to die by firing squad. On
the eve of his execution, he told his son, ``Do not cry my son. Show
these people that you are brave. Not everyone is given a chance to die
for his country.'' The loyal and brave Chief Justice chose to die for
America.
In the movie ``The Great Raid'' the loyalty of the Filipinos to
America was depicted factually. Filipino civilians risked their lives
by smuggling food, medicine and money to starving and sick American
prisoners of war. Resistance fighters blocked a stronger Japanese force
and prevented it from reinforcing the prison guards at Cabanatuan City,
paving the way for the successful rescue of more than 500 American POWs
by a battalion of U.S. Army Rangers.
President Harry S. Truman said, as he reluctantly signed the
Rescission Act of 1946, ``This does not absolve America of its moral
obligations to the Filipino veterans.''
President Bill Clinton commented, during the awards ceremony for
WWII Congressional Medal of Honor recipients of Japanese and Filipino
descents, 59 years late, ``rarely has a country been so well served by
a people it has so ill-treated. They risked their lives above and
beyond the call of duty, and in so doing they did more than defend
America. In the face of painful prejudice, they helped define America
at its best.''
In Bataan, soldier-poet Lieutenant Henry G. Lee wrote this poem
after he watched a haggard group of Philippine Commonwealth Army
troops:
Obsolete rifle without a sling
And a bolo tied with a piece of string
Coconut hat and canvas shoes
And shoddy, dust white, denim blues
These are the men who fought and fled
And fought again and left their dead
Who fought and died as the white man planned
And never quite learn to understand
Poorly officered, under fed
Often driven but never led
Lied to, and cheated and sent to die
For a foreign flag in their native sky.
Lieutenant Lee survived Bataan, the Death March and even the POW
camp atrocities but was ironically killed by American bombs dropped on
the ship transporting him to Japan.
Owed a moral obligation! Served well though ill-treated, subjected
to painful prejudice! Lied to and cheated and sent to die, for a
foreign flag in their native sky! Yet they remained steadfastly loyal!
Ladies and gentlemen of this Committee, isn't it high time the
Filipino soldiers who fought for America in World War II, be rewarded,
if only for their loyalty? I know it will probably be a question of
money again. Former Congressman Stump who headed this Committee during
his time in Congress, once asked, ``And where do you suggest we get the
money to pay the Filipino veterans?'' My answer to that is, ``from the
same source which funds the Iraq war.'' The Iraqis have not done
anything in defense of America. In fact most of them hate us, and even
as we speak, are trying their best to kill American soldiers. On the
other hand, the Filipino veterans fought for America and their shabby
treatment notwithstanding, have remained loyal and ever ready to stand
by America.
How loyal was the Filipino soldiers to America? Ask Col. Ramsey,
the living testimony to their loyalty. If he had been in another
country in World War II they would have turned him over to the enemy
or, worse, kill him and collect the prize money on his head. Yet today,
he is here with us because the Filipinos remained loyal to the U.S.
Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of this Committee. That
concludes my testimony today.
Statement of Lourdes Santos Tancinco, Esq., Co-Chair, National Network
for Veterans Equity, and Chair, San Francisco Veterans Equity Center
Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of this Committee:
My name is Lourdes Santos Tancinco, Esq. I speak on behalf of the
Veterans Equity Center and the National Network for Veterans Equity.
Both organizations are part of the newly formed National Alliance for
Filipino Veterans Equity.
I. Introduction
The Veterans Equity Center is the only nationwide service agency
catering exclusively to the needs of the elderly Filipino World War II
veterans. It was established in the City of San Francisco through the
collaboration of community members and advocates concerned with the
plight of the Filipino veterans. As of today, we have provided service
to more than 1,000 veterans. The National Network for Veterans Equity
is a loose coalition of different organizations including various Asian
Pacific American organizations advocating justice and equity for our
Filipino veterans and supporting the passage of the Full Equity Bill or
currently the H.R. 760. The National Alliance for Filipino Veterans
Equity is the only formalized coalition of organizations representing
Filipino veterans in the United States and the Philippines working to
pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.
II. Full Equity Now
Ladies and gentlemen of this Committee, we strongly believe that
only a full recognition and restoration of the full and equal benefits
of all the Filipino World War II veterans will address this more than
half a century of injustice brought by the Rescission Act of 1946.
As advocates for the full equity, our mission at NNVE is a firm and
consistent commitment to attain full equity, no more and no less.
We face different challenges but we never shall give up. Consider
the following factors:
1. Factors to Consider
a.
The population of the World War II veterans is dwindling.
Time is a critical element for the passage of this proposed
legislation. It is public knowledge that the greatest generation of
World War II veterans is diminishing at an accelerated rate. There are
still surviving veterans waiting for full recognition of their services
and for the receipt of the well deserved benefits. We have witnessed
and met at the Veterans Equity Center thousands of WWII veterans and
most of them who passed away had a dying wish unfulfilled. Questioning
why they were treated inequitably. It is very disheartening. Time is of
the essence.
b.
There is an increasing number of broad supporters from
different organizations.
We are engaged in an extensive public education campaign
about the bill ensuring that there is an accurate presentation of the
history and the relationship of the U.S.-Philippines during World War
II.
NNVE's public educational campaign resulted in increased
awareness. NNVE gathered support from various individuals,
organizations, state and local governments in support of the
restoration of the full veterans' status to Filipino World War II
Veterans.
c.
The cost of the bill.
One of the major challenges we are forced to face is the
issue of the cost of the bill. It is very easy to defeat the purpose of
the bill by concluding that this is an expensive bill. But is it really
an expensive bill? Let us examine the following:
The figure used to calculate the cost of this bill
is inaccurate. The rate that these veterans die is faster than
projected. Hence, if there is indeed a cost, it is a diminishing cost.
The Veterans Administration figures based on its
2000 study need to be reexamined. The San Francisco Veterans Equity
Center is actually witnessing a faster rate of dying veterans than as
reported in the VA study.
For those receiving welfare checks from Social
Security Administration, there will only be a transfer of budget from
this agency to the VA should the equity bill be passed resulting in
less or no additional cost to the Federal budget.
True, there is a dollar amount to the bill the exact figure
of which is not accurate at this time. If indeed the cost is an issue,
our response to this argument is a question. When is the cost of
freedom ever free? How can the U.S. ever have a short memory of the
sacrifices of our veterans?
d.
A legislation less than equity will not address the veterans'
issue.
Benefit improvement bills that enhance certain veteran
benefits for certain veterans are not responsive to this issue.
Creating disparity for those who fought equally and those who risk
their lives together is a greater injustice to those who are excluded.
2. Filipino Veterans Issue an American Issue of Injustice
The plight of the Filipino veterans is no longer just a
Filipino issue of injustice but an American issue of injustice that has
been clamoring for final resolution. For those of us who believe in the
cause of freedom and democracy, for those of us who believe in fairness
to those who had fought for us, we are challenged to do what is right
and advocate for what they deserve.
As previously stated, the greatest generation is fast
diminishing. The younger generation is taking on this cause and until
this matter is resolved it shall continue to present itself over and
over again until we finally see the just resolution.
III. Conclusion
Mr. Luciano Dimaano, an 85 year old veteran who lives in San
Francisco vividly remembers his experiences 65 years ago. He said and I
quote him ``As a soldier fighting under the U.S. flag, I never got
tired of fighting. There was shortage of food, no medicine. When I
fired my rifle I would stumble because my body was starving for
nourishment. I was weak all the time. But I kept fighting to defend the
frontline.'' Like thousands of other veterans, physical exhaustion did
not prevent him from fighting.
We take on the fight for them. We believe in our democratic
idealism and have faith that this great country shall not let the
sacrifices, courage, blood and tears of our veterans be put to waste.
There is no better time to correct this historical error. The time is
now. War veterans should be treated right. They deserve no less than
equity!
We strongly urge this Committee to support the passage of the full
equity bill for the Filipino World War II veterans. I would like to
thank you for the opportunity to speak.
Statement of Franco Arcebal, Vice President for Membership,
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.
Honorable Chairman and Members of the House Committee on Veterans
Affairs,
Good morning. My name is Franco Arcebal, a Filipino World War II
veteran, and the vice president for membership of the American
Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. Our nonprofit non-partisan
advocacy organization has more than 4,000 individual members in the
United States. I am now 83-years-old and a retired sales executive. I
reside in Los Angeles.
Our president, Mr. Patrick Ganio, Sr., a Bataan and Corregidor
defender in 1942 and a Purple Heart medal recipient, could not join us
this morning because of his health situation. He lives in Jacksonville,
Florida. His statement is included in our written testimony.
Thank you for holding this early hearing on the Equity bill H.R.
760 for Filipino World War II veterans. Never in the history of our
long quest for full recognition benefits has a hearing been scheduled
within 2 weeks after its introduction.
We owe this to the Honorable Bob Filner, our undaunted and tireless
champion in the House of Representatives. He and I were arrested along
with 12 of my comrades for civil disobedience when we chained ourselves
in front of the White House in July 1997. Sadly, we were unable to
convince the Clinton Administration to support our Equity bill.
I am honored and pleased to present the plea of my comrades. But
allow me a brief introduction.
During World War II, I was a guerrilla intelligence officer in
Northern Luzon. I was caught and severely tortured by Japanese soldiers
as a spy. I was sentenced for decapitation. Luckily for me, during a
rainstorm at night, I was able to escape. I dug out a tunnel under the
wall of our ``monkey house.''
In 1987, I became a new U.S. permanent resident. Because of my age,
I had very little income. Because I had a painful dental problem, I
sought treatment at the Los Angeles VA clinic.
I was terribly shocked when I was told that my services in WWII in
the U.S. Army Forces, was by law deemed NOT ``active service for the
purposes of any benefit administered by the U.S. VA.''
I concluded that the United States whom I served loyally and risked
my life, did me an injustice. I felt terribly discriminated upon.
This incident was a result of the Rescission Act enacted on
February 18, 1946 (now U.S. Code Title 38, Sec. 107) over the
objections of President Harry Truman. Before this law Filipino veterans
had U.S. veterans status with the VA.
Today, I expect many persuasive testimonies to justify the passage
of H.R. 760. I join them because of my duty to speak on behalf of my
comrade veterans who are elderly, disabled and poor.
Our Coalition leaders view the EQUITY bill in five parts. They are:
1. U.S. recognition of our WWII service,
2. VA burial benefits,
3. War injury compensation,
4. VA health care, and
5. NON-service connected disability pension.
Over the past decade, our coalition's mission is to restore FULL
U.S. Government recognition and to win equitable U.S. V.A. benefits for
our veterans. We believe that by passing the ``Filipino Veterans Equity
Act,'' or the realistic bills of our sponsors, we can finally overcome
the discriminatory effects of the ``Rescission Act.''
Why should Filipino veterans be officially recognized for VA benefits?
FIRST, on July 26, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered
soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who were then U.S.
nationals into military service.
SECOND, before the Rescission Act of February 18, 1946, the VA
considered us as American veterans with ``active service'' status.
THIRD, 24,000 Filipino WWII veterans were naturalized based on
their U.S. military service under Section 405 of the Immigration and
Naturalization Act of 1990.
FOURTH, under Public Law 106-419, if they died, they are eligible
for burial benefits with military honors in national cemeteries as U.S.
veterans.
FIFTH, under P.L. 108-170, Filipino American veterans can now be
admitted as patients in VA hospitals, clinics and nursing homes;
however, they are not eligible for non-war related disability pensions
that American counterparts receive.
We deeply appreciate the steadfast leadership of Sen. Daniel
Inouye, Sen. Daniel Akaka, Sen. Arlen Specter, former Rep. Benjamin
Gilman, Rep. Bob Filner, Rep. Chris Smith, Rep. Juanita Millender-
McDonald, Rep. Darrell Issa, Rep. Rob Simmons, Rep. Nancy Johnson and
others.
With our step-by-step strategy, your Committee and the Senate have
passed Filipino veteran bills worth $38 Million in yearly benefits:
We have supported several bills and budget proposals to win the
last step of VA non-service connected pension that would provide a
dignified income to our veterans to bring them above poverty in the
Philippines and in the U.S. and fully recognize their U.S. military
service. These proposals were:
1. $100 monthly pension 2001 proposal of Sen. Daniel Inouye's bill
S. 68 and Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald's ``Fairness bill.''
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo had officially requested this
pension from President Bush;
2. $200 monthly proposal of Rep. Lane Evans $22M budget request in
2005 for vets in the Philippines and in the U.S. (Rep. Nancy Pelosi
endorsed); and,
3. $100 VA medical care monthly allowance for Filipino vets in the
Philippines that our coalition had proposed to VA Secretary Anthony
Principi in 2004.
OUR REQUESTS TO THE VA COMMITTEE
FIRST: Pass or mark up the final authorizing language of the EQUITY
BILL with strong bi-partisan support of the Committee.
SECOND: Seek an estimated budget item of $18 to $22 Million from
the Bush Administration, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson and the
Appropriation Committees to provide an equitable monthly pension of at
least $200 for us low-income Filipino WWII veterans.
THIRD: Form a task force of representatives of the HVAC, the VA
Secretary, the Philippine Ambassador and the key veteran organizations
to determine within 45 days the current Filipino veteran populations,
assess their economic and health needs and to provide a realistic
budget request.
We yearn and pray this reasonable package of benefits be authorized
and granted within the context of H.R. 760. We trust our requests be
favorably considered.
Let me close by quoting President Truman on February 20, 1946 when
he objected to the ``Rescission Act'':
``The Philippine Army veterans are nationals of the United
States and will continue in that status until July 4, 1946.
They fought under the American flag and under the direction of
our military leaders. They fought with gallantry under the most
difficult conditions. . . . They were commissioned by us. Their
official organization the army of the Philippine Commonwealth
was taken into the Armed Forces of the United States on July
26, 1941. That order has never been revoked nor amended. I
consider it a moral obligation of the United States to look
after the welfare of the Filipino veterans.''
THANK YOU.
__________
[The prepared statement and attachment of Patrick G. Ganio, Sr.,
follows:]
Statement of Patrick G. Ganio, Sr., National President,
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans
Mr. Chairman, Honorable Members of the Committee, Fellow Veterans
and friends,
Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity and privilege to
testify once more, perhaps our last to be heard of our appeal to this
Congress and this Administration to pass the pension benefit for
Filipino WWII veterans in true spirit of fairness and justice.
There should be no doubt about the strength of our bonds of
friendship as tested in the great battles of Bataan and Corregidor as
well as the resistance of the Filipino people during the Japanese
occupation of the Philippines.
After the war, time has brought changes in the lives and men and
nations where this great country is no exception.
For in the Philippines after the war, the United States created a
new outlook in the 79th Congress when it passed the Rescission Act of
1946 that stripped our Filipino veterans of their honor and benefits.
Mr. Chairman, it is comforting to feel that America cares for those
who bore the battle. But as we think of the supreme sacrifices we paid
for serving under the American flag, it is shocking and painful to
think that in our low moments to feel betrayed from a friend we trust.
Mr. Chairman, what happened to the principles and values of right
and justice tutored us in this democracy fathered to us by America?
But democracy takes a long route. Hence we are still fighting for
our rights. And in the long process, we have been able to win several
benefits that we deserve under mutually acceptable circumstances and
justified by our common interests.
Mr. Chairman, pass our Equity Pension bill at the end of our
lifetime. This testimony is our last cry for justice. Be this our
valedictory appeal that this Congress and this Administration be
generous enough to pass our pension bill to end once and for all our
long struggle.
For tomorrow, we may not pass this way again.
Very sincerely yours, Patrick Ganio, Sr.
__________
Office of the Governor, State of California
Sacramento, CA 95814
December 8, 2005
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I am writing in strong support of bipartisan legislation currently
pending in Congress that would address the inequity in current law by
providing full veterans' benefits to Filipino veterans who served at
the request and under the command of the U.S. military in World War II.
The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2005 (H.R. 302/S. 146) has broad
support in Congress and a similar bill considered by the last Congress
which is sponsored by over 200 Members of the House.
While an estimated 300,000 Filipino veterans served in the U.S.
Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) in World War II, a federal law
was passed in 1946 that rescinded their eligibility for veteran's
benefits. Currently, less than 30,000 Filipino veterans live in the
United States and the Philippines. Most are not entitled to the full
array of benefits offered to fellow American veterans--specifically
Disability Pension benefits. These benefits were promised to and earned
by these veterans, but the promise was not fulfilled after the war.
This inequity exists today. The Filipino Veterans Equity Act would
fully recognize the military service of these veterans to this nation.
An existing budget proposal in the House of Representatives would
provide them with a modest $200 monthly disability pension to
complement the VA health care benefits that Congress had restored in
2003 upon your Administration's request.
Action is needed this Congress because the number of surviving
Filipino veterans of World War II decreases with each passing year. I
feel the United States Government should recognize the military service
of these veterans and provide them the benefits they deserve. While
Congress has adopted legislation that provides a limited number of
benefits to some of these veterans, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act
would eliminate gaps in coverage that remain and would ensure all
Filipino veterans receive the same benefits available to American
veterans of that war.
I know that you share my commitment to our nation's veterans and
ask that you join me in supporting efforts to give these veterans their
long overdue recognition and the benefits they deserve.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor
__________
Office of the Governor, State of California
Sacramento, CA 95814
October 30, 2006
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
During World War II, more than 200,000 Filipino soldiers fought
beside American troops to restore liberty and democracy to their
homeland in the war against Japan. The bravery and sacrifice of these
Filipino veterans contributed to our victory in World War II. While the
Immigration Act of 1990 allowed these Filipino veterans the opportunity
to become citizens of the United States, the law did not extend this
benefit to their adult sons and daughters, many of whom have been on
immigration waiting lists for several years.
With just 6,000 Filipino World War II veterans still alive in the
United States, I ask you to join me in supporting House Resolution 901.
This bill would give priority in the issuance of immigrant visas to the
sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who are
naturalized citizens of the United States. Given that the youngest of
these veterans are in their eighties, reuniting these families is
particularly important.
The United States has a proud tradition of recognizing the
sacrifices made by our veterans. House Resolution 901 is our
opportunity to recognize and reward the remarkable courage and
dedication of the Filipino-American veterans who fought for our country
during World War II.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor
Statement of Susan Dilkes, Executive Director, Filipino American
Services Group, Inc., and Member, National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity
Good Morning! First of all, I would like to thank the Veteran's
Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner, Members of the Committee and
Congressman Bob Filner's staff for allowing me to testify today.
My name is Susan Espiritu Dilkes. I am the daughter of a Filipino
World War II veteran and a member of the National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity. I am also the Executive Director of Filipino American
Service Group Inc. (FASGI), a non-profit, community-based, and social
service agency in Los Angeles County which was started in October 1981,
when a homeless Filipino World War II veteran was found sleeping in the
garage at the home of Mrs. Remedios Geaga, one of the founding members
of our agency. Since then, FASGI has assisted thousands of Filipino
American World War II veterans with temporary shelter, health and
mental health issues, food distribution, and others. FASGI operates a
transitional housing shelter for independent living for more than four
hundred World War II veterans and in 1996, with the help of the
Filipino American WWII veteran's volunteers, FASGI launched the
FILVOTE, Filipino American Voters Mobilization, and has registered more
than 13,000 Filipino American voters in Los Angeles County.
Last year, 2006, the Filipino-American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI)
obtained a grant from State of California Department of Community
Services and Development Community Services Block to outreach Filipino-
American veterans who are still alive and living in Los Angeles. The
goal of the outreach is to reduce the risks of poor health resulting
from inadequate housing, and to refer homeless Filipino American WWII
veterans to our shelter and to our Healthy Active Lifestyle Program
(HALP) and to assist and to advocate for their benefits that were
promised to them by the government of the U.S. in 1942 by Pres.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. For the past 12 months, FASGI has worked at
this outreach program but has referred only six WWII Filipino American
veterans to our transitional housing shelter, because there are few of
the veterans left. These men are now in there 80's and many are in very
poor health.
If Congress does not act soon, there will be no one left. This is
your last chance to correct a wrong, which is now more than half a
century old. I believe you are men and women of good intention, and now
it is time for those intentions to be converted into law.
Indeed, there are benefits beyond those that are visible on the
face of this legislation. First, the passing of H.R. 760, granting full
equity benefits for the Filipino American WWII veterans, provides the
United States with an opportunity to rescue its reputation as a fair,
honest and reputable country that honors its commitment. By helping the
remaining 5,000 Filipino American World War II veterans who are living
in the United States, our country can take a long step toward rescuing
its own honor.
Second, passing H.R. 760 improves the foreign relations between the
Philippines and the United States. It reduces the political irritation
of an unfulfilled commitment to the 13,000 Filipino American World War
II veterans who are living in the Philippines, and to the extent
payments are made, it will improve flow of cash to the Philippines, a
poor country in dire need of foreign support and liquidity.
This is the last chance any of us will have to RESCUE both the
Filipino American World War II Veterans and the United States from a
broken promise.
Thank you and please enact and promptly implement H.R. 760.
Statement of Alma Q. Kerns, National Chair,
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA)
Good morning.
I thank you, Congressman Filner and all Members of the Veterans'
Affairs Committee, for this historic hearing on the Filipino Veterans
Equity Bill of 2007.
I am deeply honored to speak on behalf of the National Federation
of Filipino American Associations. Founded 10 years ago, our Federation
aims to empower the 2.4 million Filipinos in America to become active
participants and leaders in all aspects of U.S. society. The Filipino
population is among the fastest growing ethnic groups in the country
today, with one of the highest naturalization rates and a 76 percent
nationwide voter turn out. We have significant concentrations of
Filipino Americans in almost every congressional district throughout
the nation. I don't exaggerate when I say that there is a Filipino in
every town and city in the United States--each one contributing
significantly to the political, cultural, commercial and social life of
this country.
I am here before you today primarily as the daughter of a World War
II veteran. My father and four uncles survived the brutalities of the
war, the Bataan death march, the concentration camps, malaria, typhoid,
and dysentery. They have now passed on, but their bravery and their
pride as soldiers have not been forgotten by us, their children and
grandchildren. I owe it to them and all their comrades, the valiant
Filipinos who risked their lives for the sake of freedom and democracy
to stand before you today and appeal to you, our honorable legislators,
to correct a tragic error of omission, and give the Filipino veterans
the dignity and the recognition they deserve.
The second reason I am here today is due to a promise I made as
NAFFAA's national chair to continue the struggle for the passage of the
equity bill. Since NAFFAA was born 10 years ago, NAFFAA has worked
closely with Filipino veterans groups and community advocates to press
Congress to rescind a grievous error in judgment, a betrayal, called
the Rescission Act of 1946, but Congress to this day, more than 60
years after victory was won, has not responded favorably.
I am here before you today, representing millions of Filipino
Americans and Filipinos who believe that the veterans equity issue is a
matter of honor and dignity not just for our veterans but for the whole
Filipino American community! In Seattle where I live, I see our World
War II veterans living in substandard conditions, lonely for their
children and grandchildren and waiting patiently for the equity bill to
pass so that they can go home. For example, Benito Valdez, 83 years old
and Julian Nicolas, 85 years old, two of the last three remaining
Filipinos who helped in the great raid that rescued 600 American and
Canadian prisoners of war in the Cabanatuan garrison camp, live in my
beloved State of Washington. These two gallant warriors, silent in
their anguish and disappointment, cannot understand what is taking
Congress so long to correct a broken promise.
Together with the members of the National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity, I am asking you our legislators to search deep into
your conscience and correct this injustice.
NAFFAA and its partners in the national alliance for Filipino
veterans equity will not give up the fight for justice and equity. We
will continue year after year after year, because my generation will
never be at peace with ourselves if we do not tell the story of a
promise unkept. We will do it because we still believe that this great
country called America is still the beacon of justice and fairness in
the free world. And the time is finally here to show the whole world
that this country does not forget the bravery of those who fought for
its freedom.
To the esteemed Members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, we hope
that you will act honorably on our message--that the Filipino World War
II veterans have been treated unfairly by the United States during the
past 61 years. We also ask the American people to support our veterans'
cause as theirs is an American issue that cries out for American
justice. I now appeal to you today as our national legislators to pass
the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill without delay.
Thank you!
Statement of Alec S. Petkoff, Assistant Director,
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, American Legion
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you on the
rectifying of the injustice that Filipino veterans are currently
enduring. The American Legion applauds the Chairman's leadership in
addressing this issue by introducing H.R. 760, the ``Filipino Veterans
Equity Act of 2007.''
The American Legion supports full recognition and benefits to all
veterans, American or Filipino, who were part of the defense of the
Philippine Islands during World War II. The American Legion has adopted
a resolution to ``Support Legislation to Grant Filipino World War II
Veterans Equal VA Benefits.''
In 1941, at the outbreak of World War II, Filipinos were considered
nationals of the United States and thousands were conscripted to serve
with the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) under the command
of U.S. officers headed by General Douglas MacArthur, by order of then
President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
These Filipino World War II soldiers served and died with courage,
loyalty and dedication to stop the Japanese invaders in Bataan and
Corregidor, walked the famous Death March together with their American
comrades-in-arms and continued guerilla warfare against the Japanese
until the U.S. Armed Forces recaptured the Philippines in 1944.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, in VETPOP2001 revised,
estimated that there were 60,000 surviving Filipino veterans who are
classified as Philippine Commonwealth Army, Recognized Guerrilla and
New Philippine Scouts veterans, of whom 45,000 reside permanently in
the Philippines and 15,000 reside permanently in the U.S.
Of the 45,000 residing in the Philippines, 41,000 do not receive
any compensation or pension benefit from VA, and most are sickly, over
70 years old and live below the poverty level. Those veterans living in
the Philippines currently receive only 50 cents on the dollar as
compensation for their service-connected disability medical conditions.
Veterans of those groups who live in America and were members of the
Regular Commonwealth Army receive their full entitlement. This is the
only situation where the rate of a disability compensation for a
service-connected medical condition is based solely on geographical
location.
The current policy has created a virtual caste system of first- and
second-class military veterans in the Philippines. These veterans
fought, were wounded, became ill, became prisoners of war, were subject
to torture, deprivation and starvation and many died in the service of
the U.S. Armed Forces at the same rates as regular U.S. soldiers,
sailors and Marines who were isolated on those islands during the
Japanese occupation.
Filipino veterans have recently been somewhat successful in
incrementally increasing benefits to parity with other U.S. veterans;
however, the exclusion of these veterans from full benefits remains a
fundamental unfairness in the law that has stood for too many years. As
the numbers of these deserving veterans quickly dwindle, Congress has
little time left to redress this injustice.
The American Legion gives its full support to H.R. 760. Mr.
Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity
to present The American Legion's view on this bill. This concludes my
testimony.
Statement of Richard F. Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and
Government Affairs, Vietnam Veterans of America
Chairman Filner, Ranking Minority Member Buyer and other
distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, Vietnam Veterans of America
(VVA) is pleased to appear here today in support of amending title 38,
United States Code which would grant pension benefits for Filipino
veterans of World War II living in the U.S. and in the Philippines.
Mr. Chairman, VVA strongly believes that those brave Filipino
veterans of World War II who were drafted into service by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt over sixty years ago are entitled to benefits
that they were promised.
Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, these Filipino
soldiers fought side-by-side with forces from the United States
mainland, defending the American flag in the now-famous battles of
Bataan and Corregidor. Thousands of Filipino prisoners died, both on
the Bataan death March and in prisoner of war camps. The Philippines
endured four long years of occupation, and after its liberation, the
United States used the strategically located Commonwealth as a base
from which to launch the final efforts to win the war.
With the vital participation of Filipino soldiers so evident, VVA
finds it hard to believe that, soon after the war ended, the Congress
of 1946 unceremoniously deprived many of the Filipino veterans of
benefits and veterans' status. Prior to enactment of the ``Rescission
Act'' on February 18, 1946, Filipino veterans were considered veterans
by VA law.
Congress has an opportunity at this hearing today to correct a
wrong that was perpetuated on these brave veterans almost sixty years
ago. During World War II, Filipino nationals were called into military
service by Executive Order of the President and fought valiantly under
U.S. command to help achieve peace and freedom in the Pacific. After
the war, the United States made grants to the Philippine government to
provide for the needs of these veterans. In addition, some are eligible
for benefits under the United States veterans system. However, many of
these deserving veterans living in the United States are currently not
eligible for such benefits.
VVA recognizes the leadership of this Committee to ensure that
these brave men who served at our side as staunch allies are treated
properly today, correcting a wrong done in 1946. VVA particularly
thanks and commends you Mr. Chairman, for your strong leadership and
hard work over the years on this issue which enables us to arrive at
this hearing today and begin to right an unjust wrong for our Filipino
veterans.
In 2000, Commonwealth Army veterans and veterans of Recognized
Guerilla Forces were offered veterans disability compensation at the
full statutory rate if they are permanent legal residents of the United
States. Other veterans became eligible to receive VA health care if
they are permanent U.S. residents receiving disability compensation
from the VA Department. Also in 2000, Commonwealth Army and Recognized
Guerrilla veterans became eligible to be buried in VA national
cemeteries if they were permanent residents of the U.S. at the time of
their deaths.
In 1990 a law was passed awarding citizenship to Filipinos who had
fought on the side of the United States in World War II. As a result of
that legislation, about 26,000 aging veterans were naturalized as U.S.
citizens. But there was nothing in the legislation about veterans'
benefits. The new citizens, if they were poor, were eligible only for
welfare payments on the same basis as non-veterans.
VVA believes the passage of the U.S. Rescission Act of 1946, which
stated that military work of Filipino soldiers, scouts and guerrillas
was not considered active service in the U.S. Armed Forces, was
incorrect and this proposed legislation will address some of the flaws
in that law.
Mr. Chairman, the long struggle staged by Filipino veterans
demanding equity in their treatment by the United States has gone on
for more than half a century. VVA strongly believes because of the
aging population of the Filipino veterans there is an urgent need for
this proposed legislation. Frankly, the legislation should have been
enacted during the 109th Congress. As there are so few of these
distinguished fighters for America's freedom left alive, the cost is
negligible in comparison to the size of the Federal budget. While
justice delayed has proved to be justice denied for those who have
passed away, at least for those still alive, these aging Filipino
soldiers who fought under the U.S. flag in World War II must be helped
now, when it matters most, before they all die.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes the testimony of Vietnam Veterans of
America (VVA). I will be more than happy to answer any questions that
the Committee may have.
Statement of Hon. Neil Abercrombie
a Representative in Congress from the State of Hawaii
Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, and Members of the House
Committee on Veterans Affairs, thank you for allowing me to come before
you today to express my deep support for H.R. 760, the ``Filipino
Veterans' Equity Act of 2007.''
The treatment of Filipinos who fought with the United States Armed
Forces in World War II is a black spot in American history. The
Philippines became a United States possession after Spain ceded it as
part of the treaty ending the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1934,
Congress created a 10-year timeframe for independence through the
``Philippine Independence Act.'' However, since the Philippines
remained a colonial possession until 1946 the United States retained
the right to call upon military forces organized by the Philippine
government into the United States Armed Forces.
On July 26, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a military
order that brought the Philippine Commonwealth Forces under the control
of the United States Armed Forces during World War II. These men
bravely fought with our own troops during the war, and many perished or
suffered severe wounds from the battles in the Western Pacific theater.
After the surrender of Japan, Congress required the Philippine Forces
to continue their service. Many helped occupy lands, many oversaw
military operations, and many made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our
victory in World War II. Yet, when wartime service ended formally in
1946 they did not receive the same benefits and the same treatment as
other American soldiers.
Yet, for all their heroic and courageous actions, Congress passed
the ``Rescission Act'' in February 1946. This essentially denied
Filipino Veterans any of the benefits that their American comrades in
arms received; including full access to veterans' health care, service-
connected disability compensation, non-service connected disability
compensation, dependent indemnity compensation, death pension, and full
burial benefits. No other group of veterans has been systematically
denied these benefits.
Congress has the opportunity to right this wrong. The bill before
the Committee, H.R. 760, restores the benefits these brave warriors
were denied. This legislation has been introduced since 1992. However,
time is running out. In September 2000, the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) estimated that the number of surviving Filipino veterans
were 59,889. However, by 2010, VA estimates that their population will
dwindle to just 20,000, because of their advanced age.
I, along with other members of the Hawaii Delegation support this
important piece of legislation. Congress must act now for the sake of
justice and to show that we Americans truly appreciate the sacrifice
these men made. These heroes cannot be forgotten; they should not be
dishonored. I urge the Committee to consider this bill and to report it
to the House floor.
Statement of Manuel Braga, Spring Valley, California
Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of this Committee:
When the war broke out, I was inducted into the United States Armed
Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) under the command of General MacArthur.
During the war, we suffered so much.
There was shortage of food, no medicine to cure the wounded and the
sick. When I fired my rifle I would stumble because my body was
starving for nourishment and energy. I was weak all the time. My
comrades and I fought very hard and we hardly had sleep because we had
to defend the frontline. We ate porridge a day, many were wounded and
dead but we had to continue to fight.
We Filipinos have the longest fight. Until now we are still
fighting. Since Dec. 1, 1941 up to the present all nations that joined
the U.S. Army, the Chinese, Cambodians, Australians, Vietnamese are now
being served their veteran benefits, but we Filipinos are not! There
must be a reason why? Is it because of money, but there is money in the
invasion of Iraq. Why must we veterans suffer?
America is a generous nation giving aid to all poor nations around
the world. But they have forgotten their obligation to the Filipino
veterans who served for this country, who have fought side-by-side with
Americans. Filipinos are still fighting for equity while others who
fought with us are now receiving the fruit of their sacrifice. Without
veterans there is no Democracy today.
When I stepped foot in this country a bittersweet feeling came over
me. I wondered when we, Filipino veterans, will receive the recognition
we deserve. Right there and then I told myself I wanted to continue to
fight for justice and equity. . . . Luckily there are Filipinos
fighting for us. I know that the younger generations will continue to
fight for us! Please continue fighting! So many of us are already old
we need your voices to speak for us, to fight alongside us!! We must
fight! Fight! Fight until their hearts and mind are touched by our
courage and determination. . . . Do not stop until Filipino veterans
have received FULL EQUITY!!
Now I am 80 years old and my end is not too far ahead. We are not
here to beg. We Filipinos are hardworking people, we are only after
``what is due to us.''
The promise made by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Lord help us to open
their eyes, soften their hearts, to clear their minds, and give us the
recognition and justice we deserve.
I am encouraged by the leadership of Congressman Filner, Senator
Inouye, Senator Akaka, and Congressman Honda. I know that the Veterans'
Affairs Committee will do the right thing and the Members who walk
these halls will help us get he justice we deserve. I urge the
Committee to support the passage of H.R. 760, the Filipino Veterans
Equity Act of 2007.
Thank you.
Statement of Vanessa B.M. Vergara, Esq., Co-Chair,
Filipino Civil Rights Advocates, Chicago Chapter
Chairman Filner and Members of the Committee:
Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony to the House
Veterans' Affairs Committee concerning an issue that is near and dear
to my heart. My name is Vanessa Vergara and I am an attorney practicing
law in Chicago. I am the Co-Chair of the Chicago Chapter of the
Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (``FilCRA''). FilCRA is dedicated to
protecting and promoting the civil rights of the Filipino community and
is a proud partner in the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans
Equity. For over 10 years, I have studied, written about and actively
advocated on behalf of Filipino WWII veterans who have been wrongly
deprived of veteran benefits to which they were entitled by virtue of
their service in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 1997, I wrote ``An
Assessment of U.S. Veteran Benefits for Filipino WWII Veterans''
published by Harvard University's Asian American Policy Review--the
first academic article to specifically analyze veteran benefits policy
relating to Filipino WWII veterans. For your reference, I am attaching
a copy of my article as Exhibit 1 to my testimony.
I first learned about the issue of Filipino WWII veterans in 1996,
when I was a senior in college majoring in political science at Hamline
University. In the fall of 1996, my university's political science
department selected me to come to Washington, D.C. to study at American
University and intern at the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of
Legislative Affairs. At the time, I was also working on my Senior
Honor's Thesis and was desperately in search of a topic. During my
internship at the Justice Department, I met an individual who
recommended that I study the story of Filipino veterans who served in
the U.S. military during WWII and were stripped of their veteran
benefits shortly after the war ended. He told me that no one had yet
formally researched this issue. Although I prided myself on being a
diligent student of American history, this was the first time I had
ever heard that Filipinos served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII
and that their veteran benefits were taken away from them by Congress.
In fact, I had never heard of any instance in which the United States
revoked veteran benefits to soldiers who honorably served in the U.S.
military.
Indeed, the history books I studied from my grade school years
through college never once told the story of Filipinos who valiantly
served in the U.S. military during WWII and were denied their rightful
veteran benefits. While I was aware that the Philippines became a U.S.
Commonwealth in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War, I never
realized that over 200,000 Filipinos were inducted into the U.S. Armed
Forces of the Far East (``USAFFE'') pursuant to an Executive Order
issued by President Roosevelt on July 26, 1941:
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United
States, I hereby call and order into the service of the armed
forces of the United States . . . and place under the command
of a general officer, United States Army . . . all of the
organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth
of the Philippines.
On the same day, General Douglas MacArthur was designated the
Commanding General of the newly constituted United States Armed Forces
of the Far East. Just one day after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Japan
invaded the Philippines on December 8, 1941. I was also unaware that in
1946--immediately following the end of WWII--Congress passed the
Rescission Act which disqualified Filipino veterans who served in the
U.S. Armed Forces during WWII from ``active service'' status, thereby
excluding them from qualification for veteran benefits. The Rescission
Act is the only instance in the twentieth century where Congress drew a
distinction between veterans with regard to veteran benefits on the
basis of how, where or why they served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Upon graduating from college and returning to my hometown of
Chicago to attend law school at Northwestern University, I continued my
involvement in local, grassroots efforts to help pass the Equity Act.
My first experience actively advocating for the rights of Filipino WWII
veterans took place when I was beginning law school at Northwestern. In
August 1997, Senator Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, a distinguished graduate
of Northwestern University School of Law, gave the welcoming
convocation address to a room full of bright-eyed, eager first-year law
students. Senator Bumpers spoke about his experiences as a veteran of
WWII and how, after the war, he availed himself of the GI Bill which
allowed him to come to Chicago to study law at Northwestern. After his
speech, I spoke to Senator Bumpers about his experience fighting in
WWII and if he was aware that Filipino WWII veterans who fought in the
U.S. military were stripped of their veteran benefits. Having spent
time in the Pacific war theater, he told me that he fought side-by-side
with Filipinos during WWII but was not aware that Filipino veterans who
served in the U.S. military were unable to receive veteran benefits as
he did. I told Senator Bumpers about my article that had been recently
published by Harvard University and whether he would consider becoming
a cosponsor to the Equity Act. He asked me to send him my article and
he would most certainly look into the issue. Two weeks later, I
received a letter from Senator Bumpers thanking me for bringing the
Equity Act to his attention and informing me that he had become a
Senate cosponsor to the Equity Act.
Since my days at Northwestern, I have continued to be actively
involved in the Filipino community trying to promote awareness for the
plight of Filipino WWII veterans and to help pass legislation that
would finally give Filipino WWII veterans the veteran benefits to which
they are entitled. Through these experiences, I have also had the great
fortune of meeting many Filipino WWII veterans and their families from
around the country, including Washington, D.C., California, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Illinois. These veterans are
heroes. I listen to their stories about when they were brave soldiers
in their teens and 20's, what it was like to fight fearlessly in the
face of terrible and oppressive conditions and of all the struggles,
pain and sacrifice they endured during the war and brutal Japanese
occupation. Many veterans suffered through treacherous military
endeavors, such as the Bataan Death March and did so with great honor
and valor during the grimmest moments of WWII. Most of the Filipino
WWII veterans are now in their 80's and unfortunately, many live in
poverty without the much-needed health and pension benefits afforded to
their fellow American compatriots.
Their memories of WWII and their important role in that cause of
freedom are so vivid. Every time I meet a Filipino veteran, I am struck
by the deep pride they have in their military service in the U.S. Armed
Forces, the love they have for America and the enduring hope that
lights their eyes that before their time in this world comes to an end,
America will finally make good on its word and recognize their service
in the U.S. military by providing veteran benefits that are at par with
the American counterparts with whom they fought side by side.
I also want you to know about Antonio Constantino--a Filipino WWII
veteran who lives in public housing in Chicago. I met Mr. Constantino
and his wife when my mother, sister and I were delivering senior gift
baskets to needy Filipino seniors in the Chicagoland area this past
Christmas. From 1943 to 1944, Mr. Constantino was in the guerilla
forces, which in 1944 were absorbed into the U.S. Armed Forces of the
Far East--51st Infantry Regiment P.A., 24th Infantry Division U.S.
Army. Mr. Constantino heroically served in the U.S. Armed Forces of the
Far East until 1946 when he received his discharge papers from the U.S.
Army. From 1946 to 1949, Mr. Constantino then went on to serve in the
New Philippine Scouts and similarly, his discharge papers from 1949
state that he was discharged by the Army of the United States.
I asked him what, if anything, he had heard during the war,
regarding whether Filipino soldiers would receive veteran benefits for
their service in the U.S. military. Mr. Constantino told me that during
the war, he and his fellow soldiers heard repeated broadcasts on the
airways by President Roosevelt who encouraged Filipinos to stand strong
and fight side-by-side with Americans and that whatever benefits and
pay American soldiers receive, Filipinos would also receive. President
Roosevelt also said in his broadcasts that the pensions of Filipino
soldiers would be the same as the pensions received by American
soldiers. Mr. Constantino further told me that General Douglas
MacArthur also told Filipino soldiers the same message relayed by
President Roosevelt--that Filipino soldiers would receive the same
pension and benefits as their American counterparts. Mr. Constantino
explained that the worst part of the war was not the battles themselves
but that Filipino soldiers who died fighting in the war received
nothing in terms of veteran benefits. I asked if Filipino soldiers were
offered life insurance and Mr. Constantino said that National Life
Insurance was offered by the U.S. military during the war--but only for
a limited time--and therefore, very few Filipino soldiers were actually
able to sign up for this insurance. After the war, Mr. Constantino also
saw many injured Filipino veterans who were denied hospital and other
veteran benefits.
As a veteran of WWII, Mr. Constantino came to the United States
with his wife in 1992 pursuant to an immigration law that permitted
Filipino WWII veterans to immigrate and naturalize to the United
States. When he arrived in the United States, Mr. Constantino applied
for veteran benefits but was told that he needed to be injured during
the war to be eligible. Although Mr. Constantino suffers from a range
of medical problems, because his disabilities are not war-related, he
is deemed ineligible to receive a non-service connected disability
pension. For veterans like Mr. Constantino, passage of the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act of 2007 would mean that he could finally be
considered for and receive a disability pension for his non-service
connected disabilities as are American veterans with whom he served in
the U.S. military. Such a pension would no doubt make a world of
difference for Mr. Constantino and his wife who live on an extremely
limited income as they try to make ends meet on a daily basis. I also
ask you to consider that unlike most legislation, the cost of
implementing the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 will only decline
significantly over time. This simple fact is the result of the advanced
age of the Filipino veteran population who pass away at a rate of 10 to
15 per day.
Almost exactly 61 years ago to this day and shortly after the
conclusion of WWII, Congress passed the Rescission Act which provided
that the heroic military service of Filipino veterans who served in the
U.S. Armed Forces did not constitute ``active service'' needed to
qualify for veteran benefits. For over 60 years, Filipino WWII veterans
have fought for the equal benefits they earned in the battlefield as
members of the U.S. military. With their advanced age and death rate of
10 to 15 per day, time is of the essence for the aging Filipino WWII
veterans.
In February 1946, Congress had a choice to make as do you today.
Today, you have the opportunity to correct a grave injustice against
veterans who sacrificed life and limb as members of the U.S. Armed
Forces during WWII. These veterans spilled their blood and sacrificed
their lives in the most harrowing battles of WWII. Congress should pass
the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 to reverse a longstanding
injustice against Filipino WWII veterans by amending Title 38 of the
U.S. Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of
the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have
been active service for the purposes of conferring veteran benefits.
Please don't turn your back on these heroic veterans who selflessly
gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy today.
__________
[The attached article by Vanessa B.M. Vergara, ``Broken Promises and
Aging Patriots: An Assessment of U.S. Veteran Benefits Policy for
Filipino World War II Veterans,'' Asian American Policy Review, VII
(1997): 163-182, is being retained in the Committee files.]
Statement of Teresita Bautista, Member,
Filipino Civil Rights Advocates, Oakland, California
Honorable Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs
Committee, and distinguished Members of the VA Committee:
I am Teresita Bautista, a member of Filipino Civil Rights
Advocates, and a resident of Oakland, California and the San Francisco
Bay Area where the Filipino population is 400,000 strong. FilCRA is a
member of the National Network for Veterans Equity (NNVE), and NNVE is
a member of the National Alliance Filipino Veterans Equity. Our purpose
is to finally reverse the injustice of the Rescission Act of 1946.
I am writing to urge your support for H.R. 760, the Filipino WWII
Veterans Equity Act of 2007.
I am the daughter of a World War II veteran, Eutiquio Guillermo
Bautista. His co-workers called him Tex. He passed during the holidays
of 1984, between Christmas and New Year, just after his 75th birthday.
He was one of the lucky ones to return to the U.S. in 1945 after having
fought in the Philippines under U.S. command. By then he had met and
married his wife, Florentina Cataag. Soon after in August 1946, I was
born in his hometown of Aringay, La Union.
My father and scores of others belonged to the First Filipino
Infantry of the U.S. Army and fought unconditionally under the American
flag in the Philippines to free all from Japanese tyranny and
occupation. He, along with countless other unsung heroes, defended and
fought tirelessly for democracy in the U.S. and in the world.
After the end of the war, my mother and I traveled on the USS David
Schenk, now dry-docked in the bay near Martinez, CA, to join him
eventually in Oakland Chinatown, CA. Since the 1950s, my family has
been active in the Rizal Post 598 and Auxiliary.
My father asked to be buried in his U.S. Army uniform, a great
testament to the way he felt toward the U.S. Because he was already
living in the U.S. when he was recruited into the army, he was afforded
U.S. citizenship, as were my mother and I, for his valor and commitment
to defending the U.S. in the Pacific Rim.
His contributions are no different from those few thousand Filipino
WWII veterans, who remain without U.S. military recognition or full
benefits, due to the Rescission Act of 1946.
I appeal to the VA Committee to grant these brave men and women
their rightful place alongside the U.S. veterans they fought with. They
gave their all to live in a free world.
I urgently request you pass H.R. 760.
Statement of Jenny L. Batongmalaque, M.D., Executive Director,
Filipino Veterans Foundation
I am Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque, a practicing geriatrician and the
Executive Director of the Filipino Veterans Foundation, a charitable,
501(c)3 organization. I am respectfully submitting my testimony on the
current status of the Filipino American WWII veterans residing in the
Los Angeles County. The facts and figures have been taken from a 10-
year longitudinal study following 300 Filipino WWII veterans in the
cohort study group residing in the Los Angeles County within the span
of 10 years from 1996 to 2006. The report has been published in the
Weekend Balita in December 2006.
The instruments used in the survey were the standard questionnaire
forms used in conducting a comprehensive geriatric assessment used by
the GRECC program of the VAMC-UCLA Consortium which covers five
domains:
1. physical status
2. mental status
3. psycho-social status
4. support system and environmental check
5. the value system.
The second instrument used was the Quality of Life Assessment.
The conclusions to these studies are as follows:
Today, less than 5 percent are currently in the cohort
study group. A third have been known to have died and two-thirds have
returned to the Philippines.
Profile of the Filipino WWII veteran residing in Los
Angeles County: They come from all parts of the Philippines and speak
different dialects and sub-languages. A third of them were members of
the Philippine Commonwealth Army, and inducted into the United States
Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). They are the fastest
disappearing group of cohorts in the study. The largest group are
recognized regular Guerrillas, and less than a third belong to the New
Philippine Scouts inducted post-war and deployed to Okinawa, Guam or
Saipan. They are the younger age group.
The average is 83 years. 40% reside alone in the United
States, due to widowhood or their spouse has remained in the
Philippines. 40% have their spouses here in the U.S., and 20% have
live-in companions or care-providers.
Their average Supplemental Security Income is $700
monthly.
They have multiple health problems. They take an
average of 5 medications, had been brought to the ER by paramedics at
least once, because of dizziness or falls, heart attacks or strokes.
They have a home health nurse visiting them weekly upon discharge from
the hospital.
Inability in applying for disability veterans benefits
claims because of the current existing public law that negates their
service, and their conditions today are largely due to effects of their
advanced age rather than service-connected disabilities.
Access to Healthcare referrals and resources. Their
Medicare-Medicaid health insurance provides them better access to
hospitals and neighborhood physicians. But they prefer to be serviced
by the VA to add merit to their claims. However, having non-service
connected disabilities they have low or no priority at all.
Lack of access to affordable housing placements. The
rising rents in the Los Angeles County have forced them to regroup and
stay temporarily in the livingrooms of friends. Their homelessness is
not apparent in skid row but their frequent change of addresses and no
telephone contact alerts the FVF of their housing problems. The list
for seeking an affordable, assisted living facility is getting longer
by the day.
Concerns of living alone in the U.S. and meeting end-
of-life issues.
Petitioning for their children to provide care and
safety for them while in America. Because of language and culture, they
would rather be cared for by those whom they can articulate their
tangible and intangible needs. ``If I only can afford to pay for my
health care in the Philippines, I would rather go home now.''
The Filipino Veterans Foundation, an advocacy, 501(c)3 charitable
organization has delivered the following without public assistance so
far:
Screening an average of 20 claims a week being reviewed
by our volunteer Advocates, Facilitators and Liaisons with the Veterans
Service Officers at the County and State Dept of VA with some success
(25%). The rest are pending claims (75%) due to the current public law.
Organized the Veterans Center Association, a membership
organization of more than 300 members affiliated to the FVF as direct
beneficiaries for services as needed.
Arranged for an average of 10,000 food bank distributions
a year.
Facilitated the establishment of the first Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder Support and Therapy group in Los Angeles County,
conducted by the Medical and Mental Health providers of the VA at the
FVF venue.
Senior assessments of health database collected over 10
years is extensive and detailed. Chronic conditions are as follows
rated from most frequent:
1. Arthritis
7. Diabetes
2. Hearing Impairment
8. Prostate Disease
3. Cataracts
9. Cancer
4. Heart Disease
10. Alzheimer's Disease, early
onset
5. Hypertension
11. Ulcers and GERD
6. Pulmonary Disease
12. Miscellaneous
Establishing a network of veterans service organizations
and medical service organizations.
Promoting the preservation of Historical and Cultural
Values where the Filipino soldier fought side by side with the American
soldier:
Four major events in the history of WWII are observed annually:
Dec. 8, 1941: Outbreak of WWII in the Philippines
April 9, 1942: Day of Valor, the Fall of Bataan
July 26, 1941: The Establishment of the United States
Armed Forces in the Far East
October 20, 1944: Leyte Landing and the Liberation of
the Philippines
Memorials for the death of an Unknown Soldier and a
veteran residing alone in the U.S., and known only to God, has been
observed by FVF and VCA with little funds and fanfare, quietly
obtaining an American burial flag for the family as a token of their
lifelong struggle, and giving them the final salute in America.
Gathering all widows, and sons and daughters of the
Filipino WWII veterans to keep the flame for liberty and justice going,
so that future generations will long remember the struggles of the
Filipino-American WWII veteran in his old age, residing in America.
GOALS OF THE FILIPINO VETERANS FOUNDATION
FOR 2007 AND THEREAFTER
1. Legislative Action
A push for full equity before the last Filipino WWII
veteran dies in our midst.
To include the contribution of the Filipino WWII soldier
in the annals of American history in public school books so that no
child is left ignorant of it.
2. Safe Haven
Building the BAYANI Center, a Heroes Center, a holistic
assisted living facility, in the City of Los Angeles, where the
predominant number of surviving Filipino-American WWII veterans reside.
A Heroes Hall with historical artifacts and memorabilia will add to the
attraction of the younger generation to interact with the surviving
heroes. This venue is open to all disadvantaged elderly individuals who
have been exposed to an armed global conflict in their early life
without preference to race, nationality, belief, culture, language or
gender.
3. Raise Capital Funds
Seek for Public and Private Support to continue the
mission of the Filipino Veterans Foundation to improve the quality of
life of disadvantaged seniors and veterans, regardless of race,
nationality, belief, culture, language or gender.
In their level of understanding in language and culture.
While attending to the needs.
4. Network with the Veterans Memorial Hospital
Where we can secure the continuity of care in the
Philippines for those who have opted to return to their homeland.
Statement of Hon. Daniel K. Inouye
a U.S. Senator from the State of Hawaii
Thank you for your invitation to come before your Committee and to
speak in strong support for a legislative measure that you, Mr.
Chairman, and I have introduced for the last several Congresses. I
deeply regret that my schedule does not allow me to be physically
present at your hearing. However, I wish to commend you and Members of
the Committee for holding this hearing on the Filipino Veterans Equity
Bill. It is my sincere hope that we will be successful in the passage
of the Equity Bill during the 110th Congress.
Many of you are aware of my continued advocacy on the importance in
addressing the plight of the Filipino World War II veterans. As an
American, I believe the treatment of Filipino World War II veterans is
bleak and shameful. The Philippines became a United States possession
in 1898, when it was ceded by Spain, following the Spanish-American
War. In 1934, the Congress enacted the Philippine Independence Act,
Public Law 73-127, which provided a 10-year timeframe for the
independence of the Philippines. Between 1934 and final independence in
1946, the United States retained certain powers over the Philippines,
including the right to call military forces organized by the newly
formed Commonwealth government into the service of the United States
Armed Forces.
The Commonwealth Army of the Philippines was called to serve with
the United States Armed Forces in the Far East during World War II
under President Roosevelt's July 26, 1941 military order. The Filipinos
who served were entitled to full veterans' benefits by reason of their
active service with our armed forces. Hundreds were wounded in battle
and many hundreds more died in battle. Shortly after Japan's surrender,
the Congress enacted the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945
for the purpose of sending Filipino troops to occupy enemy lands, and
to oversee military installations at various overseas locations. These
troops were authorized to receive pay and allowances for services
performed throughout the Western Pacific. Although hostilities had
ceased, wartime service of these troops continued as a matter of law
until the end of 1946.
Despite all of their sacrifices, on February 18, 1946, the Congress
passed the Rescission Act of 1946, now codified as Section 107 of Title
38 of the United States Code. The 1946 Act deemed that the service
performed by these Filipino veterans would not be recognized as
``active service'' for the purpose of any U.S. law conferring ``rights,
privileges, or benefits.'' Accordingly, Section 107 denied Filipino
veterans access to health care, particularly for non-service-connected
disabilities, and pension benefits. Section 107 also limited service-
connected disability and death compensation for Filipino veterans to 50
percent of what their American counterparts receive.
On May 27, 1946, the Congress enacted the Second Supplemental
Surplus Appropriations Rescission Act, which duplicated the language
that had eliminated Filipino veterans' benefits under the First
Rescission Act. Thus, Filipino veterans who fought in the service of
the United States during World War II have been precluded from
receiving most of the veterans' benefits that had been available to
them before 1946, and that are available to all other veterans of our
armed forces regardless of race, national origin, or citizenship
status.
The Filipino Veterans' Equity Act, which I introduced in the U.S.
Senate on January 4, 2007, would restore the benefits due to these
veterans by granting full recognition of service for the sacrifices
they made during World War II. These benefits include veterans' health
care, service-connected disability compensation, non-service connected
disability compensation, dependent indemnity compensation, death
pension, and full burial benefits.
Throughout the years, I have sponsored several measures to rectify
the lack of appreciation America has shown to these gallant men and
women who stood in harm's way with our American soldiers and fought the
common enemy during World War II. It is time that we as a Nation
recognize our longstanding history and friendship with the Philippines.
Of the 120,000 that served in the Commonwealth Army during World War
II, there are approximately 60,000 Filipino veterans currently residing
in the United States and the Philippines. According to the Department
of Veterans Affairs, the Filipino veteran population is expected to
decrease to approximately 20,000 or roughly one-third of the current
population by 2010.
Heroes should never be forgotten or ignored; let us not turn our
backs on those who sacrificed so much. Let us instead work to repay all
of these brave men for their sacrifices by providing them the veterans'
benefits they deserve.
Statement of Hon. Darrell Issa
a Representative in Congress from the State of California
Thank you for holding this hearing here today on an issue that is
dear to both of us. I know that you have put a lot of effort over the
years into advocating for the Filipino veterans to achieve full equity.
I have appreciated working with you as the fellow cochair of the U.S.-
Philippines Friendship Caucus to move this effort forward in the House.
Today, I am here to speak in support of H.R. 760, the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act, which the Chairman and I have sponsored over the
last two Congresses. It is unfortunate that, 62 years after World War
II, we are still holding hearings, debating whether we should give
these brave men the rights and benefits that were promised by our
government.
The Filipino military was conscripted to fight under General
Douglass MacArthur after the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor. These
Filipino soldiers fought, and in many instances gave their lives, side
by side with Americans against the might of the Japanese empire. In the
Battle of Bataan, these soldiers were cut off from all sources of
assistance, yet they stood strong against a ruthless enemy for more
than 3 months. These men fought to protect their native land, which was
also American soil at that time. In defense of their homeland they
displayed a strength of spirit that was not destroyed, despite the
fiercest effort from the enemy. In the aftermath of the Battles of
Bataan and Corregidor many of these brave soldiers then suffered
through the atrocity of the Bataan Death March, which took more than
10,000 Filipino and American soldiers' lives.
The men seeking equity today are of that great generation that
turned back the tide of tyranny and oppression that threatened to
overwhelm the entire world. They were promised full equity by our
government, only to be denied it by Congress with the passage of the
Rescission Act of 1946. In 1946, President Harry Truman stated, ``I
consider it a moral obligation of the U.S. to look after the welfare of
the Filipino Army veterans.''
By passing the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, the House will go a
long way toward finally fulfilling our stated obligation. The
Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there will only be 20,000
living World War II Filipino Veterans by 2010, and only about 10,000
that this legislation would need to cover. With the number of veterans
growing smaller every year, time is truly of the essence.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Chairman on this
legislation, and I thank him for having a hearing on it so early in
this new session.
Statement of Hon. Tom Lantos
a Representative in Congress from the State of California
Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this important hearing on
this long overdue legislation. You have long been the leading proponent
of a bill that will bring full and fair benefits to all veterans who
fought for our country in World War II. Filipino veterans should be no
different than veterans who were born in the United States, if you
fought in the defense of freedom over tyranny, you should receive all
of the benefits afforded to you.
Mr. Chairman, my constituents are all too aware of the egregious
slights accorded to them since the end of WWII and are delighted that
you are at the helm of this important committee. I have the privilege
of representing one of the largest Filipino-American populations
outside of Manila. I cannot count the number of times people have come
up to me in Daly City, in Pacifica or San Mateo and told me their story
of hardship or their family members' lack of care because of a simple
designation that was put into law separating one class of Filipino
veteran from another.
The Rescission Acts of 1946 are indeed a black mark on this body
and it is time to remedy this historic injustice. For too long, there
have only been piecemeal attempts to overcome the Rescission Acts. Two
years after the initial legislation denying equality to all veterans,
there was an attempt at redemption by constructing and equipping a
hospital in Luzon and reimbursing the Republic of the Philippines for
care and treatment of all of those who fought. Budget concerns
gradually diminished the payments for this hospital.
Mr. Chairman, since you were elected in 1992, you shined the
legislative spotlight on the full scope of this injustice. In the 109th
Congress we passed a resolution that recognized and honored the
Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideals
and their important contribution to the outcome of World War II. Now
this Congress should bestow upon those who were ready to give the
ultimate sacrifice the services that all other veterans enjoy. Those
brave soldiers who served in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines
or the Recognized Guerrilla Forces should receive the same high quality
care that those who served in the 101st Airborne do.
I understand that for every benefit given there is a cost but their
brave actions helped win a war. I recognize that the Committee faces
many challenges to adequately provide for all veterans, but I cannot
accept that our country does not have the resources to care for those
who cared for us. It is our moral duty to find a way to pay for these
necessary services.
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate you allowing me to voice my opinion on
this singularly important issue and all of the hard work and leadership
you have shown. As those of us get older who can remember World War II,
it is long past time to provide equal treatment to all veterans and
pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007.
Statement of Hon. Juanita Millender-McDonald
a Representative in Congress from the State of California
Mr. Chairman,
Thank you for giving me the privilege of addressing the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs today. I am proud to say I have fought for this
cause since the 104th Congress and I am delighted that Chairman Filner
and the Committee has made it a top priority this year.
We are here because the Committee is examining H.R. 760,
legislation to reward World War II Filipino veterans with full benefits
rights under the Department of Veterans Affairs. It cannot happen soon
enough. There is a declining population of World War II Filipino
veterans and each hero deserves the recognition they earned through
blood and sacrifice.
More than 100,000 Filipinos volunteered when President Roosevelt
issued an Executive Order calling members of the Philippine
Commonwealth Army into the service of the United States Armed Forces of
the Far East in 1941. Under this order, Filipinos were entitled to full
veterans' benefits.
The United States Armed Forces of the Far East fought to reclaim
control of the entire Western Pacific. Filipinos, under the command of
General Douglas MacArthur, fought on the front lines of the Battle of
Corregidor and at Bataan. They served in Okinawa, on occupied mainland
Japan, and in Guam. They were part of what became known as the Bataan
Death March, and were held and tortured as prisoners of war. Through
these hardships, the men of the Philippine Commonwealth Army remained
loyal to the United States during the Japanese occupation of the
Philippines, and the valiant guerrilla war they waged against the
Japanese helped delay the Japanese advance across the Pacific.
Despite all of these sacrifices, Congress enacted the Rescission
Act of 1946, declaring the service performed by the Philippine
Commonwealth Army veterans as not ``active service,'' thus unjustly
denying many benefits to which these veterans were rightfully entitled.
For many years, Filipino veterans of World War II, who are now in
their seventies and eighties, have sought to correct the injustice
caused by the Rescission Act by seeking equal treatment of their
valiant military service in our Armed Forces. They stood up to the same
aggression that American-born soldiers did, and many Filipinos
sacrificed their lives in the war for democracy and liberty.
Heroes should never be forgotten, so let us not turn our backs on
the Filipino veterans who sacrificed so much for our country. Let us
finally pass H.R. 760 and repay all the brave Filipino veterans for
their sacrifices by providing them with benefits that are long overdue.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman.
Statement of Brig. Gen. Tagumpay A. Nanadiego (Ret.), Orange,
California
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, ladies
and gentlemen, good morning:
I am a retired general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, now
88 years old and a USAFFE-Guerrilla Veteran of WWII. I was a 22-year-
old enlisted man, a private in the Reserve Force of the Philippine
Commonwealth Army when I reported for active duty at Camp Wilhelm,
Lucena, Tayabas, Philippines on December 16, 1941, exactly 8 days after
the bombing by Japanese planes of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and United
States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) pursuant to the Military
Order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of July 26, 1941.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, may I state at this
juncture that this is the 3rd time that I have been invited to the
hearings on this important subject and I related our sad stories, the
experience and torture that we endured in the infamous 65-mile Death
March and the hell that was Camp O'Donnell. I related these in detail
in my article which I wrote for the Stars and Stripes of April 1996.
After the liberation of the Philippines, I returned to military control
and I became a member of the Board of Review for the Chief of Staff of
the Philippine Army on War Crimes, and let me tell you that Colonel
Ito, the Camp Commander at Camp O'Donnell, and General Homma, who
ordered the infamous Death March, paid for their lives by their death
by hanging by order of the Military Commissions under the doctrine of
command responsibility.
In my previous testimonies before like committee, I invited and
called attention to the injustice done to the Filipino veterans of
World War II by the Rescission Acts of 1946. On December 8, 1941, the
enemy bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States military and naval
installations in the Philippines, thus bringing the war to the
Philippine shores. Americans and Filipinos were then thrown into battle
against numerically superior enemy forces and ``for 98 historic days
with valor unsurpassed in world history they stood their ground against
vastly superior forces.'' Bataan finally fell on April 9, 1942, and
together, Americans and Filipinos went through the agony of defeat.
They walked together in the ``65-mile Bataan March of Death'' under the
cruel April sun suffering from thirst and hunger as they walked from
Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga.
The war was won, the Philippines was liberated and the Americans
enjoyed the thrill and glory of victory. The Filipino veterans, on the
other hand, have continued to suffer. The 79th Congress of the United
States enacted the Rescission Act of 1946 which declared that the
services of the Filipino soldiers who fought side by side with the
Americans and suffered the 65-mile Bataan March of Death, ``shall not
be deemed to have been active military, naval or air service for
purposes of any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges
or benefits,'' except those who were killed, died or maimed or
separated for service-connected ailments. What the Rescission Act
declared in effect was that Filipino veterans who are alive today and
in fairly good health at age 74 and above were not with the Americans
in the Bataan campaign, did not walk with the Americans from starvation
and disease--and are not, therefore, entitled to the privileges and
benefits which the Americans and other nationals of foreign countries
who fought under the American flag have been enjoying.
Today, I appeal to you and hearken to the words of President
William J. Clinton in his proclamation of October 1996, honoring the
Filipino veterans of World War II, portions of which read:
``During the dark days of World War II, nearly 100,000
soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army provided a ray of
hope in the Pacific as they fought alongside United States and
Allied forces for four long years to defend and reclaim the
Philippine Islands from Japanese aggression. Thousands more
Filipinos joined U.S. Armed Forces immediately after the war
and served in occupational duty throughout the Pacific Theater.
For their extraordinary sacrifices in defense of democracy and
liberty, we owe them our undying gratitude.
Valiant Filipino soldiers fought, died, and suffered in some
of the bloodiest battles of World War II, defending beleaguered
Bataan and Corregidor, and thousands of Filipino prisoners of
war endured the infamous Bataan Death March and years of
captivity. Their many guerrilla actions slowed the Japanese
takeover of the Western Pacific region and allowed U.S. forces
the time to build and prepare for the allied counterattack on
Japan. Filipino troops fought side-by-side with U.S. forces to
secure their island nation as the strategic base from which the
final effort to defeat was launched.''
Thank you!
__________
[The attached article by Tagumpay A. Nanadiego, ``Camp O'Donnell: A
Four-Month Nightmare in the Philippines.'' The Stars and Stripes 14
April 1996: 10, is being retained in the Committee files.]
Statement of Lillian Galedo, Co-Chair,
National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity
My name is Lillian Galedo. I am the Co-chair of the National
Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE) a recently formed
national coalition of organizations and individuals who have fought for
the past 12 years for the right of Filipino World War II veterans to
equal status in the eyes of the U.S. Government. I am also the
Executive Director of Filipinos for Affirmative Action, in Oakland,
California.
It is the National Alliance's fervent hope that the U.S. Congress
will finally correct a 60+-year injustice, and restore to Filipino WWII
veterans their rightful claim to U.S. veterans' status. For the past
six decades these brave veterans have sought to end the discrimination
they have endured and be recognized as equal to all other WWII veterans
who fought under U.S. command.
The Filipino community, which is now 2.5 million strong and has a
100+ history here in the U.S., has made this issue a priority since
these veterans were finally granted the ability to apply for U.S.
citizenship in the early 1990's.
Historically, WWII is remembered as ``the good war'' against the
threat of fascism. As a nation Americans remain ignorant of the Pacific
`theater' of WWII against Japan. In the national `minds eye' we see
American combatants in the Pacific, and blot out the contributions of
the thousands of Filipinos and Pacific Islanders who fought and died on
this front.
Americans have very little appreciation for the debt we owe the
Filipino people. As a colony of the U.S., Filipinos were inducted into
the U.S. military by Executive Order. They fought alongside Americans,
under the same commander, for the same reasons. The most sustained
campaign against Japanese tyranny was fought in the Philippines. The
Filipino people's resistance to Japan's invasion and to the subsequent
occupation of the Philippines provided the U.S. the `breathing room' to
rebuild American forces after Pearl Harbor and rethink our war
strategy. The valiant resistance by Filipinos forced the Japanese to
maintain resources in the Philippine occupation, weakening Japanese
ability to defend themselves in other parts of the Pacific.
Risking everything so we in the U.S. wouldn't experience the terror
of war on our soil, the Filipino military--regular and guerrilla--
fought against overwhelming odds to spare Americans the agony of war.
Because Filipinos fought the Japanese so courageously in Luzon,
Americans did not have to fight the war in Monterey, San Francisco, and
Los Angeles.
The cost of war for the Filipino people was 300,000 dead, a
thoroughly damaged infrastructure, and a devastated economy. For their
sacrifices, the U.S. Congress in 1945 legislated that the service of
Filipinos did not constitute service in the U.S. military!
Today Filipino WWII veterans are in their late 70's and 80's, and
living in poverty; unappreciated for their service to preserving
democracy in the U.S. Their substandard living conditions are
compounded by separation from a supportive family network, poor health,
and in some cases depression.
What price freedom?
The Filipino community's struggle to correct this injustice has
been met year after year with false-concerns for the financial impact
of `doing the right thing.' How do we place a price tag on our freedom?
How in a period of patriotism, and increased military spending, can
Americans turn our backs on Filipino soldiers who displayed supreme
patriotism? Surely, a government that appreciates the fact that America
remained a free country after WWII will find the resources to
compensate those who helped make it possible. Given the advanced age of
the veterans and the high rate of deaths that is occurring, we are
anxious to correct this injustice while there is a significant number
of veterans to realize this victory.
We urge the 110th Congress to grant full military status,
entitlement to the same benefits that other U.S. veterans receive, and
the recognition of the role Filipinos played in preserving American
democracy, by passing H.R. 760.
Statement of Ernesto G. Ramos, Chair,
National Federation of Filipino American Association, Region IV
I am thankful to be able to provide this testimony--as the proud
son of the late Teofilo Ramos, a WWII veteran and Prisoner of War. The
following is a recollection from the memoirs of my mom and my uncles--
and the soldiers who fought with my dad. Ironically, my dad seldom
talked about his ordeal during that war. It may have been because his
story was too cruel and too agonizing to be told to us, his children.
My dad was born on December 28, 1903. But on July 28, 1941--as a
strapping 37-year head schoolteacher in the province of Pangasinan--my
dad pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America upon
orders of a certain Major Lapham, who called to duty thousands of
Filipinos across the central Luzon under the aegis of then-General
Douglas MacArthur, who was designated by the U.S. War Department as
Commander of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
General MacArthur and Captain Lapham sworn-in my dad and hundreds
of his students into the U.S. Armed Forces to implement the Executive
Order handed down by then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on July
26, 1941 with these words:
``As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United
States, I hereby call and order into the service of the Armed
Forces of the United States . . . all organized military forces
of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.''
That fateful day--July 28, 1941--my dad and about 120 of his 18-
year-old students became soldiers of the United States Armed Forces--
with all the rights and privileges accruing thereto. He led this band
of young soldiers--fighting side by side with their American comrades-
in-arms across the hills and dales, rivers and rice fields of Central
Luzon--and into Bataan and Corregidor.
Having fought courageously all over Central Luzon, my father was
captured--along with two of his bodyguard soldiers--on June 17, 1943,
when he furtively visited our family in the barrio of our town. The
three were incarcerated under the Japanese Kempetai (the Japanese
torture army)--and subjected to extreme conditions for some nine (9)
months--with water torture, floggings and beatings and unimaginable
sufferings and deprived of food, except water and soupy rice. The
Japanese intelligence officers and Kempetai interrogators wanted to
extricate from my dad the whereabouts and names of American officers
(Col. Tucket, Col. King and Major Lapham--among them) and of his
Philippine Scouts, who escaped from the Fall of Bataan and Corregidor
to continue the fight.
On March 15, 1944--the Japanese Kempetai brought my dad and his two
soldiers on a carabao-driven cart to the town cemetery. At dusk that
day, these two soldiers were beheaded in front of my dad--most
assuredly, to goad him into confessing the names and whereabouts of
American officers and members of his Philippines Scouts contingent.
Though emaciated and reduced to a mere 82-pound weakling, my dad made
his peace with God, prepared to meet his imminent death and yet
determined that he was not going to give in and divulge anything about
his comrades-in-arms. Then--as if by an act of Divine Intervention--
severe thunder and lightning ensued followed by torrential rains--and
the Kempetai were forced to bring my dad back to his prison-dungeon,
leaving the severed heads and mutilated bodies of his two soldiers
strewn on the cemetery grounds.
Unable to draw from my dad the confession they thought they'd get--
and troubled by his seeming uselessness, the Japanese doctor and his
assistants diagnosed my dad's health that he was going to die anyway.
They called my mom to pick him up from his prison--either to prepare
him for his eventual death or perhaps nurse him back to health, which
was then unlikely. My mom and my uncles gingerly picked my dad from
prison--and because our hamlet was swarming with many Japanese soldiers
and their collaborators, they went straight for the hills under cover
of darkness, dodging everything through thickets of tall grass across
farmlands for two nights. They settled some 60 miles west of our town
in a nondescript wooded hamlet. Shortly thereafter all of his children
were fetched by my uncles, following the same hideous routes. There in
those hills we lived to await war's end--with the kindness of folks in
that hamlet.
Amidst those harrowing times, my dad was raring to join his
soldiers and his willpower was strong enough. Then one night a platoon
of Philippine scouts/guerrillas picked him up and brought him to the
camp of Major Lapham to make his report on the strength of the Japanese
Army in Pangasinan--particularly in the towns of Binalonan, Pozzurubio
and Asingan where remnants of General Tojo's Japanese Elite Brigade
remained--not too far from the prison camp in a nearby Nueva Ecija town
where some 500 American soldiers from Bataan and Corregidor were
imprisoned, and were being readied for transfer to the factories in
Japan.
He was nursed back to health--and continued to fight and lead his
soldiers in countless skirmishes against the vastly armed Japanese
soldiers. He served under the command of Major Lapham for many days and
many months then--until my dad was ordered to pull together a special
contingent of American and Filipino soldiers to pave the way for the
eventual landing of General MacArthur on Pangasinan's Lingayen Gulf on
January 9, 1945.
While doing his duty as a soldier under the American flag, my dad
remained ever optimistic. He also believed in the genuine character of
America as a nation, firm in his faith that President Roosevelt would
make good his promise to recognize the service of my dad and thousands
of other Filipino soldiers, who like him served willingly and
courageously--above and beyond the call of duty.
My dad never lost faith in America. In fact, he came to America
many times at a time when his three children immigrated to America as
professionals. And in 1982 he was very proud indeed to be sworn in as a
U.S. citizen, along with my mom, by none other than then-U.S. Senior
District Court Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz at Chicago's Dirksen
Federal Building. Judge Marovitz was a fellow soldier, who held the
rank of a U.S. Army corporal, and accompanied General MacArthur when he
landed on Lingayen Gulf.
Needless to say, the reunion of these two soldiers in Judge
Marovitz's chambers was a sight to behold! And my mom and we their
children couldn't have been any prouder when they embraced each other--
grateful that together they came out of that horrible war alive--with
their humanity intact and a greater appreciation that their friendship
was again revisited.
Even while he was dying on January 20, 1993, my dad was hopeful
that America will do right by his fellow comrades-in-arms with these
words: ``I just hope that before I die, the injustice suffered by my
fellow soldiers will be corrected.'' But he died January 25, 1993--a
broken man, deeply saddened because America reneged on its promise to
him and thousands of his fellow soldiers--with the grim specter of the
1946 Rescission Act still hanging over the heads of the remaining WWII
veterans fading away at a fast clip of 8 to 10 soldiers a day.
Accordingly, thanks to you, Mr. Chairman--the passage of the WWII
Veterans Equity Act evoked by your H.R. 760 and S. 57, its companion
bill filed by Senator Inouye in the Senate, will truly hasten the day
of redemption that will right the wrong perpetrated against my dad's
fellow soldiers--and their comrades who have passed on--when the 79th
U.S. Congress passed that infamous Rescission Act of 1946, virtually
eliminating benefits for our WWII Filipino veterans, shaming their
years of service as if they were all expendable and bereft of the honor
and gratitude with which brave soldiers are usually acknowledged and
honored.
Leaving no wrong impression upon America and the world about the
untold casualty unleashed upon the Philippines for being then a
territorial commonwealth of the United States of America, President
Roosevelt nobly recognized the loyalty and heroism of Filipino soldiers
and their countrymen when he signed on June 15, 1944, the Senate Joint
Resolution #93 with the following words:
``We are ever mindful of the heroic role of the Philippines,
their people and their soldiers in the present conflict. Theirs
is the only substantial population under the American flag to
suffer lengthy invasion of the enemy.''
Against this backdrop, therefore, there is no reasonable doubt for
the current 110th Congress to abrogate its responsibility
and lose a historic opportunity to right the wrong perpetrated against
our WWII Filipino veterans. These remaining soldiers are in the
twilight of their years. In a few short years, they will just be a
fading memory.
To me--the proud son of the late Teofilo Ramos, a brave warrior of
WWII and a braver POW, and to all the sons and daughters and
compatriots of these veterans--we cannot and we will not ignore this
grave injustice that America had done to them. We ask of you,
therefore, Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of this august
Veterans' Committee, to help us remind and sear America's collective
memory once again with the sacrifices of these brave soldiers, who at
the prime of their lives put themselves in harm's way so that America's
quest for peace and the triumph of American democracy would reign
supreme.
With history as our judge--and the quest for simple justice our
guide--our WWII Filipino veterans are no less deserving than any group
of U.S. veterans, who fought and served and died under the glorious
flag of the United States of America.
I urge you--Mr. Chairman--to right this wrong. I pray that, under
your leadership, the 110th Congress will finally pass the WWII Filipino
Veterans Equity Act.
Thank you--Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee. God bless
you!
Statement of Hon. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott
a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Buyer, I am truly pleased that you
have taken the initiative to hold hearings on this important issue. As
the only Member of Congress of Filipino ancestry, I am honored to come
before this Committee to present my views on this ongoing injustice.
President John F. Kennedy once said, ``A nation reveals itself not only
by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it
remembers.'' H.R. 760, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, will
finally honor the veterans of World War II that have up to this point
been forgotten.
Filipino veterans of World War II have for too long been denied the
benefits that were promised them by the United States. Based on
estimates from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the
government of the Philippines, there will be less than 20,000 Filipino
veterans of World War II living in the United States and in the
Philippines this year. Speedy passage of H.R. 760 is critical because
we are losing more and more Filipino veterans of World War II to the
advances of age each day.
On July 26, 1941, as it became increasingly likely that the United
States would enter World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued
an order to draft some 120,000 soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth
Army, who at the time were U.S. nationals, into the U.S. Armed Forces.
These drafted Filipino soldiers fought on our behalf with the
expectation that they would be entitled to the same benefits as any
other member of the U.S. Armed Forces. These soldiers showed extreme
courage at the battles of Bataan and Corregidor, fighting side-by-side
with American soldiers. In 1946, President Harry S. Truman cited that
during the War, Philippine Army veterans ``fought with gallantry and
courage under the most difficult conditions.'' President Truman
declared that it was a ``moral obligation of the United States to look
after the welfare of the Philippine Army veterans.'' Unfortunately,
President Truman's promise remains unfulfilled. In 1946, Congress
withdrew full benefits for Filipino veterans when the Philippines
became an independent nation. Now, 60 years later, our Filipino
veterans are still waiting to see those promises fulfilled.
We saw some progress in 2003 when we passed the Veterans Benefits
Act, which finally extended V.A. medical care to 8,000 Filipino
veterans living in the United States and made the New Philippine Scouts
living in the U.S. eligible for burial in V.A. national cemeteries. But
this was only the first step.
The people and the Federal Government of our great nation are
indebted to the nearly 120,000 Filipinos who fought against tyranny in
the Pacific in World War II for their extraordinary sacrifices. We are
now approaching 62 years since the War in the Pacific ended and the
Filipinos who fought under the command of U.S. generals and alongside
American soldiers are still waiting to receive their rightfully
deserved benefits.
I commend this Committee for holding hearings on this important
piece of legislation that has been introduced in the last several
Congresses. I would like to personally acknowledge Chairman Filner,
Congressman Darrell Issa, the Chairman of the Congressional Asian and
Pacific Islanders Caucus Congressman Mike Honda, and all the other
cosponsors of H.R. 760 for their diligence--not only in this Congress,
but in the previous Congresses--in building support for and educating
our colleagues about the importance of this legislation to right this
terrible injustice.
I hope that this Committee will soon favorably report on H.R. 760
so that this Congress can finally provide the long awaited benefits
that our Filipino veterans rightly deserve. Thank you again for
inviting me here this morning to testify before this distinguished
Committee.
Statement of Jaymee Faith Sagisi, Student Action for Veterans Equity
Greetings to you Chair Filner and the Members of the Veterans'
Affairs Committee.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for your
astounding leadership, Representative Filner, in continuing to move
this significant issue forward.
I am here to testify about the one thing that brings us all
together today for this momentous, yet long overdue event--that one
common thread that binds us all together is service.
As you have heard the remarkable stories of our Filipino WWII
veterans, they shared their individual recollections of their service.
It was their service that stopped the Japanese imperialist and
guaranteed victory in the Philippines, a then-existing territory of the
United States. It is their service that still goes unrecognized.
And today, it is your sense of civil service to listen to us
constituents and do what is right. I urge you to reflect on the values
that brought you to become civil servants and vote your conscience.
In this same spirit of service, I am here on behalf of the students
and youth, to testify to the youth's relentless service to this cause
of winning equity for our brave elders--both men and women, who took it
upon themselves to defend the islands against violent occupation when
they were our same age.
As many of you already know, youth and students have played crucial
roles in advancing social justice and fighting for civil rights. The
voting block from the past election shows a galvanizing younger voting
base with greater interests toward politics. As part of this base, the
Student Action for Veterans Equity, also known as SAVE, has tried to
mobilize youth in high schools, colleges and universities around the
issue of full equity.
In 2002, SAVE was established and started as the youth sector of
the National Network for Veterans Equity. Later, we became our own
independent coalition (a sister coalition to NNVE) to focus solely on
raising awareness among youth and students. At our height, we had
member colleges from all over the nation, including but not limited to
colleges in New York, Texas, Illinois, Washington, Hawaii, Virginia,
Maryland and California. We have been able to accomplish many things to
advance the fight for equity. We established the Brown Ribbon Campaign,
a national campaign for veterans' equity, which we launched in 2003. We
hosted a West Coast Summit for high school and college students
primarily concentrated in institutions all over California, in Nevada
and in Washington. We host national vigils and every year since our
establishment, we host a week of action, commemorating the military
order of President Roosevelt dated July 26, 1941, in which over 200,000
Filipino WWII soldiers were inducted under U.S. forces.
Just this past 109th Congress, we launched a national letter-
writing campaign, where hundreds of letters were sent daily to the
chairs of both the house Veterans' Affairs Committee and Senate Affairs
Committee. Each letter highlighted the story and service of a Filipino
WWII veteran, many of whom have already passed but we still keep alive
through this fight for justice. And in building off of these efforts,
today I am submitting to you another hundred letters from students
around this nation, in support of cause.
I want to leave you with some final thoughts. The fight for full
veterans' equity was the first issue that brought me to work in my
community, almost a decade ago. It is a close issue to me since my lolo
Celedonia R. Cadiz was a Filipino guerrilla, who became MIA and later
was declared dead, during World War II. I learned through this campaign
that there are two groups of people in this world: those who are born
with rights and those who have to fight for their rights. I stand
before you as a member of a community that had to fight for every right
we have. And with the issue; we stand in the same position. We as the
members of SAVE, understand this fight, and stand ready. We will not
waiver for anything less than equity. We will continue this fight for
their rights and only you can redeem their courageous service. Support
the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 and recognize their service
once and for all.
Statement of Gil P. Zulueta, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Congressman Bob Filner and Members of the House Veterans'
Committee, my name is Virgilio Zulueta. My friends call me Gil. I am a
resident of Virginia Beach, Virginia and I am a citizen of the United
States.
In a nutshell, the ultimate goals are to obtain monetary
compensation and secure preferential treatment for immigration to this
country for the Filipino veterans of World War II. Those are the main
reasons why my friends and I want to amend the so called Rescission Act
of 1946. The simple truth, however, is that even though my father was
one of those veterans, none of these reasons apply to him, to mother,
to me or to any of my siblings.
So what is in it for me? It will help me explain if you allow me to
tell a little more about myself, my family and where I came from.
I was born during World War II in the little town of Morong in the
province of Bataan, the Philippines. For those who are familiar with
the events and places related to the said war, the place is where the
U.S. Armed Forces held its last stand against the Japanese Imperial
Army. The Fall of Bataan is commemorated every year on April 9. One
will find these facts in history books. Of course, not about my being
born--there are way too many much more significant ``world events'' to
write about than that.
Also in the history books are the gallantry and many sacrifices of
both the American and Filipino soldiers. While still very young and not
yet able to read, I was fortunate to know some of the war stories
without the aid of the history books. Countless times, I listened to
the stories as they were told so vividly and firsthand by the former
soldiers and by the members of the guerrilla forces. ``Story telling''
was just about the pastime among the populace in the small town where I
grew up. People will group together in no particular place and share
stories. Because the war had just recently ended at the time, the
grown-ups frequently talked about their war experiences or those of
their friends and relatives. There was no movie house, no bowling alley
or any form of recreation--``story telling'' is the only thing.
One such story is about four brothers who were in a particular
gathering. Two of the brothers were among about a dozen or so men that
were being beaten by Japanese soldiers near the town plaza. The men
have their hands tied behind their back and are unable to defend
themselves from the blows. The choice of weapon was branches of guava
plant with the diameter about the size of a man's wrist. Guava wood is
known for being sturdy and not easy to break. As the two brothers
continue to receive the blows, two of their younger brothers were among
the onlookers who helplessly watch the beatings. They were helplessly
watching because they were prevented to cross a perimeter of Japanese
soldiers with bayonets mounted on their rifles.
The pain must have been so unbearable not only for the two brothers
receiving the actual blows but also for the two brothers who were
witnessing the beatings. They suffered such brutality because they were
members of an organized guerrilla force and were known to have given
comfort to American soldiers who were able to evade capture by the
enemies. By the way, the four brothers were my father and three of his
siblings.
The trauma suffered from the brutal beatings plus the sufferings
from the physical and emotional stress of the war must have taken their
toll. Their immune systems deteriorated to the point that they became
sickly. Both of them died shortly after the war. They were in their 30s
when they died of disease. Had they been able to avail themselves with
better healthcare maybe they could have lived longer. My two uncles and
thousands of men like them should have been provided with healthcare by
the U.S. Government for their services in the U.S. Armed Forces. This
was not to be the case because of the so-called Rescission Act of 1946.
To complete the story of the four brothers, one of them, my father,
died at age 45. He enjoyed at least for a short period the benefits of
his wartime services. The benefits were from the Philippine government
and not from the United States. Again, this is so because of the
Rescission Act of 1946. The fourth brother survived the Bataan Death
March. He took advantage of the GI Bill given to members of the USAFFE
and went back to school after the war. He has since immigrated to the
United States together with his family. He is still alive and proudly
drives his car with a POW license plate issued by the State of Nevada.
He is the only living sibling of my father; his name is Nestro Zulueta.
Two years ago, I was home in the Philippines during the
commemoration of the Fall of Bataan in Mt. Samat. I met some of my
Uncle Nestro's contemporaries. They are old now--very old. Among their
ranks, a few of them die each day. For most of them, they have yet to
receive a single cent for their services performed more than half a
century ago in the United States Armed Forces.
Gentlemen and gentle ladies of the Committee, I submit to you that
this is wrong. You have the power to undo a great injustice. You have
the power to amend the Rescission Act of 1946. I am asking you to do
the right thing. Thank you all very much for listening.
POST-HEARING QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES FOR THE RECORD
Questions from Hon. Bob Filner, Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs
, to Hon. R. James Nicholson, Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Washington, DC 20515
February 21, 2007
Honorable R. James Nicholson
Secretary
Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Mr. Secretary:
In reference to our full Committee hearing on Full Equity for
Filipino veterans on February 15, 2007, I would appreciate it if you
could answer the enclosed hearing questions by the close of business on
March 28, 2007.
In an effort to reduce printing costs, the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs, in cooperation with the Joint Committee on Printing, is
implementing some formatting changes for materials for all full
Committee and Subcommittee hearings. Therefore, it would be appreciated
if you could provide your answers consecutively on letter size paper,
single-spaced. In addition, please restate the question in its entirety
before the answer.
Sincerely,
BOB FILNER
Chairman
Question 1: Can you tell me how many World War II era Filipino
veterans are now presently living in both the United States and in the
Philippines? Do you have those numbers by category, i.e., New Scouts,
Old Scouts, Commonwealth Army and Recognized Guerrillas?
Response: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not have any
statistics on the total number of World War II-era Filipino veterans
living in both the United States and in the Philippines. VA only has
statistics on those Filipino veterans and claimants who are currently
receiving VA compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation
(DIC). The following table shows the breakdown of Filipino veterans and
claimants who are currently receiving VA benefit payments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Live in the Live in the Live in Other
Philippines United States Countries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filipino Veterans Receiving Disability Payments 2,726 683 32
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filipino Claimants Receiving DIC 4,649 435 35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 7,375 1,118 67
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 2: Does the VA currently provide funds to the Veterans
Medical Memorial Center in the Philippines? If yes, under what
authority? Has that authority been reauthorized by Congress?
Response: VA provides grants of equipment, not money, and does this
under the authority of 38 U.S.C. section 1731. This authority is not
time-limited and thus does not need to be reauthorized by Congress.
Question 3: Are the children of the New Scouts, Commonwealth Army
and Recognized Guerrillas eligible for education benefits? If yes, at
what rate?
Response: Children of veterans of the New Philippine Scouts,
Commonwealth Army, and recognized guerrilla forces are eligible for
Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits at the rate of
$0.50 for each dollar. To be eligible for Dependents' Educational
Assistance benefits, the individual must be a child of a service-member
who died on active duty or a child of a veteran who is permanently and
totally disabled or who died from any cause while such service-
connected disability was in existence. Generally, children may use the
benefit while they are between the ages of 18 and 26.
Question 4: Are Old Scouts, New Scouts, Commonwealth Army, and
Recognized Guerrillas regardless of citizenship eligible for burial
flags?
Response: Veterans of the Regular Philippine Scouts, New Philippine
Scouts, Commonwealth Army, or recognized guerrilla forces who are
United States citizens or lawfully residing in the United States are
eligible to receive a burial flag.
Question 5: Is the Manila outpatient clinic operating at full
capacity? Can it handle more patients?
Response: The Manila clinic is operating at full capacity--the
budget is committed and primary care panels are full. The clinic is
able to handle the current demand. Increasing patient workload would
require an increase in current clinical personnel and associated
resources (e.g., administrative support and space). The existing clinic
space would allow for no more than a 20-percent increase in patient
workload.
Question 6: Are New Scouts, Commonwealth Army and Recognized
Guerillas eligible for the same medical care in the U.S. as other
veterans of the U.S. Armed Services?
Response: Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Sec. 17.39
provides that ``Any Filipino Commonwealth Army veteran, including one
who was recognized by authority of the U.S. Army as belonging to
organized Filipino guerrilla forces, or any New Philippine Scout is
eligible for hospital care, nursing home care, and outpatient medical
services within the United States in the same manner and subject to the
same terms and conditions as apply to U.S. veterans, if such veteran or
scout resides in the United States and is a citizen or lawfully
admitted to the United States for permanent residence.''
Question 7: What steps has the VA taken, if any, against fraud in
the VA regional office in Manila? What is the rate of fraud, if any, in
the VA regional office in Manila?
Response: The Manila Regional Office (RO) uses a variety of anti-
fraud measures to ensure that VA benefits are paid to the rightful
beneficiary. The Manila RO employs ten full-time field investigators
who verify the identity of the VA beneficiary. In addition, the Manila
RO uses an identification verification system and the Office of
Inspector General's Forensic Services. VA is unable to provide the rate
of fraud.
Question 8: What is the projected death rate of Filipino World War
II era veterans receiving VA benefits?
Response: VA does not have a projected death rate for Filipino
World War II veterans.
Question 9: Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Sec. 109(a), the VA may furnish
discharged members of allied forces, upon request of the allied
governments, various benefits, based on reciprocity. Are there any
veterans from allied countries still receiving benefits based on the
aforementioned statute? If yes, what type of benefits do they receive?
Response: VA may furnish medical, surgical, dental treatment,
hospital care, transportation and traveling expenses, prosthetic
appliances, education, training, or similar benefits to veterans of any
nation allied or associated with the United States in World War I
(except any nation that was an enemy of the U.S. during World War II)
or World War II under agreements requiring reimbursement. Currently, VA
provides such services to veterans authorized by the United Kingdom and
Canada. This statute also authorizes care to World War I and World War
II era Polish and Czechoslovakian veterans who have been citizens of
the United States for at least 10 years. These veterans are eligible
for VA health care benefits in the same manner as veterans of the Armed
Forces of the United States. VBA is not currently providing benefits to
veterans of allied governments.
Questions from Hon. Steve Buyer, Ranking Republican Member,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to Hon. R. James Nicholson, Secretary,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Washington, DC
May 1, 2007
Honorable R. James Nicholson
Secretary
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Mr. Secretary:
In reference to our Committee hearing of February 15, 2007, on
Veterans Benefits for Filipino Veterans, I am attaching with this
letter some additional questions to be included in the hearing record.
I would appreciate a response to the enclosed questions for the record
by close of business Wednesday, May 30, 2007.
It would be appreciated if you could provide your answers
consecutively on letter size paper, single spaced. Please restate the
question in its entirety before providing the answer.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Steve Buyer
Ranking Republican Member
Question 1: What do you believe the implementation and mandatory
costs for 1 year and over 10 years for H.R. 760, the Filipino Veterans
Equity Act of 2007 would be?
Response: The total compensation and pension mandatory costs are
estimated to be $441.2 million during the first year and nearly $3.7
billion over 10 years. The costs associated with additional full time
employees (FTE) are estimated to be $8.8 million the first year and $27
million over 10 years.
Question 2: Is it your understanding that if H.R. 760 was made into
law it would authorize members of the new scouts, Commonwealth Army,
and Recognized Guerrillas to receive compensation at the full rates as
specified in title 38?
Response: Yes, this legislation would authorize members of the new
scouts, Commonwealth Army, and recognized guerrillas to receive
compensation at the full rates as specified in title 38. The law as
proposed would have five major ramifications:
Payment of the full rate of compensation for veterans
residing outside of the United States
Payment of the full rate of dependency and indemnity
compensation (Ole) for surviving spouses residing outside of the United
States
Entitlement to veterans pension benefits
Entitlement to death pension for surviving spouses
Entitlement to the burial benefit and plot allowance for
veterans who do not reside in the United States
Entitlement to health care
Question 3: What reductions in other mandatory funding programs
within the VA would need to be made to offset the mandatory funding
that is authorized by H.R. 760?
Response: The Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) does not
recommend reducing other mandatory programs to offset the cost of H.R.
760.
Question 4: What is VA's current and proposed FY2008 spending for
Filipino old scouts, new scouts, members of the Commonwealth Army, and
recognized guerrillas?
Response: As of February 2007, there were 3,441 Filipino veterans
receiving compensation. This number excludes old scouts who qualify for
the full range of benefits and services as veterans of the United
States Armed Forces. During the month of February 2007, Filipino new
scouts, members of the Commonwealth Army, and recognized guerrillas
received total monthly payments of $2,791,532. We do not have budgetary
projections for these groups of Filipino disability compensation
recipients.
Question 5: What steps will be taken to prevent potential fraud
should pension benefits be granted to Philippine veterans?
Response: The Manila Regional Office (RO) uses a variety of anti-
fraud measures to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
benefits are paid to the rightful beneficiary. The Manila RO employs 10
full-time field investigators who verify the identity of the VA
beneficiary. In addition, the Manila RO uses an identification
verification system and the Office of Inspector General's forensic
services.
However, a major component of our administration of the VA pension
programs involves income verification and other computer matching
programs with agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and the
Social Security Administration. Through these matching programs, we are
able to verify pensioners' reported income and employment status. These
programs are also important in identifying and deterring fraud. We
would not have access to these types of external data sources in the
Philippines, making administration of the pension programs in the
Philippines much more difficult and increasing the potential for fraud.
Questions from Hon. Steve Buyer, Ranking Republican Member,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to Carlos D. Sorreta, Charge
d'Affaires,
Embassy of the Philippines, and Response from His Excellency Willy C.
Gaa,
Ambassador, Embassy of the Philippines
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Washington, DC 20515
May 1, 2007
Mr. Carlos D. Sorreta
Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Philippines
Embassy of the Philippines
1600 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Dear Mr. Charge d'Affaires,
Thank you for testifying before the House Committee on Veterans'
Affairs at the Committee's hearing on Veterans Benefits for Filipino
Veterans, held on February 15, 2007.
I am attaching with this letter some additional questions to be
included in the hearing record. I would appreciate your response to the
enclosed additional questions for the record by close of business
Wednesday, May 30, 2007.
It would be appreciated if you could provide your answers
consecutively on letter size paper, single spaced. Please restate the
question in its entirety before providing the answer.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Steve Buyer
Ranking Republican Member
__________
Embassy of the Philippines
Washington, DC 20036
29 May 2007
The Honorable Steve Buyer
Congressman
335 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 (202-225-2267)
Dear Congressman Buyer,
I would like to thank you for your letter dated 1 May 2007
requesting Mr. Carlos Sorreta, who was the Charge d'Affaires of the
Embassy when he testified before the House Committee on Veterans'
Affairs at the Committee's hearing for Filipino Veterans on 15 February
2007, to reply to additional questions, to be included in the hearing
record.
I am pleased to submit our official reply (enclosed) to the
questions attached to your letter.
I deeply appreciate the opportunity to answer these questions and
hope that we were able to address your concerns.
I would also like to assure you that we remain ready to address,
personally or through our respective staff, any other concerns you may
have.
Sincerely,
Willy C. Gaa
Ambassador
Question 1. According to your own census bureau, the average per
capita income is around $1400. How is it equitable to Americans and
non-veteran Filipinos that these veterans will be making seven and a
half times this number under H.R. 760?
Answer: We appreciate the concerns that have been expressed over
the issue of the difference in the standards of living between the
United States and the Philippines in the context of the implementation
of H.R. 760.
We believe that it is equitable to provide a fair non-service
connected pension to poor Filipino WWII veterans in their eighties and
nineties who served honorably in the U.S. Army.
However, these concerns could be addressed by adjusting the pension
to be given to veterans in the Philippines to an amount that would
allow them to live in dignity and that would cover their out-of-pocket
medical expenses in their few remaining years.
We also believe that the base amount should not be the per capita
income of Filipinos but the median family income. This reflects more
accurately the social and economic realities in the Philippines, where
segments of the population are not of employment age while other
segments are not employed at all. The equitable standard should be
median Filipino household income, which is $3800.
Question 2: Are you concerned that if this bill goes through that
it will make a new class of veterans that may cause a sense of
unfairness by other groups of veterans in your country?
Answer: We believe that if this bill goes through, there would be
no issue of creating a new class of veterans or a sense of unfairness.
Providing U.S. veterans pension benefits to Filipinos in the
Philippines is not new. Currently, the U.S. Veterans Administration
already provides war-related compensation and pension benefits to
thousands of Filipino WWII ``Old Scouts.''
According to the VA Regional Director in Manila, Jon Skelly, he
disburses about $14M monthly to these veterans.
Question 3: How would the tax code in the Philippines apply to
benefits paid by the U.S. Government? Would this money be tax free and
if not please provide us the actual take-home pay for a Filipino
veteran for both H.R. 760 and the $200 per month proposal?
Answer: Pension benefits in any form are not taxed under Philippine
law. The benefits currently being given by the U.S. Veterans
Administration to Filipino veterans in the Philippines are not taxed.
Benefits to be given under H.R. 760 will not be taxed.
Question 4: Would your government support a proposal of $200 a
month for each veteran paid by the U.S. Government plus the $100 per
month paid by your government?
Answer: For the Philippine Government, while the amount is a matter
of importance, the primary issue is that of correcting a 60-year-old
grave injustice through the passage of H.R. 760. In terms of the
amount, we are for a fair and equitable pension. We are aware that a
number of veterans themselves are willing to accept this amount. We are
certainly open to discussion on the issue of amount, based on our
desire for a fair and reasonable amount, but also keenly aware of the
duty of the U.S. Congress to act with fiscal responsibility.
Question 5: What steps would your government immediately take to
show to the U.S. Government that the law banning double payment by your
government and the U.S. will be rescinded?
Answer: We are glad to inform that President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo, in her letter to President Bush on 5 April 2007, gave her
assurance that the $100 old-age pension that the Filipino WWII veterans
are currently receiving will continue even after the passage of the
H.R. 760.
Question 6: Instances of past fraud in payments to Filipino
veterans residing in the Philippines are well documented. What steps
will the government of the Philippines and VA take to prevent a
recurrence of such fraud should pension benefits be granted to
Philippine veterans?
Answer: In terms of the basic list of veterans, only those listed
by the St. Louis, Missouri Army Personnel Record Center and the loyalty
board records will be included. Those not listed will be excluded. For
both the Philippine and the U.S. Governments, strict and rigorous
methods will be applied to prevent fraud. There will be stringent
requirements for proof of identity, to prevent identity theft. There
will be regular checks to ensure that the beneficiary is still alive.