[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 28 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR FILIPINO VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Filner] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleague today, the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], chairman of the House Committee 
on International Relations, to introduce H.R. 836, the Filipino 
Veterans Equity Act.
  Last year the Members of this House and our colleagues in the Senate 
took the first major step toward restoring fairness to this group of 
brave veterans. Both Chambers passed concurrent resolutions to 
recognize and thank the Filipino World War II veterans for their 
service and contributions toward the successful outcome of that war.
  In October the President joined us and issued a Presidential 
proclamation recalling the courage, sacrifice and loyalty of these 
Filipino veterans of World War II and honored them for their 
contributions to our freedom. These actions were the first step. Now is 
the time to build upon that recognition that these veterans so deserve. 
Now is the time to restore the benefits that they were promised back in 
1946.
  Too few Americans are familiar with this chapter in our Nation's 
history. During World War II, the military forces of the Commonwealth 
of the Philippines were drafted to serve in our Armed Forces by 
Executive order of the President of the United States. Filipino 
soldiers defended the American flag in the now famous battles of Bataan 
and Corregidor. Thousands of Filipino prisoners of war died during the 
65-mile Bataan death march. Those who survived were imprisoned under 
inhuman conditions where they suffered casualties at the rate of 50 to 
200 prisoners per day. They endured 4 long years of enemy occupation.
  The soldiers who escaped capture, together with Filipino civilians, 
fought against the occupation forces. Their guerrilla attacks foiled 
the plans of the Japanese for a quick takeover of the region and 
allowed the United States the time needed to prepare forces to defeat 
Japan. After the liberation of the Philippine Islands, the United 
States was able to use the strategically located Commonwealth of the 
Philippines as a base from which to launch the final efforts to win the 
war.
  With their vital participation so crucial to the outcome of World War 
II, one would assume that the United States would be grateful to their 
Filipino comrades. So it is hard to believe that soon after the war 
ended, the 79th Congress voted in a way that only can be considered 
blatant discrimination, as they took away the benefits and recognition 
that the Filipino World War II veterans were promised in what was 
called the Rescissions Act of 1946.
  Now over 50 years have passed since this Rescissions Act, 50 long 
years during which the Filipino veterans have been waiting for justice. 
I am so proud that Congress and the President have taken the first step 
to restoring their dignity. The Filipino veterans, and sons, their 
daughters are most grateful for the recognition and honor bestowed upon 
them last year.
  But now is the time to complete the job. Now is the time to correct 
the injustices of the 79th Congress. Many of these Filipino veterans 
have already died, and in a decade or decade and a half there will no 
longer be any of these veterans still living. They have been patiently 
waiting and asking: Do we deserve that Rescissions Act of 1946? Did we 
not fight side by side with the forces from the United States? Have we 
not suffered the same suffering as the American soldier during that 
war? Did bullets ask if their target was an American or Filipino 
soldier?
  The bill that we have introduced this week, H.R. 836, will provide 
full benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans who 
served in the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the Special Philippine 
Scouts. During the last session of Congress, over 100 Members of the 
House signed up as cosponsors of an identical bill.
  Now is the time for all of us to join together in a bipartisan effort 
to correct a monumental injustice by restoring benefits promised to the 
Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of Democratic ideals.

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