[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E802-E803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE VETERANS HEALTH CARE BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE 
PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH ARMY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL PHILIPPINE 
                           SCOUTS, H.R. 1594

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 1594, the 
Filipino Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 1999. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this worthy legislation.
  On July 26, 1941, President Roosevelt issued a military order, 
pursuant to the Philippines Independence Act of 1934, calling members 
of the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the service of the United 
States Forces of the Far East, under the command of General Douglas 
MacArthur.
  For almost 4 years, over 100,000 Filipinos, of the Philippine 
Commonwealth Army fought alongside the allies to reclaim the Philippine 
Islands from Japan. Regrettably, in return, Congress enacted the 
Rescission Act of 1946. This measure limited veterans eligibility for 
service-connected disabilities and death compensation and also denied 
the members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army the honor of being 
recognized as veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
  A second group, the special Philippine scouts called ``New Scouts'' 
who enlisted in the U.S. armed forces after October 6, 1945, primarily 
to perform occupation duty in the Pacific, were similarly excluded from 
benefits.
  I believe it is long past time to correct this injustice and to 
provide the members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the special 
Philippine scouts with the benefits and the services that they 
valiantly earned during their service in World War II.
  Realizing Mr. Speaker, than our current budgetary environment is not 
conducive to the creation of a new large entitlement program, I have 
crafted this legislation to be fiscally feasible while providing the 
veterans with the benefits in which they are most in need.
  This legislation contains three major provisions. The first would 
provide disability compensation to those Filipino veterans residing in 
the United States on a dollar-for-dollar basis. This would replace the 
``peso rate'' standard which Filipino veterans had to accept, even if 
they were residing within the United States and not the Philippines.
  Second, this bill would make all Filipino veterans residing in the 
United States eligible for VA health care. These veterans, would be 
subject to the same eligibility and means test requirements as their 
American counterparts.
  Finally, this legislation restores funding, which had been removed in 
1994, to provide health care to American military personnel and 
veterans in the Philippines as well as for Filipino World War II 
veterans residing in the islands.
  These veterans have waited more than 50 years for the benefits which, 
by virtue of their military service, they were entitled to in 1946.
  I urge my colleagues to carefully review this legislation that 
corrects this grave injustice and provides veterans benefits to members 
of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the members of the special 
Philippine scouts.
  I submit the full text of H.R. 1594 to be included at this point in 
the Record:

                               H.R. 1594

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Filipino Veterans' Benefits 
     Improvements Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATE OF PAYMENT OF CERTAIN BENEFITS TO 
                   VETERANS OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH ARMY.

       (a) Increase.--Section 107 of title 38, United States Code, 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Payment'' in the second sentence of 
     subsection (a) and inserting ``Except as provided in 
     subsection (c), payment''; and

[[Page E803]]

       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) In the case of benefits under subchapters II and IV 
     of chapter 11 of this title by reason of service described in 
     subsection (a)--
       ``(1) notwithstanding the second sentence of subsection 
     (a), payment of such benefit shall be made in dollars at the 
     rate of $1.00 for each dollar authorized; and
       ``(2) such benefits shall be paid only to an individual 
     residing in the United States who is a citizen of, or an 
     alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in, the 
     United States.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     and shall apply to benefits paid for months beginning on or 
     after that date.

     SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL 
                   FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

       Section 1734 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``The Secretary, within the limits of Department 
     facilities, shall furnish hospital and nursing home care and 
     medical services to Commonwealth Army veterans and new 
     Philippine Scouts in the same manner as provided for under 
     section 1710 of this title.''.

     SEC. 4. MANDATE TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR WORLD WAR II 
                   VETERANS RESIDING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 17 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 1735 as section 1736; and
       (2) by inserting after section 1734 the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 1735. Outpatient care and services for World War II 
       veterans residing in the Philippines

       ``(a) Outpatient Health Care.--The Secretary shall furnish 
     care and services to veterans, Commonwealth Army veterans, 
     and new Philippine Scouts for the treatment of the service-
     connected disabilities and non-service-connected disabilities 
     of such veterans and scouts residing in the Republic of the 
     Philippines on an outpatient basis at the Manila VA 
     Outpatient Clinic.
       ``(b) Limitations.--(1) The amount expended by the 
     Secretary for the purpose of subsection (a) in any fiscal 
     year may not exceed $500,000.
       ``(2) The authority of the Secretary to furnish care and 
     services under subsection (a) is effective in any fiscal year 
     only to the extent that appropriations are available for that 
     purpose.''.
       ``(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 1735 and inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1734 the following new items:
       ``1735. Outpatient care and services for World War II 
           veterans residing in the Philippines.
       ``1736. Definitions.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

     

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