[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 102 (Monday, July 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8801-S8802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 1391. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve 
benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Veteran's Affairs.


          filipino veterans' benefits improvements act of 1999

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the Filipino 
Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1999. The measure would increase 
the disability compensation for those Filipino veterans residing in the 
United States. These veterans currently receive compensation at the 
``peso-rate'' standard which is 50 percent of what is received by their 
American counterparts. Second, the measure would make all Filipino 
veterans residing in the United States eligible for veterans' health 
care. Like their American counterparts, these Filipino veterans would 
be subject to the same eligibility and means test requirements in order 
to qualify for health benefits. Third, the measure would provide 
outpatient care and services to veterans, Commonwealth Army veterans, 
and new Philippine Scouts residing in the Philippines for the treatment 
of service-connected and non-service connected disabilities at the 
Manila VA Outpatient Clinic.
  The measure further restores funding to provide healthcare services 
to American military personnel and all Filipino veterans residing in 
the Philippines. Many of my colleagues are aware of my advocacy on 
behalf of Filipino veterans of World War II. Throughout the years, I 
have sponsored several measures on their behalf to correct an injustice 
and seek equal treatment for their valiant military service. Members of 
the Philippine Commonwealth Army were called to serve the United States 
Forces of the Far East. Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, 
they joined our American soldiers in fighting some of the fiercest 
battles of World War II. Regretfully, the Congress betrayed our 
Filipino allies by enacting the Rescission Act of 1946. The 1946 Act, 
now codified as 38 U.S.C. 107, deems the military service of Filipino 
veterans as non-active service for purposes of any law of the United 
States conferring rights, privileges or benefits. The measure I 
introduce today will not diminish my efforts to correct this injustice. 
As long as it takes, I will continue to seek equal treatment on behalf 
of the Filipino veterans of World War II.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill text be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1391

       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--

[[Page S8802]]

       (1) by striking ``Payment'' in the second sentence of 
     subsection (a) and inserting ``Except as provided in 
     subsection (c), payment''; and
       (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 benefits 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.

       The text of 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.
                                 ______