[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2357, LEGISLATION EXTENDING HEALTH CARE BENEFITS TO 
                           FILIPINO VETERANS

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                               speech of

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 14, 2003

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, Filipino veterans have waited nearly 60 years 
for Congress to take the first steps to undo an injustice inflicted 
upon them. I was pleased to see our Nation finally begin to take those 
steps by passing H.R. 2357.
  When the United States asked the Philippines to help America fight 
the long and difficult battles of World War II, nearly 200,000 
Filipinos responded. They responded without hesitation to defend their 
homeland and to answer the call for help. In return, President 
Roosevelt promised that Filipino veterans would become U.S. citizens 
and thus have the same benefits given to all other U.S. veterans. In 
October 1945 General Omar Bradley, Administrator of the Veterans 
Administration, reaffirmed that they were to be treated like all other 
American veterans and would receive full benefits.
  Yet, in 1946, the U.S. Congress broke this promise to the 
Commonwealth Army and the recognized guerrilla forces by enacting the 
Rescission Act (Public Law 79-301). Congress broke the same promise 
made to the New Philippine Scouts when it passed the Second Rescission 
Act (Public Law 79-391). The Rescission Acts stated that the World War 
II service of Filipinos would not be treated as recognizable military 
service. These acts took away their benefits.
  I am pleased to add my voice to those in this Chamber, both today and 
for decades past, that want us to face up to this injustice. The 
legislation (H.R. 2357) passed by the House on July 21, 2003 authorizes 
the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide hospital and nursing 
home care and medical services to certain Filipino World War II 
veterans of the Philippines Commonwealth Army and former Philippines 
New Scout veterans who permanently reside in the United States, in the 
same manner as provided to U.S. veterans. The bill would provide health 
care benefits to approximately 14,000 Commonwealth Army and New 
Philippines Scout veterans who are permanent and legal residents of the 
United States.
  I support this legislation, but it is time for this Congress to turn 
its attention to the approximately 30,000 Commonwealth Army and New 
Philippines Scout veterans living in the Philippines who served 
alongside American soldiers, risked their lives during World War II, 
yet were denied the veterans' benefits that were promised to them. The 
passage of H.R. 2357 does not release the United States from its moral 
obligation to provide Filipino veterans, regardless of where they live, 
the benefits that were unfairly taken away from them in 1946.
  Filipino veterans are now in their 70s and 80s, and we lose 
approximately five Filipino veterans each day. They are in desperate 
need of health care. It is time for this Congress to do the right thing 
and provide them with the benefits they earned during the World War II 
campaigns.
  I thank my colleagues for passing H.R. 2357, and urge them to 
continue to push toward full equity for Filipino veterans.

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