[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              VETERANS HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 21, 2003

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
2357, the ``Veterans Health Care Improvement Act.'' This bill will 
bestow Filipino veterans with the honor and dignity they deserve for 
their service in the Pacific theatre of World War II.
  Filipino soldiers fought shoulder-to-shoulder and died alongside 
American troops at some of the war's most horrific battles like Bataan 
and Corregidor. During the infamous Bataan Death March, Filipino 
soldiers swelled the ranks of the dead to over six thousand. Yet for 
all their sacrifices, Congress in 1946 divested Filipino soldiers of 
their military benefits while soldiers of other allied countries 
retained their status and privileges as American veterans. It is long 
past time to reverse that injustice by enacting this legislation.
  H.R. 2357 will restore veterans' status to the 14,000 permanent legal 
residents who are Filipino veterans of World War II. This will go a 
long way to provide comfort and security to them in their twilight 
years. For those suffering service-connected illnesses and injuries, 
Filipino veterans will finally receive the right to medical care they 
earned so long ago. The most elderly veterans will be granted urgently 
needed nursing home care.
  Mr. Speaker, young Filipino men responded to the call of duty over 
sixty years ago and fought valiantly under the American flag. Now 
toward the end of their lives, they deserve to benefit from the values 
that the American flag represents. To that end, I stand in strong and 
proud support for H.R. 2357.

                          ____________________