[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Mr. FILNER.  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to report on 
the progress we are making towards the passage of benefits for Filipino 
World War II veterans.
  My colleagues know of the extreme sacrifices made by Filipino 
soldiers during World War II in the battles of Bataan and Corrigidor. 
They know that Filipino soldiers were instrumental in the successful 
outcome of this war in the Pacific. And they know, too well, that many 
of these soldiers were denied their benefits by a law passed by the 
1946 Congress.
  Today, I am happy to report that the House of Representatives and the 
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee have passed legislation to restore 
health care services, improved disability compensation, and burial 
benefits to many Filipino World War II veterans living in the United 
States. We are working to get this legislation passed by the Senate and 
forwarded to the President to sign into law.
  In addition, the President announced during his recent visit to the 
Philippines that we will be doubling, from $500,000 to $1 million in 
FY2004, the amount of medical supplies and equipment that the United 
States is sending to the veterans' hospital in Manila.
  These are important steps in restoring benefits to the brave Filipino 
World War II soldiers who have been waiting for sixty years for equity.




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