[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 GRANT EQUITY TO FILIPINO WWII VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House of Representatives 
Committee on Veterans Affairs, I rise to urge my colleagues to support 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham) and myself who have 
reintroduced H.R. 302, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. This bill 
addresses a 60-year-old injustice which has cut to the heart of each 
and every Filipino American in this Nation and which was acknowledged 
in the last congressional session by over 200 cosponsoring Members of 
Congress, many veterans service organizations, religious organizations 
and many State and local officials in addition.
  Sixty years ago, Filipino soldiers living in the Philippines, which 
was a territory of the United States, were drafted into service during 
World War II by an executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 
Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, Filipino soldiers 
fought side by side with forces from the United States mainland, 
defending the American flag in the now-famous battles of Bataan and 
Corrigidor.
  Thousands of Filipino prisoners of war died, both on the Bataan Death 
March and in prisoner of war camps, at the rate of 50 to 200 a day. 
They endured 4 long years of occupation by the Japanese. The soldiers 
fortunate enough to escape capture, together with other Filipino 
citizens, fought guerilla war against the occupation forces. These 
guerilla attacks foiled the plans of the Japanese for a quick takeover 
of the region and allowed the United States the needed time to regroup 
to defeat the invading army.
  After the liberation of the Philippines, the United States used the 
strategically located Commonwealth of the Philippines as a base from 
which to launch the final efforts to win the war in the Pacific.
  With their vital participation so evident, one would assume that the 
United States would be grateful to their Filipino comrades, so it is 
hard to believe that soon after the war ended Congress voted in the 
1946 Rescissions Act to take away the benefits and recognition that 
many Filipino World War II veterans were promised.
  These veterans are now in their eighties and in need of health care. 
Many are dying each year. Their last wish is to be recognized as 
honored veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Please support H.R. 
302 to restore the rescinded benefits to Filipino World War II 
veterans, many of whom have now become citizens of the United States. 
Please cosponsor H.R. 302 to restore the dignity of Filipino World War 
II veterans for their defense of our common democratic ideals.

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