[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 117 (Wednesday, August 4, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-137. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Hawaii urging Congress to 
     expedite the processing of all claims for payment, and the 
     distribution of checks to Filipino veterans under ARRA; to 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 82

       Whereas, during World War II, the Philippines was a United 
     States commonwealth; and
       Whereas, in 1941, 250,000 Filipino soldiers volunteered 
     their services after being promised full veterans benefits to 
     volunteer to fight for the United States against the 
     potential threat of Japan; and
       Whereas, on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor 
     and on December 8, bombed the United States military bases in 
     the Philippines; and
       Whereas, tens of thousands of Filipino men and women risked 
     their lives against the invading Japanese forces and assisted 
     our nation in its efforts to liberate the Philippines; and
       Whereas, on April 9, 1942, the United States retreated from 
     the Philippines, and during the Bataan Death March, thousands 
     of American and Filipino prisoners of war died as they 
     traveled to Japanese prisoners of war camps; and
       Whereas, on September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered the 
     Philippines to America; and
       Whereas, in February 1946, Congress enacted the Recission 
     Act, denying World War II Filipino veterans rights to 
     veterans benefits like healthcare, disability pensions, and 
     burial expenses; and
       Whereas, over the years, Congress has considered 
     legislation to restore the benefits denied to Filipino 
     veterans and even received encouraging words from Presidents 
     George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to fulfill the broken 
     promises made by the United States government; and
       Whereas, more than 60 years later, in 2009, President Obama 
     signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and 
     a provision tucked inside this stimulus bill finally called 
     for releasing $198,000,000 for lump sum payments to Filipino 
     veterans in lieu of pensions; and
       Whereas, one year later, although today only about 11,000 
     veterans now in their 80s and 90s are still alive to collect 
     these payments, some Filipino veterans are still waiting for 
     the promised checks; and
       Whereas, in Hawaii, there are about 400 Filipino veterans 
     qualified for payments under ARRA, and about 15 percent are 
     still waiting for their checks and about 20 percent have 
     claims that are still pending; and
       Whereas, according to Senator Daniel Inouye, it is ``a 
     matter of honor'' to correct this injustice to Filipino 
     veterans who served our nation so courageously, so many of 
     whom have died waiting for what was promised them: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-
     fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2010, That the President of the United States and United 
     States Congress are urged to expedite the processing of all 
     claims for payment, and the distribution of checks to 
     Filipino veterans under ARRA, which are already long overdue; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That even payment of these claims does not 
     correct the injustice and discrimination done 60 years ago 
     but is a small step in making reparations; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, President 
     pro tempore of the United States Senate, Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, each member of 
     Hawaii's Congressional Delegation, the Director of the United 
     States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the 
     Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, and the President of the 
     Philippines.

                          ____________________