[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 12 (Monday, January 26, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             FULFILLING PROMISE TO PHILIPPINE ARMY VETERANS

  (Mr. TAKAI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me 
in righting a wrong that has existed since the end of World War II. 
Around 250,000 Filipino soldiers fought alongside U.S. forces in World 
War II. In 1946, President Truman stated that it is a ``moral 
obligation of the United States to look after the welfare of the 
Philippine Army veterans.''
  Forty-four years later, President Bush signed the Immigration Act of 
1990, which offered citizenship to around 26,000 Filipino World War II 
veterans, but it did not include their immediate families. Today, the 
number of surviving veterans is dwindling. Fewer than 4,000 are still 
alive. Many of these veterans live in Hawaii.
  It is our duty to see this obligation through and to take care of 
those who have fought for our country. We must lift limitations on 
immigrant visas and restrictions for their children. I ask you to join 
me in making good on our Nation's commitment to these servicemembers.

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