[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 57 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, there are more than 200,000 Filipino and 
Filipino American soldiers who responded to President Roosevelt's call 
to duty. They fought under our American flag during World War II.
  These loyal and courageous soldiers suffered, fought, and gave up 
their lives alongside their American counterparts throughout the war; 
yet decades have gone by, and they are still waiting for their service 
to be recognized.
  I have introduced H.R. 2737, legislation that is strongly supported 
by Members of both parties and in both Chambers, to award these 
deserving veterans the Congressional Gold Medal so that our country can 
show our appreciation and recognize them for their dedicated service 
and sacrifice in defeating the Imperial Japanese Army.
  Today there are just 18,000 of these Filipino World War II veterans 
who are still alive. Time is of the essence. We cannot afford to wait. 
I urge my colleagues to quickly pass this legislation so that these 
courageous men may be honored while they are still among us.

                          ____________________