[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

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                               speech of

                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4635) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other 
     purposes.

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my distinguished 
colleague's amendment. Mr. Filner has shown a great sense of justice by 
offering this amendment which provides funds for health benefits for 
Filipino World War II veterans. It also increases service-connected 
disability benefits to those vets who are living in the United States. 
Both these provisions will greatly improve the lives of many Filipino 
veterans who loyally fought with the United States in World War II.
  The early months of World War II were a dark time for the United 
States. Our armed forces were on the defensive everywhere--nowhere more 
so than in the Philippines. Food, medical supplies and ammunition ran 
short. With sea and air links severed, there was no hope of resupply, 
reinforcement or escape.
  In that desperate hour, approximately 200,000 Filipino soldiers under 
the command of General Douglas MacArthur displayed exemplary loyalty 
and courage in the defense of the Philippines. They fought in every 
major battle, including the final defense of Bataan and Corregidor. 
They suffered every privation. They endured every danger. They shed 
their blood as readily as their American comrades in arms.
  Those sacrifices continued even after U.S. forces were driven from 
the Philippines in 1942. Thousands of courageous Filipinos took up arms 
as guerillas and fought enormous odds. Their bravery earned the 
admiration of freedom loving people throughout the world. They provided 
valuable intelligence to General MacArthur's forces in the Southwest 
Pacific, rescued downed American airmen, and diverted powerful enemy 
forces from deployment elsewhere. Through three long, terrible years 
these Filipino guerilla soldiers kept faith with America.
  Now it is time for America to keep faith with Filipino veterans. 
Despite their equal service, our Filipino veterans do not enjoy equal 
benefits with the American troops with whom they fought side by side. 
An estimated 60,000 to 80,000 surviving Filipino veterans are barred 
from the full range and extent of veterans benefits available to 
Americans who served against the same enemy, in the same battles, at 
the same time. This violates the fundamental concept of fairness, 
especially for those who put their lives on the line for our country.
  Because America stands for justice for all, we cannot turn our backs 
on these veterans who have been denied their due for so long. We owe 
equal treatment to all who fought under our flag. America is a great 
nation, and we must act now to right a great wrong. We can do so by 
extending recognition for incomparable bravery and loyalty. It is time 
to offer justice to veterans in need and redeem a debt that has gone 
unpaid for far too long. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for this 
amendment.

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