[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6458]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   VETERANS' BENEFITS ENHANCEMENT ACT

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this morning on the floor of the Senate is 
a bill entitled the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007. Nine 
months ago, this bill came out of committee, and this bill is now on 
the floor and to be considered.
  Back in November of last year, I asked for permission to bring this 
bill up for consideration in the Senate and have amendments. It is the 
orderly process of the Senate, a deliberative process: a debate--and 
one might expect that is what we do around here. But, sadly, at that 
point the Republican minority objected to bringing up the Veterans' 
Benefits Enhancement Act, even though it had passed out of the 
committee with an overwhelmingly positive vote.
  What is included in this bill? A long list of important changes in 
the law, changes which will give to our veterans, especially those 
returning now disabled from combat, benefits they absolutely need: 
housing, education.
  In addition, there is a provision in here which I support--was happy 
to join as a cosponsor--related to Filipino World War II veterans. I 
think it is long overdue that the U.S. Senate recognize the 
contribution made by so many Filipinos in World War II to the success 
of our war effort. They fought so gallantly and courageously and stood 
by our troops at a moment we desperately needed their help. Those who 
are not students of history may have forgotten or never read that our 
fight in the Philippines was a bitter, long, and tragic battle that 
ended well but only after great sacrifice by the Filipino people, by 
the Filipino soldiers, and by our American soldiers.
  This provision in the bill related to veterans:

     would deem certain service before July 1, 1946, in the 
     organized military forces of the Philippines and the 
     Philippine Scouts as active military service for purposes of 
     eligibility for veterans benefits.
       [It] would provide that the children of deceased or 
     totally-disabled service-connected Filipino veterans who 
     qualify for educational benefits would be paid at the same 
     rate and under the same conditions as the children of other 
     veterans.

  Mr. President, this is long overdue.

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