[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15463-15468]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2015

  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 1555) to award a Congressional Gold Medal, 
collectively, to the Filipino veterans of World War II, in recognition 
of the dedicated service of the veterans during World War II.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1555

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Filipino Veterans of World 
     War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The First Philippine Republic was founded as a result 
     of the Spanish-American War in which Filipino revolutionaries 
     and the United States Armed Forces fought to overthrow 
     Spanish colonial rule. On June 12, 1898, Filipinos declared 
     the Philippines to be an independent and sovereign nation. 
     The Treaty of Paris negotiated between the United States and 
     Spain ignored this declaration of independence, and the 
     United States paid Spain $20,000,000 to cede control of the 
     Philippines to the United States. Filipino nationalists who 
     sought independence rather than a change in colonial rulers 
     clashed with forces of the United States in the Islands. The 
     Philippine-American War, which officially lasted for 3 years 
     from 1899 to 1902, led to the establishment of the United 
     States civil government in the Philippines.
       (2) In 1901, units of Filipino soldiers who fought for the 
     United States against the nationalist insurrection were 
     formally incorporated into the United States Army as the 
     Philippine Scouts.
       (3) In 1934, the Philippine Independence Act (Public Law 
     73-127; 48 Stat. 456) established a timetable for ending 
     colonial rule of the United States. Between 1934 and 
     Philippine independence in 1946, the United States retained 
     sovereignty over Philippine foreign policy and reserved the 
     right to call Filipinos into the service of the United States 
     Armed Forces.
       (4) On December 21 1935, President of the Philippine 
     Commonwealth, Manuel Quezon, signed the National Defense Act, 
     passed by the Philippine Assembly. General Douglas MacArthur 
     set upon the task of creating an independent army in the 
     Philippines, consisting of a small regular force, the 
     Philippine Constabulary, a police force created during the 
     colonial period of the United States, and reservists. By July 
     1941, the Philippine army had 130,000 reservists and 6,000 
     officers.
       (5) On July 26, 1941, as tensions with Japan rose in the 
     Pacific, President Franklin D. Roosevelt used his authority 
     vested in the Constitution of the United States and the 
     Philippine Independence Act to ``call into service of the 
     United States . . . all of the organized military forces of 
     the Government of the Philippines.'' On July 27th, 1941, in 
     accordance with a War Department directive received a day 
     earlier, the United States Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) 
     was established, and Manila was designated as the command 
     headquarters. Commander of the USAFFE, General Douglas 
     MacArthur, planned to absorb the entire Philippine army into 
     the USAFFE in phases. The first phase, which began on 
     September 1, 1941, included 25,000 men and 4,000 officers.
       (6) Filipinos who served in the USAFFE included--
       (A) the Philippine Scouts, who comprised half of the 22,532 
     soldiers in the Philippine Department, or United States Army 
     garrison stationed in the Islands at the start of the war;
       (B) the Philippine Commonwealth Army;
       (C) the new Philippine Scouts, or Filipinos who volunteered 
     to serve with the United States Army when the United States 
     Armed Forces returned to the island;
       (D) Filipino civilians who volunteered to serve in the 
     United States Armed Forces in 1945 and 1946, and who became 
     ``attached'' to various units of the United States Army; and
       (E) the ``Guerrilla Services'' who had fought behind enemy 
     lines throughout the war.
       (7) Even after hostilities ceased, wartime service of the 
     new Philippine Scouts continued as a matter of law until the 
     end of 1946, and the force gradually disbanded until it was 
     disestablished in 1950.
       (8) On December 8th, 1941, not even 24 hours after the 
     bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Imperial forces attacked 
     bases of the United States Army in the Philippines.
       (9) In the spring of 1942, the Japanese 14th Army overran 
     the Bataan Peninsula, and, after a heroic but futile defense, 
     more than 78,000 members of the United States Armed Forces 
     were captured, specifically 66,000 Filipinos and 12,000 
     service members from the United States. The Japanese 
     transferred the captured soldiers from Bataan to Camp 
     O'Donnell, in what is now known as the infamous Bataan Death 
     March. Forced to march the 70-mile distance in 1 week, 
     without adequate food, water, or medicine, nearly 700 members 
     of the United States Armed Forces and an estimated 6,000 to 
     10,000 Filipinos perished during the journey.
       (10) After the fall of the Bataan Peninsula, the Japanese 
     Army turned its sights on Corregidor. The estimated forces in 
     defense of Corregidor totaled 13,000, and were comprised of 
     members of the United States Armed Forces and Filipino 
     troops. Of this number, 800 were killed, 1,000 were wounded, 
     and 11,000 were captured and forced to march through the city 
     of Manila, after which the captured troops were distributed 
     to various POW camps. The rest of the captured troops escaped 
     to organize or join an underground guerrilla army.
       (11) Even before the fall of Corregidor, Philippine 
     resistance, in the form of guerrilla armies, began to wage 
     warfare on the Japanese invaders. Guerrilla armies, from 
     Northern Luzon to Mindanao--
       (A) raided Japanese camps, stealing weapons and supplies;
       (B) sabotaged and ambushed Japanese troops on the move; and
       (C) with little weaponry, and severely outmatched in 
     numbers, began to extract victories.
       (12) Japanese intelligence reports reveal that from the 
     time the Japanese invaded until the return of the United 
     States Armed Forces in the summer of 1944, an estimated 
     300,000 Filipinos continued to fight against Japanese forces. 
     Filipino resistance against the Japanese was so strong that, 
     in 1942, the Imperial Army formed the Morista Butai, a unit 
     designated to suppress guerrillas.
       (13) Because Philippine guerrillas worked to restore 
     communication with United

[[Page 15464]]

     States forces in the Pacific, General MacArthur was able to 
     use the guerrillas in advance of a conventional operation and 
     provided the headquarters of General MacArthur with valuable 
     information. Guerrillas captured and transmitted to the 
     headquarters of General MacArthur Japanese naval plans for 
     the Central Pacific, including defense plans for the Mariana 
     Islands. Intelligence derived from guerrillas relating to 
     aircraft, ship, and troop movements allowed for Allied forces 
     to attack Japanese supply lines and guerrillas and even 
     directed United States submarines where to land agents and 
     cargo on the Philippine coast.
       (14) On December 20, 1941, President Roosevelt signed the 
     Selective Training and Service Amendments Act (Public Law 77-
     360; 55 Stat. 844) which, among other things, allowed 
     Filipinos in the United States to enlist in the United States 
     Armed Forces. In February 1942, President Roosevelt issued 
     the Second War Powers Act (Public Law 77-507; 56 Stat. 176), 
     promising a simplified naturalization process for Filipinos 
     who served in the United States Armed Forces. Subsequently, 
     16,000 Filipinos in California alone decided to enlist.
       (15) The mobilization of forces included the activation and 
     assumption of command of the First Filipino Infantry 
     Battalion on April 1, 1942, at Camp San Luis Obispo, 
     California. Orders were issued to activate the First Filipino 
     Infantry Regiment and Band at Salinas, California, effective 
     July 13, 1942. The activation of the Second Filipino Infantry 
     Regiment occurred at Fort Ord, California, on November 21, 
     1942. Nearly 9,000 Filipinos and Filipino Americans fought in 
     the United States Army 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry 
     Regiments.
       (16) Soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments 
     participated in the bloody combat and mop-up operations at 
     New Guinea, Leyte, Samar, Luzon, and the Southern 
     Philippines. In 1943, 800 men were selected from the 1st and 
     2nd Regiments and shipped to Australia to receive training in 
     intelligence gathering, sabotage, and demolition. Reorganized 
     as part of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, this group was 
     sent to the Philippines to coordinate with major guerrilla 
     armies in the Islands. Members of the 1st Regiment were also 
     attached to the United States 6th Army ``Alamo Scouts'', a 
     reconnaissance group that traveled 30 miles behind enemy 
     lines to free Allied prisoners from the Cabanatuan death camp 
     on January 30, 1945. In addition, in 1945, according to the 
     441st Counter Intelligence Unit of the United States Armed 
     Forces, Philippine guerrillas provided ``very important 
     information and sketches of enemy positions and 
     installations'' for the liberation of the Santo Tomas 
     prisoner of war camp, an event that made front page news 
     across the United States.
       (17) In March 1944, members of the 2nd Filipino Infantry 
     Regiment were selected for special assignments, including 
     intelligence missions, and reorganized as the 2nd Filipino 
     Infantry Battalion (Separate). The 2nd Filipino Infantry 
     Battalion (Separate) contributed to mop-up operations as a 
     civil affairs unit.
       (18) Filipinos participated in the war out of national 
     pride, as well as out of a commitment to the Allied forces 
     struggle against fascism. 57,000 Filipinos in uniform died in 
     the war effort. Estimates of civilian deaths range from 
     700,000 to upwards of 1,000,000, or between 4.38 to 6.25 
     percent of the prewar population of 16,000,000.
       (19) Because Filipinos who served in the Commonwealth Army 
     of the Philippines were originally considered a part of the 
     Allied struggle, the military order issued by President 
     Roosevelt on July 26, 1941, stated that Filipinos who served 
     in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines were entitled to 
     full veterans benefits. The guarantee to pay back the service 
     of Filipinos through veterans benefits was reversed by the 
     Rescission Acts of 1946 (Public Laws 79-301 and 79-391; 60 
     Stat. 6 and 60 Stat. 221), which deemed that the wartime 
     service of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines and the 
     new Philippine Scouts was not considered active and, 
     therefore, did not qualify for benefits.
       (20) The loyal and valiant Filipino Veterans of World War 
     II fought, suffered, and, in many instances, died in the same 
     manner and under the same commander as other members of the 
     United States Armed Forces during World War II.
       (21) The Filipino Veterans of World War II fought 
     alongside, and as an integral part of, the United States 
     Armed Forces. The Philippines remained a territory of the 
     United States for the duration of the war and, accordingly, 
     the United States maintained sovereignty over Philippine 
     foreign relations, including Philippine laws enacted by the 
     Philippine Government. Filipinos who fought in the 
     Philippines were not only defending or fighting for the 
     Philippines, but also defending, and ultimately liberating, 
     sovereign territory held by the United States Government.
       (22) The United States remains forever indebted to the 
     bravery, valor, and dedication that the Filipino Veterans of 
     World War II displayed. Their commitment and sacrifice 
     demonstrates a highly uncommon and commendable sense of 
     patriotism and honor.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act--
        (a) the term ``Filipino Veterans of World War II'' 
     includes any individual who served--
       (1) honorably at any time during the period beginning on 
     July 26, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946;
       (2) in an active-duty status under the command of the 
     United States Armed Forces in the Far East; and
       (3)(A) within the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the 
     Philippine Scouts, the Philippine Constabulary, Recognized 
     Guerrilla units, the New Philippine Scouts, the First 
     Filipino Infantry Regiment, the Second Filipino Infantry 
     Battalion (Separate), or the First Reconnaissance Battalion; 
     or
       (B) commanding or serving in a unit described in paragraph 
     (3)(A) as a United States military officer or enlisted 
     soldier; and
       (b) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
     Treasury.

     SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Award Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 
     make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of 
     Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the 
     Filipino Veterans of World War II in recognition of the 
     dedicated service of the veterans during World War II.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall strike the 
     Gold Medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, 
     to be determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
       (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in 
     honor of the Filipino Veterans of World War II, the gold 
     medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it 
     will be available for display as appropriate and made 
     available for research.
       (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal 
     received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, 
     particularly at other appropriate locations associated with 
     the Filipino Veterans of World War II.
       (d) Duplicate Medals.--
       (1) In general.--Under regulations that the Secretary may 
     promulgate, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
     bronze of the gold medal struck under this Act, at a price 
     sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, 
     materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
       (2) Sale of duplicate medals.--The amounts received from 
     the sale of duplicate medals under paragraph (1) shall be 
     deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

     SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

       (a) National Medals.--Medals struck under this Act are 
     national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, 
     United States Code.
       (b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of 
     title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this 
     Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a special one for me, personally. I rise today 
in support of S. 1555, the Filipino Veterans of World War II 
Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, introduced by Senator Hirono.

                              {time}  1700

  This bill, which was passed in the Senate on July 13, has companion 
legislation here in the House, H.R. 2737, introduced by our colleague, 
Representative Gabbard, which has 312 House cosponsors.
  The reason why it is a special one to me is I have spent significant 
time in the Philippines and have many close Filipino friends, and know 
the dedication of the Philippines collectively, and those families who 
paid an ultimate sacrifice during World War II. I have actually visited 
our World War II cemetery in Manila, and have seen the headstones and 
gravestones of many Filipinos who were there fighting alongside of us 
as well. That is why it is a special opportunity for me, as chair of 
the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over this, to be involved.

[[Page 15465]]

  So this bill authorizes the striking and awarding of a single 
Congressional Gold Medal of appropriate design to the Filipino Veterans 
of World War II in recognition of their heroic and dedicated service. 
Following the award, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian 
Institute, where it will be available for display as appropriate, or 
available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations 
associated with the Filipino Veterans of World War II.
  The Treasury Secretary is authorized to make and offer for sale 
bronze replicas of the medal at a price that will help defray the 
design and production costs of the actual medal.
  Mr. Speaker, Japanese Imperial forces attacked the Philippines the 
day after bombing the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor almost exactly 75 years 
ago on December 7, 1941. At that point, the Philippines still were a 
United States colony, though the process that led to its independence 
in 1946 actually began in 1934.
  Fortunately, the Philippines formed its own armed forces. Four months 
before the Pearl Harbor attack, President Roosevelt brought the 136,000 
members of the force into a full state of readiness to defend the U.S. 
and its territories and colonies.
  I will leave it to the House sponsor of the companion bill to 
describe the heroism of those soldiers and the sacrifices that they 
made in defense of the United States and their homeland; but suffice it 
to say that it was a difficult and costly defense that they waged.
  I will note that our embassy sits right on the bay in Manila today 
and overlooks Corregidor and so many other places there in the 
Philippines that were witness to those battles, including my own uncle 
who, at the time, served in the Navy and helped deliver goods and 
services throughout the Pacific and into the Philippines as well.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress has authorized Congressional Gold Medals in 
recognition of the heroic efforts of Japanese Americans, Native 
Americans, and Puerto Rican soldiers, among others, in defense of this 
country during World War II and in other conflicts. This recognition of 
Filipino veterans of World War II is long overdue, and I urge immediate 
passage of the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                            Committee on House Administration,

                                Washington, DC, November 30, 2016.
     Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to you regarding S. 1555. As you 
     know, the bill was received in the House of Representatives 
     on July 17, 2016 and referred to the Committee on Financial 
     Services and in addition to the Committee on House 
     Administration. The bill seeks to award a Congressional Gold 
     Medal, collectively, to the Filipino veterans of World War 
     II, in recognition of the dedicated service of the veterans 
     during World War II. S. 1555 passed the Senate without 
     amendment by unanimous consent on July 13, 2016.
       I realize that discharging the Committee on House 
     Administration from further consideration of S. 1555 will 
     serve in the best interest of the House of Representatives 
     and agree to do so. It is the understanding of the Committee 
     on House Administration that forgoing action on S. 1555 will 
     not prejudice the Committee with respect to appointment of 
     conferees or any future jurisdictional claim. I request that 
     this letter and any response be included in in the 
     Congressional Record.
           Sincerely,
                                                Candice S. Miller,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                Washington, DC, November 30, 2016.
     Hon. Candice Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: Thank you for your November 30th 
     letter regarding S. 1555, the ``Filipino Veterans of World 
     War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015.''
       I am most appreciative of your decision to forego action on 
     S. 1555 so that it may move expeditiously to the House floor. 
     I acknowledge that although you are waiving action on the 
     bill, the Committee on House Administration is in no way 
     waiving its jurisdictional interest in this or similar 
     legislation. In addition, if a conference is necessary on 
     this legislation, I will support any request that your 
     committee be represented therein.
       Finally, I shall be pleased to include your letter and this 
     letter on S. 1555 in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the same.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jeb Hensarling,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in strong support of S. 1555, legislation to award a 
Congressional Gold Medal collectively to the Filipino Veterans of World 
War II in recognition of their service and sacrifice and their role in 
defeating the Imperial Japanese Army.
  While we are taking up the Senate-passed version of the Filipino 
Veterans of World War II Congressional Medal Act today, I want to 
acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii, Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who has led the effort to move 
this same legislation across the finish line here in the House. Since 
introducing the legislation, Representative Gabbard has garnered the 
support of more than 300 House cosponsors, and I am proud to be among 
them.
  In 1934, the United States began a 10-year period of bringing its 
colonial rule to an end. During that time, the U.S. retained control 
over Philippine foreign policy and maintained the right to call 
Filipinos into the service of the United States Armed Forces.
  As tensions with Japan began to rise in 1941, President Franklin 
Roosevelt invoked his authority to call all organized military forces 
of the Government of the Philippines into the service of the United 
States. Responding to his call to arms, more than 200,000 Filipinos 
fought on behalf of the U.S. as part of the United States Armed Forces 
in the Far East.
  The force included the Philippine Scouts, the Philippine Commonwealth 
Army, the new Philippine Scouts, Filipino civilians who served on a 
voluntary basis, and the Guerrilla Services who fought behind enemy 
lines throughout the war.
  Over the course of the war, an estimated 57,000 Filipinos in uniform 
perished, and many more Filipino civilian lives were lost. Despite this 
loyalty and tremendous sacrifice, and the U.S. commitment to provide 
Filipinos who served as part of the Allied struggle with full veterans 
benefits, this promise was shamefully withdrawn by the Rescission Act 
of 1946 at the close of the war.
  While a number of benefits have since been made available to the 
Filipino veterans, we must continue to work to ensure that those who 
risked their lives to defend the United States and the free world are 
provided with the full benefits, honor, and respect that they deserve.
  This legislation has the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 
Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, the National 
Federation of Filipino American Associations, and many other 
distinguished organizations.
  I urge Members to pass this legislation, which takes a modest but 
welcome step to recognize the contributions of Filipino veterans of 
World War II.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of 
the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support here for the 
Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, and I 
am one of the proud cosponsors, along with my colleagues here, of this 
act.
  I have had an opportunity over the last couple of years to travel 
twice to the Philippines. One of them was right after the cyclone hit 
Tacloban, and we took a delegation there.
  As you travel across the islands of the Philippines, it is a constant 
reminder of the enormity of the sacrifice as you see those battle 
sites, the enormity of the sacrifice made by this unsung group of 
heroes who fought so courageously for the defense of our country, 
during what is really one of the most perilous moments of American 
history, and their valor and their patriotism is deserving of this 
recognition from Congress.
  I don't think many Americans understand how quickly the reaction 
across the Philippines, in terms of Pearl Harbor, more than 250,000 
Filipino soldiers

[[Page 15466]]

responded to President Roosevelt's call to arms to fit under the 
American flag.
  In addition to that, just in my State of California, we had 16,000 
Filipino Americans that went forward and enlisted, where the U.S. Army 
then formed the 1st and 2nd Filipino American Infantry Regiments. That 
is where those regiments were organized.
  On December 8, 1941--and this was not 24 hours after the bombing of 
Pearl Harbor--it was at that moment in time that the Japanese Imperial 
forces attacked the U.S. bases in the Philippines. Filipinos and 
Filipino Americans fought valiantly in the push to regain the 
Philippines from Imperial Japanese forces.
  Mr. Speaker, 57,000 Filipinos in uniform died in the war effort. More 
than that, among the casualties of those who struggled against Japan, 
but 50,000 Filipinos in uniform, and they gave their lives in battles 
such as Bataan and Corregidor; and their sacrifice was absolutely 
instrumental in disrupting the enemy's advancement in the Pacific.
  As President Harry Truman made clear: ``They fought as American 
nationals under the American flag and under the direction of our 
military leaders. They fought with gallantry and courage under the most 
difficult conditions. . . .''
  So I am honored to rise today in support of recognizing these great 
heroes. The contributions of the Filipino World War II veterans are a 
very important part of American military history, and their 
accomplishments deserve the recognition of the Congressional Gold 
Medal.
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard), the lead sponsor of the House version of this 
bill.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of representing the 
Second Congressional District in Hawaii, a State that has deep cultural 
roots and ties to the contributions that Filipino Americans have made 
to our Nation throughout history, from driving Hawaii's plantation-
based economy in the early 20th Century, serving in our Armed Forces, 
to becoming leaders in every industry and sector in our State and 
across the country.
  It is an honor to stand here today as a voice for the more than 
200,000 Filipino and Filipino American soldiers that served our country 
during World War II. These loyal and courageous soldiers suffered, 
sacrificed, fought, and gave their lives alongside their American 
counterparts throughout the war.
  We have waited far too long to recognize these heroes, who deserve 
this honor, in standing alongside units like the Tuskegee Airmen and 
Hawaii's own 442nd/100th Infantry Battalion with being awarded the 
Congressional Gold Medal, our Nation's highest civilian honor.
  With just 18,000 of these Filipino World War II veterans still alive 
and with us today, we cannot afford to wait any longer.
  I would like to thank the 312 House Members, Republicans and 
Democrats, and 71 Senators that cosponsored this bipartisan 
legislation, representing nearly every State and territory in our 
country.
  I also want to say a special mahalo nui loa to my colleagues, 
Congressman Joe Heck, who is the Republican lead on this legislation; 
Congresswoman Judy Chu; and Congressman Mike Honda, for working with me 
to push this bill through the House; and my colleague, Senator Mazie 
Hirono, who is here today; as well as Senator Dean Heller, for 
championing this bill in the Senate; all of our staff; and both 
Democrat and Republican leadership for their efforts, commitment, and 
support to passing this legislation.
  I would also like to recognize Major General Antonio Taguba, who 
joins us today in the gallery, and the Filipino Veterans Recognition 
and Education Project for their years of commitment to this historic 
effort and for continuing to fight to ensure we remember and recognize 
the legacy of our Filipino World War II veterans as a critical part of 
our American history.
  Major General Taguba's father, Staff Sergeant Tomas Taguba, was a 
soldier in the 45th Infantry Regiment Philippine Division that served 
alongside the U.S. Army during the war, where he fought in the Battle 
of Bataan. He survived the Bataan Death March.
  This legislation is a testament to Staff Sergeant Tomas Taguba, and 
the hundreds of thousands of Filipino World War II veterans who deserve 
a place of recognition amongst our greatest generation. Thank you very 
much to all of you: ``Miraming salamat sa inyong lahat.''
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass this long overdue 
legislation today. Time is of the essence. We must honor these 
courageous men while they are still among us and recognize their 
dedicated service to our Nation and our history.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded not to reference guests 
in the gallery.
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, with that admonishment, I 
won't say Ma-Bu-Hi and welcome to our Filipino friends in the gallery; 
but I will yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Heck), the lead sponsor on the Republican side.
  Mr. HECK of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, during my time here in the House of 
Representatives, each Congressional Session I have introduced the World 
War II Filipino Veterans Recognition Act in an attempt to restore the 
benefits that were promised to these brave soldiers by Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt when they were incorporated into the United States Armed 
Forces Far East during World War II, but then had those benefits denied 
by the Rescission Act of 1946.
  These soldiers served side by side with American troops. They served 
under American officers. They bled, fought, and died to protect their 
homeland on behalf of the United States.
  I have had the honor to get to know six of these gentlemen who lived 
in southern Nevada: Francisco Cedulla; Romeo Barreras; Silverio 
Cuaresma; Augusto Opus; Bataan Death March survivor, Jesse Baltazar; 
and Edilberto Briones. Unfortunately, over the last 6 years, five of 
them have passed on, never receiving the recognition that they justly 
deserve. That is why this bill is so important.
  While it does not justly compensate these brave soldiers for the 
service that they gave to this country, this bill, S. 1555, and the 
companion introduced by my good friend, the gentlewoman from Hawaii 
(Ms. Gabbard), and of which I am the lead cosponsor, is in some small 
way a recognition of the service rendered by these brave patriots.

                              {time}  1715

  It is for that reason that I rise in strong support and urge all of 
my colleagues to vote in support of S. 1555, so that we can finally pay 
some level of recognition to those who served side by side with 
American soldiers under American command.
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott), who is the ranking member of the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1555, the Filipino 
Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015.
  Filipino Americans have contributed to American life and culture in 
countless ways, and one of the most noble is through military service. 
Over 200,000 Filipino soldiers and guerrilla fighters served with the 
United States Armed Forces during World War II. Their invaluable 
service helped provide the necessary support to defeat the Japanese in 
the Pacific.
  For over 60 years, Filipino veterans and community advocates have 
fought to obtain benefits and recognition that they were promised. In 
2009, Congress created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, 
where eligible veterans who are U.S. citizens could receive a one-time 
payment of $15,000; eligible veterans who are not U.S. citizens could 
receive a one-time payment of $9,000. While this fund has allowed many 
of them to receive some compensation, in Congress we are still working 
to make sure these families get all of the benefits they earned, they 
deserved and were promised.

[[Page 15467]]

  Another way that we can recognize these heroes is by awarding them 
the Congressional Gold Medal. The Senate unanimously passed the 
Filipino World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act in July. Mr. 
Speaker, as a cosponsor of the House version of the bill and co-chair 
of the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus, I urge my colleagues to 
support the legislation so that approximately 18,000 surviving Filipino 
veterans of World War II may be recognized for their service to our 
Nation. We are forever indebted to these brave soldiers, and it is 
important that we appropriately express our gratitude for that service.
  Mr. Speaker, I therefore urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Judy Chu), who is a member of the Judiciary Committee 
and the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, over 70 years ago, more than 
200,000 brave Filipino and Filipino American soldiers answered the call 
to fight alongside American servicemembers during World War II. These 
soldiers served on the front lines and played a critical role in 
ultimately helping the United States to achieve victory in the Pacific. 
It is because of their courage that we were able to protect Americans 
at home while defending democracy abroad. Many of these veterans are 
now in their twilight years, and it is long past time that we honor 
them for their sacrifice and service to our Nation.
  While we can never fully repay the debt that we owe these veterans, 
today we have the opportunity to award them with our Nation's highest 
civilian honor by passing the Filipino Veterans of World War II 
Congressional Gold Medal Act. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting 
to pass this critical legislation to honor our Filipino World War II 
veterans with the recognition they have earned.
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Honda), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee 
and chair emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Foster, and 
on the other side, Congressman Huizenga of Michigan, for bringing this 
up. It is an issue that has been a long time in coming forward. I thank 
Mr. Heck of Nevada, also, for the gentleman's comments regarding the 
Filipino veterans' history in World War II.
  Prior to this, we talked about the merchant marines. I think that the 
merchant marines are a long time past in being recognized for their 
bravery and their willingness to forge through the oceans to bring 
materiel and artillery to fight fascism in Europe.
  Today we stand here in 2016 to ask for support for the bravery, 
patriotism, and sacrifice of nearly 250,000 Filipinos and Filipino 
Americans to whom our Nation owes much. I ask this Chamber to show its 
commitment to those who have bled for our Nation's principles at a time 
of great adversity by honoring these brave souls with the Congressional 
Gold Medal.
  The Congressional Gold Medal is a symbol of our recognition of their 
service, but it does very little to recognize the sacrifice and 
patience that they had to endure since World War II, when, as it was 
mentioned earlier, this Congress passed two rescission bills in the 
Appropriations in 1946 removing the Filipino veterans from veterans' 
benefits and the kinds of promises that President Roosevelt and 
MacArthur had given to the Filipino veterans.
  The story of these proud veterans begins more than 70 years ago when 
President Roosevelt did ask Filipino and Filipino American soldiers to 
serve under U.S. authority during World War II. Under our flag, we 
drafted them and we asked for volunteers. We got both from them.
  The people of the Philippines valiantly stepped up to the challenge 
and played a vital role in securing a victory for the U.S. and its 
Allies in the Pacific theater. Historians have long since concluded 
that these valiant efforts by the Filipino and Filipino American 
soldiers in Bataan helped keep Midway and the coral islands in 
America's hands at a crucial time during World War II.
  Over 60,000 Filipino soldiers, alongside 15,000 American brothers in 
arms, were captured and forced to walk over 65 miles to the prison 
camps, which was called the infamous Bataan March--the infamous Bataan 
Death March--to the ships that would take them to Japan, where they 
became POWs.
  Several thousand Filipinos and Americans died along the way making 
the ultimate sacrifice in our mutual struggle against fascism and for 
the promise of democracy and self-determination. A lot of these 
Filipinos had interceded during the march to the ships, endangering 
themselves of being beheaded or losing their arms or their lives 
because they were going to offer water as sustenance to our POWs who 
were being marched to the ships. We have forgotten that. Hopefully, 
today, this Congressional Medal of Honor will help us remember the 
kinds of things that they have sacrificed.
  Congress shamefully passed the Rescission Act of 1946, as was 
mentioned earlier, betraying the promise of full eligibility of rights 
to Filipino soldiers turning their backs on these valiant souls. We did 
this consciously twice. In February of 2009, we were here in Congress 
and at long last passed legislation that included benefits for Filipino 
and World War II veterans.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 
seconds.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, this bittersweet victory comes at the end of 
a 50-year legislative battle which has seen thousands of veterans lose 
their lives due to the passage of time. This year we must send a clear 
message to the surviving 18,000 Filipino and Filipino American World 
War II veterans that we are honored by their spirit and moved by the 
heroism and their patience--the spirit that remained hopeful for many, 
many years that the American people, through their Representatives in 
this Congress, would do the right thing.
  This is the right thing to do. Join me in honoring all of the 
Filipino World War II veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal.
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa), who is a member of the Armed Services Committee.
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I just returned to the 114th Congress, and 
I would like to have everyone remember that when I first came here in 
the 112th Congress is when we gave the Congressional Gold Medals to the 
Japanese Americans who fought in World War II. I remember how much 
pride they all had to receive that Gold Medal. That is why I 
introduced, in a subsequent Congress, the first attempt to get the Gold 
Medal for the Filipino war veterans.
  In 7 days, Mr. Speaker, we will be commemorating, in Hawaii, the 
attack on Pearl Harbor--the 75th anniversary. Imagine, 75 years, and we 
have still not kept our promise to the Filipino war veterans. Many of 
them are in both Congresswoman Gabbard's and my district. I must tell 
you, all that they have asked for is a recognition by this country that 
we will keep our promises to them.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that it is with such pride that I 
stand here to see that, across the aisle, we have been able to have 
this piece of legislation hopefully pass and to also know the hard work 
of my colleagues, especially Senator Hirono in the Senate and, of 
course, Congresswoman Gabbard.
  There are two gentlemen that I also want us all to remember, and that 
is former Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Akaka. The 
reason why is because they both said that the greatest regret they had 
was that we could not--they could not--change that act in 1946 and keep 
their word to the Filipino veterans that they would have full benefits, 
that they could not reunite them with their families as they had all 
promised.
  But, Mr. Speaker, this act, the act of this Gold Medal, will make 
things somewhat right. It will at least say

[[Page 15468]]

that this great country recognizes the promises that we have made and 
this great country will not forget the sacrifices that they have made 
for us.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that all my colleagues vote in favor of this bill.
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge 
my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge passage of this 
bill by my colleagues and thank the Filipino people for their support 
and friendship for the many, many years.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1555, the 
``Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 
2015.''
  S. 1555 honors the brave Filipino soldiers who courageously fought 
for freedom in World War II by awarding the highest honor that this 
Congress can bestow.
  More than 260,000 Filipino veterans, 18,000 of who are still alive 
today, who for decades had to fight for benefits and recognition, will 
now receive the recognition they have earned and deserve.
  These Filipino soldiers were instrumental to the United States 
efforts in the Pacific.
  After the invasion of the Philippines by Japanese forces they retired 
to the Bataan Peninsula and continued to fight valiantly.
  Among these brave soldiers is Dominador Soriano, a resident of San 
Antonio, Texas, who fought as a member of both the Philippine and 
United States Armies.
  He was drafted into the Philippine Army in 1938 and then inducted 
into the U.S. Army in the Far East on September 1, 1941.
  Under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur, Soriano commanded 
the Echo Company of the 83rd Infantry Regiment, keeping watch on 
Japanese ships moving through the Tanon Strait.
  During the Japanese invasion he was shot and in July of 1944 was 
captured, beaten and then released, but could barely walk.
  Soriano continued working with the resistance until the surrender of 
the Japanese on August 15, 1945.
  Recently, the city of San Antonio honored Soriano and other Filipino 
veterans with a resolution that recognized their efforts during World 
War II and supported legislation to award these courageous men the 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  The resolution is the first of its kind by any city in the United 
States, and I believe that it is time for Congress to follow suit.
  These brave Filipino soldiers answered President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt's call to serve in World War II and they deserve the highest 
award that we can give, for there is no higher duty than putting one's 
life on the line for freedom and country.
  For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1555 the 
``Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 
2015.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 1555.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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