Bill Text: HI HR216 | 2011 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Filipino War Veterans; Benefits

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-04-15 - (H) Resolution adopted in final form. [HR216 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-HR216-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	216
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO EXPEDITE PAYMENT OF WAR BENEFITS TO FILIPINO VETERANS WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II BUT WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED THEIR ENTITLED BENEFITS.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, during World War II, the Philippines was a United States commonwealth; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1941, 250,000 Filipino soldiers volunteered their services after being promised full veterans benefits to volunteer to fight for the United States against the potential threat of Japan; and

 

     WHEREAS, on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and on December 8, 1941, bombed the United States military bases in the Philippines; and

 

     WHEREAS, tens of thousands of Filipino men and women risked their lives against the invading Japanese forces and assisted our nation in its efforts to liberate the Philippines; and

 

     WHEREAS, on April 9, 1942, the United States surrendered Luzon in the Philippines, leading to the Bataan Death March where thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war died as they traveled to Japanese prisoner of war camps, and in May of 1942, the United States retreated completely from the Philippines; and

 

     WHEREAS, on September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered the Philippines to the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, in February 1946, Congress enacted the Rescission Act, denying World War II Filipino veterans rights to veterans benefits such as healthcare, disability pensions, and burial expenses; and
     WHEREAS, over the years, Congress has considered legislation to restore the benefits denied to Filipino veterans and even received encouraging words from Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to fulfill the broken promises made by the United States government; and

 

     WHEREAS, more than 60 years later, in 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and a provision tucked inside this stimulus bill finally called for the release of $198,000,000 for lump sum payments to Filipino veterans in lieu of pensions; and

 

     WHEREAS, although today only about 11,000 veterans now in their 80s and 90s are still alive to collect these payments, some Filipino veterans are still waiting for the promised checks; and

 

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, there are approximately 400 Filipino veterans qualified for payments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, approximately 15 percent are still waiting for their checks, and approximately 20 percent have claims that are still pending; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to United States Senator Daniel Inouye, it is "a matter of honor" to correct this injustice to those Filipino veterans who served our nation so courageously, so many of whom have died waiting for what was promised to them; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the President of the United States and United States Congress are urged to expedite the processing of all claims for payment, and the distribution of checks to Filipino veterans under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which are already long overdue; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that even payment of these claims does not correct the injustice and discrimination done 60 years ago but is a small step in making reparations; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body recognizes those Filipino veterans who reside in Hawaii and fought in World War II are an aging population, and strongly urge the expediency of war benefits payments; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Veterans Services is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session detailing progress made with respect to the purpose of this Resolution; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, President pro tempore of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of Hawaii's Congressional Delegation; the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Director of the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services; Executive Director of the Office of Community Services; President of the Philippines; Philippine Consul General in Hawaii; Philippine Ambassador to the United States; Chair of the Hawaii Legislative Filipino Caucus; Chair of the Filipinos for Affirmative Action; President of the Filipino American Citizens League; President of the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; Chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region XII; President of the Oahu Filipino Community Council; and President of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii.

Report Title: 

Filipino War Veterans; Benefits