Bill Text: HI HR22 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Filipino Veterans; War Benefits

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 28-4)

Status: (Passed) 2014-03-31 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR22 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HR22-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	22
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the president of the united states and the united states congress to grant veterans benefits to filipino veterans who fought in world war ii but were subsequently denied the benefits to which they were entitled.

 

 

 

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

 

     WHEREAS, 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, 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, Filipino soldiers fought bravely beside American troops to restore liberty and democracy to their homeland; and

 

     WHEREAS, exhibiting great courage at the battles of Corregidor and Bataan, Filipino soldiers contributed to the Allied victory that ended Word War II; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1941, by executive order, Filipinos who volunteered for the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Scouts were made eligible for full United States veterans benefits for their active service during the war; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1946, by congressional act and upon the independence of the Philippines, these same Filipino veterans were denied eligibility for United States veterans benefits, such as health care, disability pensions, and burial expenses; and

     WHEREAS, over the years, Congress has considered legislation to restore the benefits denied to Filipino veterans; and

 

     WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included a provision that called for the release of funding for lump sum payments to Filipino veterans in lieu of pensions; and

 

     WHEREAS, restoring benefits denied to Filipino veterans and fulfilling and expediting any claims that are still pending honors those Filipino veterans who served our nation so courageously; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that the President of the United States and the United States Congress are urged to grant veterans benefits to Filipino veterans who fought in World War II but were subsequently denied the benefits to which they were entitled; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that providing these benefits does not correct the injustice and discrimination done over 60 years ago, but is a small step in making reparations; 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, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Director of the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, President of the Republic of the Philippines, and Philippine Consul General in Hawaii.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Filipino Veterans; War Benefits