*EPF404 02/08/01
Transcript: Gilman Offers Bill on Benefits for Filipino Veterans
(Filipino soldiers fought alongside U.S. troops in WWII) (1080)
For Filipino veterans of World War II, who fought side-by-side with their American allies against invading Japanese, help in obtaining benefits from the United States is coming if a congressman has his way.
Representative Benjamin Gilman (Republican of New York), chairman emeritus of the House International Relations Committee, introduced a bill February 7 to provide benefits to members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the Philippines Scouts. H.R. 491, the "Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2001," would amend earlier legislation to entitle them to receive benefits for their wartime service.
Gilman, who himself served in the 20th Army Air Force in World War II as a staff sergeant, flew 35 missions over Japan and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.
During the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines and the subsequent return of the Americans under General Douglas MacArthur, "over 100,000 Filipinos, of the Philippine Commonwealth Army fought alongside the allies to reclaim the Philippine Islands from Japan," Gilman told his fellow lawmakers.
"Regrettably," the New York Republican continued, "in return, Congress enacted the Rescission Act of 1946. That measure limited veterans eligibility for service-connected disabilities and death compensation and also denied the members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army the honor of being recognized as veterans of the United States Armed Forces."
A second group called the Special Philippine Scouts, who enlisted in the U.S. armed forces after October 6, 1945 primarily to perform occupation duty in the Pacific, were also excluded from receiving benefits, according to Gilman.
Gilman said that while some progress has been made towards restoring "these long overdue benefits to those brave veterans who earned them, much remains to be done."
"Time is not on the side of these veterans," he stressed. "Each year, thousands of these veterans pass away. We have a moral obligation to correct this problem before the last of these dedicated soldiers passes from this life."
"These Philippine veterans have waited more than 50 years for the benefits which, by virtue of their military service, they were entitled to back in 1946," he said.
This legislation would correct a "grave injustice," he said.
Following is a transcript of Gilman's introductory remarks and the full text of the bill from the February 7 Congressional Record:
(begin transcript)
LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE VETERANS BENEFITS
TO MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH ARMY
AND THE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL PHILIPPINE SCOUTS
H.R. 491
HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
Extensions of Remarks
February 07, 2001
HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, February 7, 2001
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 491, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2001. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this worthy legislation.
On July 26, 1941, President Roosevelt issued a military order, pursuant to the Philippines Independence Act of 1934, calling members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the service of the United States Forces of the Far East, under the command of Lt. Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
For almost 4 years, over 100,000 Filipinos, of the Philippine Commonwealth Army fought alongside the allies to reclaim the Philippine Islands from Japan. Regrettably, in return, Congress enacted the Rescission Act of 1946. That measure limited veterans eligibility for service-connected disabilities and death compensation and also denied the members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army the honor of being recognized as veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
A second group, the Special Philippine Scouts called ``New Scouts'' who enlisted the United States armed forces after October 6, 1945, primarily to perform occupation duty in the Pacific, were similarly excluded from benefits.
It is long past due to correct this injustice and to provide the members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the Special Philippine Scouts with the benefits and the services that they valiantly earned during their service in World War II.
There are some who may object to this legislation on the grounds of its cost. In years past, when we were running chronic deficits, this may have been a valid argument. That past validity however, has been dispelled by today's record surpluses.
While progress has been made towards restoring these long overdue benefits to those brave veterans who earned them, much remains to be done. I would remind my colleagues that time is not on the side of these veterans. Each year, thousands of these veterans pass away. We have a moral obligation to correct this problem before the last of these dedicated soldiers passes from this life.
These Philippine veterans have waited more than 50 years for the benefits which, by virtue of their military service, they were entitled to back in 1946.
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to carefully review this legislation that corrects this grave injustice and provides veterans benefits to members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and to the members of the Special Philippine Scouts.
I request that the full text of the bill be included at this point in the RECORD:
H.R. 491
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the ``Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2001''.
(a) IN GENERAL.
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking out ``not'' after ``Army of the United States, shall''; and
(B) by striking out ``, except benefits under--'' and all that follows in that subsection and inserting in lieu thereof a period;
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking out ``not'' after ``Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 shall''; and
(B) by striking out ``except--'' and all that follows in that subsection and inserting in lieu thereof a period; and
(3) by striking out the subsection (c) inserted by section 501 of H.R. 5482 of the 106th Congress, as introduced on October 18, 2000, and enacted into law by Public Law 106-377, and the subsection (c) inserted by section 332(a)(2) of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(2) The item relating to such section in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1 of such title is amended to read as follows:
(a) IN GENERAL.
(b) APPLICABILITY.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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