Wednesday, September 8, 2010

California Senate OKs law on Filipino WWII vets



CALIFORNIA, United States—After 64 years, fight continues for Filipino World War II veterans to receive hard-earned benefits.

On a bipartisan 34-0 vote, the California State Senate unanimously approved Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 25 authored by to Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) that calls on the President of the United States, Congress, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to expedite funding, and lessen the amount of required documentation necessary to allow eligible Filipino and Filipino-American veterans to receive payments provided under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, includes a provision to address a 63-year injustice for Filipino WWII veterans. Specifically, the bill provided a lump sum payment of $15,000 to Filipino veterans living in the US and $9,000 for those who live abroad.

Supplemental appropriations and rescissions Act of 1997 : report (to accompany S. 672) (SuDoc Y 1.1/5:104-16)

The payment is in response to the 1946 Rescission Act, which stripped benefits from Filipino WWII veterans. Such benefits include health care, disability pensions, and burial expenses, now essential for the surviving Filipino veterans and their families.
“The Rescission Act of 1946 was a sad chapter in American history,” said Yee, whose district includes the largest Filipino community outside of the Philippines.

 “It is our responsibility to end this injustice and start caring for these soldiers who fought so hard for our country’s freedom. It is heartbreaking that even the inadequate lump sum payment approved by Congress is not getting to those in need. These soldiers deserved full recognition; the least our federal government can do is expedite this small token of appreciation.”

Many of the Filipino soldiers were not properly documented at the time of their service, and for many others who once had documentation, it has since been lost or destroyed. As a result, over 39,000 claims for payments have been received, but only 11,000 applications for benefit payments have been granted.

On July 29, President Obama signed into law the US Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010, which called for, among others, the allocation of $67 million in supplemental funding for the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. According to DVA records, more than 16,000 claims have already been paid. The additional funding would be used to process the remaining claims, as well as claims that may still be approved after their initial denial.

Filipino World War II Soldiers: America's Second-Class Veterans

“We were fortunate when the Filipino veterans came to our aid when we asked; the federal government should return that kindness and support,” said Yee in a news release. “Filipino veterans cannot and should not wait any longer. With the additional funds appropriated by President Obama, it is hoped that the process is expedited for these veterans, especially those whose original claims were denied. This money is essential for many of our Filipino elders to live out the remainder of their life with dignity.”

The average age of these veterans is 86 years old. According to the Philippine embassy in Washington, all of the Filipino veterans will likely pass away by 2015.

In June 2007, the California State Legislature unanimously approved Yee’s Senate Joint Resolution 5 to officially urge Congress and the President to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.

Senator Yee has long advocated for the Filipino veterans. In 2004, then Assemblyman Yee led the effort to prevent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) from eliminating the California Veterans Cash Benefit Program from the State budget. While the Governor proposed cutting the $226 per month benefit, Yee successfully fought to make sure the Veterans Program was reauthorized in the budget approved by the Legislature.

Yee also co-authored several bills to add the role of Filipinos in WWII to the high school social studies curriculum.
SJR 25 will be considered by the State Assembly this week.





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