SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1716
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Human Services & Corrections, March 29, 2001
Title: An act relating to income assistance benefits for qualified World War II veterans living in the Republic of the Philippines.
Brief Description: Providing income assistance benefits to qualified World War II veterans living in the Republic of the Philippines.
Sponsors: By Representatives Veloria, Mielke, Buck, O'Brien, Conway, Talcott, Hunt, Crouse, Clements, Murray, Schoesler, Miloscia, Benson, Tokuda, Santos, D. Schmidt, McDermott, Lovick, Cody, Campbell, Haigh, Keiser, Ogden and Dickerson; by request of Governor Locke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 3/22/01, 3/29/01 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Carlson, Franklin, Hewitt, Kastama, Kohl‑Welles, Long and Stevens.
Staff: Robert Antanaitis (786-7452)
Background: Federal Public Law 106-169, which was enacted on December 14, 1999, authorizes the payment of special Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to certain World War II veterans who live outside the United States.
Washington provides a state-funded supplement to eligible federal SSI beneficiaries.
Summary of Bill: A veteran who is a recipient of the state SSI supplement as of December 14, 1999, and who served the United States during World War II as a member of the Commonwealth of the Philippines military forces, or as a Regular or Special Philippine Scout, is eligible to receive a one-time lump sum payment of $1,500 if he or she moves to the Republic of the Philippines and maintains a permanent residence there. The lump sum payment is in lieu of the state SSI supplement for the period during which the individual establishes and maintains a residence in the Republic of the Philippines.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: We were conscripted into the United States military and fought under the American flag during World War II. But after the war, we were denied the benefits that other veterans received. This bill acknowledges the sacrifices that these veterans made by providing benefits to them while also allowing them to live in their home county. The Governor supports this program and is requesting a general fund appropriation to finance it.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Representative Velma Veloria, prime sponsor (pro); Julio Joaquin, Filipino War Veterans of Washington (pro); Amador Montero, Filipino‑American World War II Veteran (pro); Vilaska Nguyen, Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (pro); Ahndrea Blue, Office of the Governor (pro); Phyllis Lowe, Department of Social and Health Services (pro).