SENATE BILL REPORT

HJM 4002

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, March 19, 2001

Brief Description:  Asking that the federal government provide veterans' benefits owed to Filipino veterans.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Veloria, Campbell, Cody, Pennington, Cox, Kessler, Woods, Kenney, Romero, Bush, Keiser, Schoesler, Armstrong, Clements, Delvin, Santos, McIntire, O'Brien, D. Schmidt, Tokuda, Haigh, Edwards, Darneille, Schual‑Berke and Talcott.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  3/19/01 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Gardner, Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Background:  On July 26, 1941, President F. D. Roosevelt issued a Military Order to "call and order into the service of the Armed Forces of the United States ... all of the organized military forces of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines."  In 1946, the U.S. Congress passed the Rescission Act, denying U.S. military status and benefits to those Filipino veterans who fought under the command of officers of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Philippines.  Filipinos are the only national group singled out for denial of full U.S. veterans= status.

Summary of Bill:  Congress is asked to amend the 1946 Rescission Act and honor our country=s moral obligation to restore to the Filipinos full United States veterans= status with the military benefits that these veterans deserve.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  The Filipino veterans, in action alongside U.S. troops, were captured and some were never heard from.  The Filipino troops were captives on the Bataan Death March.  These veterans are dying out ‑‑ 20 per week here and in the Philippines.  General Douglas MacArthur said we were both brave and valiant.  Please help us right this injustice.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Alfie Alvarado, Asst. Director, WA Dept. Veterans Affairs; Bert Caoili; Julio Joaquin; Presciliano Credo; Manuel Divina, Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington; Punificanoin, C. Croix, Filipino Community of Seattle; Vilaska P. Nguyen, Commission on Asian American Affairs.