Washington, D.C. -- U. S. Representative Neil Abercrombie has joined with colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to urge that a provision be kept in the Economic Stimulus package authorizing long overdue benefits for Filipino veterans who fought with the U.S. military in World War II.

Abercrombie and California Representative Mike Honda, who chairs CAPAC, appealed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the chairmen of the House and Senate committees who will sit down to reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions of the Economic Stimulus legislation approved by the Senate Tuesday.  The conferees include Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, who put the Filipino Veterans provision in the Senate bill.

"Keeping a 60-year-old promise to the few surviving Filipino veterans who fought alongside the U.S. military in World War II won’t add a cent to the Economic Stimulus bill," said Abercrombie.  "The funding was approved last year.  All we need now is the program authorization to direct the funds."

In July 1941, as the U.S. made preparations for the possibility of war with Japan, President Franklin Roosevelt called the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the Armed Forces of the United States, and 250,000 Philippine soldiers were promised that they would earn the same benefits as U.S. soldiers.  The current authorization would provide a one time payment to Filipino World War II veterans in recognition for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

"This one time payment is less than we promised, but we have the opportunity in this legislation to do something for these brave men." said Abercrombie.  "There are less than 20,000 Filipino WWII veterans still alive.   It’s time to end six decades of broken promises."

Below: Congressman Abercrombie (at head of table) meets with Filipino veterans at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in Honolulu. He has been a longstanding champion of the veterans' fight for overdue benefits from WWII.

  

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