The veterans and their advocates very hopeful that the US Congress will convene the joint conference committee to reconcile the three separate bills for Filipino veterans on the last Congress session of Nov 17-19. At present the S. 1315, HR 6897 and the Chat Edwards bill that appropriated $198 million for the veterans needs to be reconciled.
- Last Sept 22, The House passed the S.1315 but excluded the FiIipinos by removing the section that pertains to the recognition and benefits for Filipino World War II veterans. The House perpetrated the 62 year injustice that does not recognize war time services for the Filipino veterans. This is a blatant act of racism and discrimination – an echo of the Jim Crow laws. A direct insult to the Filipino American community and the Philippines.
- And then the house approved HR 6897 that will give a lump sum - $ 15,000 to US based and $ 9,000 to Philippine based veterans. This in exchange of a quit claim that will renounce any claims of being an American World War II veteran. Adding insult to injury the widows and relatives are excluded to any benefits and there is no appropriations for the bill. The house on the last moment passed the Chat Edwards bill of $ 198 million that will revert to the national coffers on March 2009 if no bill will be reconciled The money can be appropriated to any of the bills that will reconciled.
Therefore JFAV and the Filipino American community Demands:
1. That the Filipino veterans wartime services be recognized.
2. That any lump sum no matter what the amount is should be just an additional benefit and there will be no quit claim attached to their benefits. All additional benefits should not be taxable and their other benefits should remain.
3. This will be the subject of the reconciled bill that the veterans want. We want a single unified reconciled bill signed into a law this year. These are our just demands!
Recognition, Justice , Equity, NOW!
No Justice, No peace!
No to racism and discrimination! Bail out the Veterans not the Banks and Big Business!
MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT!
