A House floor vote is expected to follow soon,
with the same expected successful result.

The amendment by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (N.
Carolina), ranking veterans committee member, who
opposed the high pension for Philippine-based
veterans, left untouched a proposal to grant $911
to some 6,000 non-service Filipino and Filipino
American WWII veterans based in the U.S.

The good news: Once the bill becomes a law with
the signing of President George W. Bush,
service-connected Filipino American and Filipino
veterans living in the U.S. can apply for the
non-service pension, based on a "choose the
greater benefit" Veterans Administration
regulation.

Many U.S.-based service-connected Filipino WWII
veterans receive 10 to 20 percent disability
compensation, starting at the recently-adjusted
$100.

"There are no documents that will be required of
them, so they can simply go to the nearest
veterans office in their area and fill up a form,"
said veteran Guillermo O. Rumingan, service
officer of the American Coalition for Filipino
Veterans based in this U.S. capital.

But he added not all nonservice-connected veterans
in the Philippines or the U.S. would qualify for
the pension. He said only those whose names appear
in the Revised Reconstructed Guerilla Roster, or
RRGR, found in Missouri here in the U.S. will be
entitled to the pension.

Must-pass bill

The pension provision was tacked on to the
must-pass S.1315 bill by U.S. Sen. Daniel K.
Akaka, Democrat from Hawaii and chairman of the
veterans committee. S. 1315 sailed smoothly, with
a 96 to 1.

Akaka said after the vote: "The Filipino veterans
of World War II fought bravely under U.S. military
command, helping us win the war only to lose their
veteran status by an Act of Congress. I commend my
colleagues for supporting those veterans who stood
with us."

Akaka added: "I am also very pleased that the
Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 can
finally move forward. This bill makes needed
improvements to veterans' benefits by expanding
and increasing support for veterans, their
families, and their survivors. I urge my
colleagues in the House to act swiftly on this
much needed bill."

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) told this
writer, coming out of the floor, "It was the right
thing to do. It's a bit expensive for some, but it
's not about the money."

With that vote on an amendment to S. 1315, the
U.S. senate corrected 62 years of injustice to
non-service Filipino WWII veterans. The Rescission
Act of 1946 deemed their service under the U.S.
flag as not service for purposes of benefits.
President George W. Bush promised to sign the
pension legislation to President Gloria Arroyo
when it reaches his desk. There are speculations
Arroyo would come to the U.S. for the signing
ceremony. Or a separate ceremony honoring the
veterans and their supporters to the hard-earned
victory.

"It's an omnibus bill including all other
veterans," not really a bill on the Filipino
veterans, explained Ambassador Willy C. Gaa in a
phone interview April 23 Wednesday here. But he
did not discount the possibility of Arroyo coming
here for that purpose. Recent presidents have been
strong supporters of the pension legislation,
leading to Thursday's success.

Reactions

Gaa said in a phone interview immediately after
the vote, "Of course, we are very happy the
campaign for the veterans finally achieved
victory. We won justice for our veterans this time
around."

He added, "Next is the House of Representatives,
and we are very optimistic on that. We are meeting
with Congressman (Bob) Filner as soon as possible,
as soon as practicable."