FACT SHEET

 

How many U.S. Filipino WWII veterans are there?

Based on recent estimates of the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (20,000) and the Philippine Government (18,155), there are an estimated 6,000 Filipino WW2 veterans living in the United States and 12,000 in the Philippines in the year 2007.

 

What are the relevant categories of Filipino veterans?

Members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Recognized Guerrillas, and New Scouts who have war related injuries (service connected) and those without war related (non-service) illnesses.

 

What do they want?

Official recognition of their honorable U.S. military service during World War II and the eligibility to receive full veterans benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs such as health care at VA hospitals, outpatient clinics and nursing homes in the U.S. including a clinic in Manila and non-service disability pension (as a minimum: $300 monthly in the Philippines). $300 is average monthly difference between what a low-income U.S. veteran receives in VA pension ($911 mo.) compared to a U.S. citizen Filipino veteran who relies on federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI of $623).

 

How will they get VA benefits?

If Senate bill S. 57 (now in S. 1315) of Sen. Daniel INOUYE (D-HI) & Sen. Daniel AKAKA (D-HI) and House Resolution H.R. 760 the “Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007”of Rep. Bob FILNER (D-Chula Vista CA) and DARRELL ISSA (R-Vista CA) and are passed by both the House and the Senate, they will be eligible for VA disability pension benefits. In 2003 President Bush supported and signed into law P.L. 108-170 providing recognition and VA medical care to 8,000 Filipino veterans in the U.S.

 

Why should Filipino veterans be officially recognized for VA benefits?

President Franklin Roosevelt drafted soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who were then U.S. nationals into the American military service on July 26, 1941. Second, before the Rescission Act (Public Law 79-301 now U.S. Code Title 38, Sec. 107) was enacted on February 18, 1946, Filipino veterans were considered U.S.veterans with active service by the VA. Third, 24,000 of them were naturalized as U.S. citizens under the 1990 Immigration and naturalization Act based on their U.S. military service. Fourth, under Public Law PL 106-419, if they died, they are eligible for burial benefits with military honors in national cemeteries as U.S. veterans. Fifth, under PL 108-170, Filipino American veterans can now be patients in VA hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, however they are not eligible for non-war related disability pensions that American counterparts receive in the U.S.

 

What are the estimated annual costs and benefits?   (Based 2001 VA Study & Aug. 28, 2007 CBO  estimates & staff discussions. Updated SEPT 4, 2007)

 

Benefits / Bills for FILIPINO WW II VETERANS	Sen. AKAKA & INOUYE S. 1315 Equity 2007	Rep.FILNER & ISSA  H.R. 760 EQUITY ACT 2007	FINAL   Version
VA Health Care 12,000 Filvets in Philippines	$142 mo. average VA cost/ eigible vet in R.P.	$142 mo. average cost per eligible vet in R.P.	?
NON-service-conected Disability Pension for vets in U.S.	$911 mo. in U.S.	$ 911 mo. in U.S.	?
NON-service disability Pension vets in PHILIPPINES	$300 mo. in R.P.	$ 500 mo. Filipino citizen vet in R.P.	?
WIDOW NSC pensions in Philippines	$200 mo. in R.P.	$300 mo. in. R.P.	?
TOTAL COST Yearly Average C.B.O ESTIMATE FY 2008-20012	$ 50 Million yearly	$100 Million yearly	?