MALAYA (“Free”) Manila daily February 17, 2009 updated

BY JENNIE L. ILUSTRE (with permission)

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion economic stimulus bill into law, which include a lump sum payment for qualified Filipino World War II veterans in the Philippines and in the United States, in a ceremony Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in Denver, Colorado.

The bill also includes the vital recognition of war service of non-service (no combat-related injury) veterans, a status stripped by the Rescission Act, passed by the 79th US Congress on Feb. 18, 1946. The lump sum payment applies to both service-connected and non-service veterans.

Although it is a quit-claim (no more future claims for monetary benefits), veterans living in the Philippines and the US will retain their current 5,000 monthly pension from the Philippines, and in the case of Filipino Americans, their federal benefits from the US.

Only 15,000 surviving Filipino and Filipino American WWII veterans whose names are in the Revised Reconstructed Guerrilla Roster (RRGR) of 1948 are qualified to receive the tax-free lump sum payment.

The RRGR is kept in the state of Missouri although certified true copies are available in other official sites.

When he was a senator, Obama strongly supported benefits for Filipino WWII veterans.

The 111th US Congress passed H.R. 1, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Friday (Saturday in Manila) to address the nation’s recession.

Section 1002, Title X of the economic stimulus law [ PL 111-5 ]states that the payment will be made "in the case of an eligible person who is not a citizen of the United States, in the amount of $9,000; and in the case of an eligible person who is a citizen of the United States, in the amount of $15,000."

Some 12,000 Filipino WWII veterans in the Philippines are qualified for the payment of $9,000 each.

Filipino American WWII veterans who live or have returned to the Philippines, will receive $15,000 each. About 3,000 counterparts in the United States will each get $15,000.

If the veteran dies before the approval of his application, his surviving spouse is entitled to the full amount.

Maj. Gen. (ret.) Delfin N. Lorenzana, head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the Philippine embassy in Washington D.C., said that in 2007, the total number of qualified veterans was 18,000. Based on a daily mortality rate of three fatalities a day, the number has dwindled to 15,000.

Aside from payment being a matter of honor, the mortality rate was one reason US Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (Democrat, HI) insisted on getting his lump sum amendment in the bill, despite strong opposition from some Republicans.

The 110th US Congress approved the $198 million appropriation for the lump sum last year....

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MAZIE K. HIRONO
2ND DISTRICT, HAWAII
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

PRESS RELEASE  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2009
Contact: Marvin Buenconsejo Phone: (808) 541-1986

Congresswoman Hirono Reintroduces Filipino World War II Veterans Family Reunification Act

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i) today reintroduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, H.R. 2412, aimed at exempting the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans from immigration quotas that have delayed the receipt of immigrant visas to the United States, which has kept these family members apart.

Some 200,000 Filipinos served with American troops during World War II. About 18,000 of those Filipino veterans are alive, today. Thousands reside in the United States, with a significant number of these veterans living in Hawai'i.

"These soldiers were members of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East. They were led to believe that at the end of the conflict they would be treated the same as American soldiers," said Hirono.

"It took more than sixty years to begin to make good on our commitment. The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act recognizes the special circumstances surrounding this group of soldiers."

In 1990, the Congress recognized the courage and commitment of the Filipino World War II veterans by providing them with a waiver from certain naturalization requirements. As a result, many veterans became proud United States citizens and residents of our country. However, allowances were not made for their children and many have been waiting decades for petition approval.

The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act would allow for the further recognition of the service of these veterans by granting their children a special immigration status that would allow them to immigrate to the United States and be reunified with their aging parents.

Congresswoman Hirono initially introduced the bill in 2007. A companion bill will soon be introduced by Hawai'i Senator Daniel K. Akaka in the U.S Senate.

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