June 29, 2007

July Revival for Family Reunification

Dear ACFV leaders & members:

Yesterday, we were sad and upset about the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification (FVFR) as a part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, S. 1639, being blocked in a procedural battle on the Senate floor by a bipartisan vote of 53 to 46.

Today, we can remain hopeful because of the previous overwhelming Senate May 24 vote of 87 to 9 for the Akaka FVFR amendment.

We are confident with the support of 87 senators we can revive the Akaka-Hirono FVFR amendment as a rider to one of "moving" must pass bills in the near future, as suggested earlier by one of our
Republican sponsors.

Salamat po for your continued support and efforts for equity+family.

Have a great July 4th holiday!

ERIC LACHICA
Executive Director
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc

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www.philippinenews.com
San Francisco CA weekly

Despite setback, veterans hopeful for family bill

Rita M. Gerona-Adkins, Jun 20, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "We are disgusted, but we are not losing hope," Art Caleda, president of the World War II Filipino Veterans organization in Hawaii, told Philippine News, reacting to the
Senate's failure to pass the comprehensive immigration reform bill last week.

The bipartisan bill was debated on the floor for two weeks in an effort to accommodate several amendments toward a final Senate vote, but was closed for further discussion last Thursday, June 7, by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nevada), leaving the bill in limbo.

The bill accommodates an amendment authored by Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) allowing for sons and daughters of naturalized World War II Filipino veterans to be reunited with them in the United
States.

"We share the disappointment of Senator Akaka, on whom we pin our hopes for the reunification of our family," the 81-year old veteran, who petitioned his three children and two underage grandchildren 15 years ago to be allowed to join him and his wife Luz in the U.S., added sadly.

Caleda, who is also president of the 1,500-member WWII FilAm Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary of Hawaii, was with the Intelligence Service Company, 11th Infantry Regiment, of the U.S. Armed Forces
of the Philippines for the last two years of the effort that led to the capture of Japan's General Yamashita.

Bill to Affect 18,000 Family Members

Akaka's bill, the Filipino WWII Veterans Family Reunification Act, had won an overwhelming 87-9 Senate vote as an amendment to the senate immigration bill on May 24, raising a chorus of jubilant Filipino American veterans whose children had been waiting in the immigration pipeline.

According to estimates, there are about 18,000 eligible children and grandchildren to be affected by the bill. The bill, however, will cover only those family members for whom applications for emigration to the U.S. have been filed and paid for by naturalized Filipino WWII veterans.

The reopening of the Senate debate on the immigration bill is expected to take place this week.

Some veterans, including Caleda and his Hawaii-based compatriots, are also looking at other options.

"We have met with Sen. Akaka's district office staff, in particular Michael Kitamura, and are looking at the suggestion of pushing the Akaka bill as part of the equity bill," Caleda said.

More Reactions from Veterans

Other U.S.-based Filipino veterans had also expressed their joy and expectations at the Akaka bill's inclusion in the emerging Senate
immigration bill.

"We are very happy about the good news," Joe Gonzalez, 82, of Texas, told PN by phone on May 24. "I petitioned my seven children 12 years ago in 1994, and paid the $90 fee for each of them. They are still waiting, and have started to contact me when they could come."

A former president of a FilAm veterans association in Hawaii when he lived there for 11 years, Gonzalez was among the veterans who came to lobby for the Akaka bill for its successful inclusion in the senate immigration bill that eventually passed in the previous 109th Congress.

Joaquin Tejada, 80, a D.C.-based veteran member of ACFV who lobbies in Congress as frequently as his bad legs could stand the walking, also hopes his two daughters could finally be reunited with him too.

Celestino Almeda, 90, who lives in Virginia and still manages to take the Metro to Congress by himself despite one un-seeing eye, petitioned for his only son, Reynaldo, two years ago.

"I am waiting for him to join me," he said, adding that he paid the current fee of $120 for his application.

These veterans are among the remaining 7,000 Filipino veterans living in the U.S. after many of their naturalized compatriots had chosen to go back to the Philippines. Of the surviving 18,000 to 19,000 Filipino WWII veterans estimated by the Akaka bill, 13,000 are living in the Philippines.

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Release: March 9, 2006

Sen. Akaka & Democrats Request $106 Million,

Filipino Veterans Ask for Hearings

WASHINGTON DC  - Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the
Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs
Committee, four Democrat senators, and Independent
Sen. James Jeffords (Vermont) on the committee,
submitted last week a budget request for $106
Million for monthly pensions for Filipino WWII
veterans, according to the American Coalition for
Filipino Veterans, a Washington-based advocacy
group.

In their March 2, 2006 "Views and Estimates Letter
on the FY07 VA Budget Proposal," to the Senate
Budget Committee, Akaka and the five senators
said, " We believe it is time to provide
non-service connected pension for Filipino
veterans . and request an additional $106 million
for Filipinos who served alongside U.S.
servicemembers during World War II."

http://www.senate.gov/~veterans/index.cfm?FuseAction=Home.RankingMemberNews&id=487

Akaka decided to take the lead after he met with
about THIRTY Hawaii based veterans and community
leaders last month. On February 17, he wrote
veteran leader Art Caleda, "I am writing to inform
you of my cosponsorship of S. 146, the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act of 2005 <.> I understand that
my support for Filipino veterans was questioned
following the receipt of my letter last year about
the status of S. 146. The letter stated that the
fiscal situation in FY06 would make enactment of
the bill difficult. I apologize for any
misunderstanding <.> I can assure you of my
unwavering support for equity for Filipino
veterans. I was trying to convey the challenges
that we face in trying to enact the bill given the
fiscal situation and the lack of true
understanding among some of my colleagues about
the sacrifices made by Filipino veterans and their
families."

The four Democrat senators supporting Akaka's
budget request are: John Rockefeller IV (WVa),
Patty Murray (WA), Barack Obama (IL) and Ken
Salazar (CO). There are eight Republican senators
on the VA committee led by their chairman Larry
Craig (ID).

Previously on February 23, thirteen Democrats in
the House Veterans Affairs Committee led by
Ranking Member Rep. Lane Evans (IL) announced
their "Views and Estimates" request with a $106
million proposed budget for Filipino veterans.

"We are excited about this breakthrough," said
Franco Arcebal, 82, a low-income veteran in Los
Angeles and the ACFV vice president for
membership. "We fought for America and served
honorably. We deserve a modest pension to fully
recognize our sacrifices," he added. Arcebal was
severely tortured by Japanese soldiers when he
captured as a Filipino guerrilla in Ilocos Sur,
Philippines when he was gathering intelligence in
1944.

The coalition leaders are campaigning for early
congressional hearings. They are now negotiating
with congress members, the VA Department and the
White House to approve the final pension formula
and budget. They are counting on the crucial
leadership of California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R), Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-Vista
CA), the main sponsor of the Equity bill H.R. 4574
and Virginia Senator George Allen (R), a cosponsor
of S. 146.
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December 22, 2005

Schwarzenegger Appeals to Bush,

Rep. Issa Leads Campaign

WASHINGTON, DC  – On the 64^th anniversary World War II, elderly Filipino veterans received early Christmas gifts from three Republican leaders who will champion their campaign to win full U.S. recognition and VA pensions next year.

On December 8, 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote to President Bush to support “the Filipino Veterans Equity Act (that) would eliminate gaps in coverage … ensure all Filipino veterans receive the same benefits available to American veterans (and) give these veterans their long overdue recognition and the benefits they deserve.”

On December 16, 2005, Rep. Darrell ISSA (R-Vista CA) re-introduced the new "Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2006," The original cosponsors of H.R. 4574 are: Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista CA), Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon CA), Richard Pombo (R-Stockton CA), Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GUAM), Thelma Drake (R-Virginia Beach VA), Dan Burton (R-Indianapolis), Neil Abercrombie (D-Honolulu HI), Bobby Scott (D-Richmond VA), Michael Honda (D-Campbell CA), and Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys CA). 5 Republicans and 6 Democrats.

Earlier on Capitol Hill, Issa was thanked by ACFV leaders: Pat Ganio, Fred Diaz and Jose Genito of Jersey City's PAVO. Organization, Regino Nacua of San Francisco Fil-Am Veterans, Spouses & Families Assn., Manuel Cannu and Dalmacio Chuga of San Diego, Alberto Bacani of Virginia, Joaquin Tejada and Tomas Culanag of DC and Percival Abu, Embassy veterans officer.

Issa, a Vietnam War U.S. Army veteran and a businessman, told ACFV leaders, "I'm positive we can do the second part next year...  We always keep our promises. However, we (congress) don't keep them on time." He is a member of the International Relations Committee.

"We are quickly fading away. Schwarzenegger, Issa and Allen gave us Christmas gifts to fight on," said Alfredo Diaz, 89, New Jersey veteran coordinator of ACFV. Diaz is a former marathon runner, a defender in the Battle for Bataan and escaped from the Death March in 1942. ACFV also thanked Philippine Ambassador Del Rosario and Gen. Lorenzana of the Embassy's Office of Veterans Affairs and Rep. Filner for their behind the scenes efforts with Issa.

The recent resignation of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Escondido CA), former main sponsor of the Equity bill (H.R. 302), had placed the bill in limbo. The bill had to be re-introduced by another Republican as main sponsor to proceed in the legislative process.

Issa also filed a separate House resolution H. Res. 622 to complement Senate Resolution S. Res. 307 introduced by Sen. George Allen (R-VA) that "recognizes and honors the Filipino World War II veterans for defense of American democracy" that earlier passed on November 10.

Earlier, the veterans joined the forum of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus chaired by Rep. Michael Honda (D- Campbell CA). They praised the legislators for their commitment to pass their bills in 2006. Ganio publicly thanked Vellie Dietrich-Hall, commissioner of the White House Initiative on Asian Pacific Americans. Dietrich-Hall, a daughter of a Filipino veteran, testified.

At a Philippine Embassy reception, the ACFV leaders met with Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo, of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, and presented a copy of the U.S. Senate Resolution. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana (ret.), Arroyo’s special representative, Armando Heredia, executive director of the Natl. Fed. of Fil. Am. Associations (NaFFAA) and Dr. Sonny Carlota MD of Tennessee joined them.

At a December 15 party at the VA headquarters, Bacani met with VA Secretary Jim Nicholson and later delivered a copy of Schwarzenegger's letter.

To win in 2006, we need you to recruit a friend !