HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	190
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the united states congress to enact H.R. 1287 AND S. 671 relating to FILIPINO FAMILY REUNIFICATION, or similAr legislation, to provide PRIORITY ISSUANCE OF VISAS TO filipino VETERANS' CHILDREN WITH APPROVED IMMIGRATION PETITIONS.

     WHEREAS, on July 26, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Military Order No. 81, placing the Philippine Commonwealth Armed Forces and the Special Philippine Scouts under the United States Armed Forces command to join the military assault against the Japanese forces in defense of America's democracy; and

     WHEREAS, throughout 1941-1946, tens of thousands of Filipino soldiers were held as prisoners, risking their lives and the lives of their families while maintaining underground battles against the invading Japanese forces and boldly assisting the United States Armed Forces in its campaign to liberate the Philippines; and

     WHEREAS, Filipino wartime veterans, many of whom were permanently disabled and honorably discharged from the military after serving more than ninety days on active duty military service during World War II, are eligible for federal veterans benefits and services; and

     WHEREAS, former President Bill Clinton on October 17, 1996, President George W. Bush on July 26, 2001, and the United States Congress by H.R. 622 and S. 387 on September 13, 2006, recognized and proclaimed the vital role that the Filipino wartime soldiers played in assisting the United States Armed Forces in defeating the invading Japanese forces in defense of freedom; and

     WHEREAS, through the Immigration Act of 1990, U.S. citizenship was awarded to each veteran but excluded the veterans' dependents, unfairly requiring that each veteran submit an immigrant petition with supporting affidavits requesting that the veterans' dependents be permitted to live with the veteran; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that upon the death of the veteran, death benefits should be transferred to the beneficiary of record, as indicated in the immigration petition, and the beneficiary should be exempted from the immigration law which attempts to nullify the immigration petition upon the death of the veteran; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the United States Congress and United States President George W. Bush are respectfully requested and urged to enact H.R. 1287 and S. 671 relating to Filipino family reunification, or similar legislation, to grant priority issuance of visas to Filipino veterans' children with approved immigration petitions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Filipino World War II Veterans; Family Reunification