HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	150
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the united states congress to enact the filipino american veterans equity act of 2007 by adopting h.r. 760 and s. 57, or similAr legislation, to provide federal veterans benefits and services to world war ii filipino and filipino american veterans.

     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/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 to defeat the invading Japanese forces in defense of freedom; and

     WHEREAS, despite these formal acknowledgements of Filipino and Filipino American veterans' contributions to the cause of the United States during World War II, they have not received veterans benefits and services from the federal government, a long standing moral injustice that needs to be corrected; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the United States Congress and United States President George W. Bush are respectfully requested and urged to enact the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, also known as H.R. 760 and S. 57, or similar legislation, to provide federal veterans benefits and services to Filipino World War II veterans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this 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: 

WWII Filipino Vets and Filipino Vets; Federal Veterans Benefits and Services