THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	109
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

strongly supporting the passage and enactment into law of S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, in support of filipino 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 full veterans benefits and services from the federal government, a long standing moral injustice that needs to be corrected; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Daniel Akaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs has introduced S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, which would provide the long-promised benefits to the remaining approximately eighteen thousand Filipino veterans now in their eighties and nineties; and

     WHEREAS, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 that was passed out of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs would award $3,600 per year to each individual veteran, or $4,500 per year to each married veteran; and

     WHEREAS, in the face of opposition from senators who claim that the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 "takes money from American veterans and sends it to the Philippines to create a special pension for noncitizen, nonresident Filipino veterans"; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature strongly supports the passage and enactment into law of S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation are urged to support the passage and enactment into law of S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007; 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: 

Support Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007; Filipino Vets