STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1575-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.R. No. 91

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 91 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT THE FILIPINO AMERICAN VETERANS EQUITY ACT OF 2007, OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION PROVIDING VETERANS BENEFITS TO FILIPINO VETERANS WHO SERVED OUR NATION IN WORLD WAR II,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request Congress and the President of the United States to enact the Filipino American Veterans Equity Act of 2007, or similar legislation that provides World War II Filipino veterans with full federal veterans benefits.

     Several concerned individuals supported this concurrent resolution.  The Office of Veterans Services (OVS) supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee notes that according to OVS, the veterans of the Bataan Death March currently receive benefits and the extent of those benefits needs to be further clarified.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 91 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair