STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1752

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.R. No. 270

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 270 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT AND SENATORS AND CONGRESS MEMBERS TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO EXPEDITE IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR FAMILY REUNIFICATION OF CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to urge the United States (U.S.) President and Congress to enact legislation to expedite immigrant visas to reunite World War II (WWII) Filipino veterans with their children.

     WWII Fil-Am Veterans, Hawaii Chapter and several concerned individuals supported this measure.

     Filipino soldiers were called to service in WWII, were promised full veterans benefits, and served side-by-side with American soldiers to defend our country.  When their service was complete, unlike other national groups, they were denied full U.S. veteran status, including pensions and other benefits.  Congress in 1990 partially redressed this wrong when it provided a waiver of certain immigration and naturalization requirements.  But in so doing, Congress failed to extend these benefits to the veterans' children.

     Today, the youngest of the WWII Filipino veterans are approaching 80.  Many are bedridden, or have died alone, without the support or comfort of their families.  Your Committee finds that the adoption of a federal law to expedite immigrant visas and reunite these veterans with their families is long overdue.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Adding the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and American Coalition for Filipino Veterans to the list of persons and organizations that are to receive a certified copy of this resolution;

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments to the title.  As amended, the title reads, "URGING THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT, SENATE, AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO EXPEDITE IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR FAMILY REUNIFICATION OF CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II"; and

(3)  Making other technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 270, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 270, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair