[ OUR OPINION ]
Bush’s help needed
for Filipino veterans billLEGISLATION that would provide long-awaited full benefits to Filipinos who fought under U.S. command during World War II has won unanimous approval in the House but faces hurdles in the Senate. At Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's urging, President Bush endorsed the legislation five months ago, but further White House assistance is needed to ensure congressional approval.
THE ISSUE
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is considering two House bills to increase benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II.When the Philippines shed its U.S. commonwealth status and became independent in 1946, Congress limited Veterans Administration medical benefits to Filipino veterans who served directly in the U.S. armed forces. It declared Filipino veterans of the Philippines Commonwealth Army and the New Scouts and guerrilla units, all under U.S. command, ineligible for full VA benefits. As World War II veterans age, Congress has a dwindling amount of time to correct that injustice in any meaningful way.
Veterans of Commonwealth Army and New Scouts units have qualified for disability and indemnity compensation, but at half the rates paid to U.S. veterans. The rate was meant to reflect lower prices in the Philippines. Senator Inouye authored a 1990 law that granted U.S. naturalization to Filipino vets, bringing nearly 25,000 of them to the United States, including 3,000 to Hawaii, but they still receive only 50 cents on the dollar of what U.S. vets receive.
The number of Commonwealth Army and New Scouts veterans living in the United States is now estimated at 18,000 by the World War II Fil-Am Veterans Hawaii Chapter. That number is expected to decrease by two-thirds by 2010.
A bill that would allow the Filipino veterans living in America to receive full compensation passed the House unanimously last week. In July, the House approved a bill that would provide nursing-home and medical services to Commonwealth Army and New Scouts veterans living in the Unites States. Both bills are before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
According to Inouye's office, some members of the Senate committee are concerned about the costs of the increase in benefits, estimated at up to $350 million over five years. That is a relatively small amount and will decrease every year.
"This must be done now rather than later because many of them are dying," said state Rep. Felipe "Jun" Abindsay Jr. (D-Kalihi-Kapalama). He said some of the veterans are so impoverished that they don't have enough money to pay for their own burials. The pending legislation would make them eligible to be buried in national veterans cemeteries.
"There are difficulties that confront us regarding our age," 76-year-old Dominador Garcia, a New Scout veteran who is now a U.S. citizen living in Waipahu public housing, told the Star-Bulletin's Gary T. Kubota. "We are hopeful this special equity will be given."
