Drafter
Clerk 10/13/2005
Title
A MOTION in support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, and advocating for family members of World War II Filipino American veterans as citizens of the United States of America.

Body
WHEREAS, in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt drafted over two hundred thousand members of the Philippines Commonwealth Army and the Special Philippines Scouts into American Military Service to fight in the Pacific as part of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East, and
WHEREAS, bravely fighting alongside American allies and suffering through horrific experiences such as the Bataan Death March, many of the Filipino soldiers sacrificed their lives, and those that survived were promised by the United States government that they would be considered United States veterans with active service, entitling them to the full benefits of United States war veterans, and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946, which specifically mandated that services rendered by the Philippines Commonwealth Army "shall not be deemed active military, naval or air service for the purposes of any law of the U.S.," thereby stripping these soldiers of equal recognition, compensation and benefits, and
WHEREAS, securing equal and full benefits for Filipino World War II Veterans has been a long and challenging battle, but families, community members and elected officials continue to champion their cause and work for passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill, and
WHEREAS, the United States government granted citizenship to these veterans in 1990, but it is the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill that would recognize their valiant military service through full recognition and full benefits, and with many Filipino World War II veterans now in their eighties and nineties, their contributions should no longer be diminished, and
WHEREAS, legislation has been introduced in the United States House of Representatives and in the United Sta...

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