California Urges Congress to Grant Full Benefits for Filipino Veterans
California Political Desk
June 23, 2007
Yee Fights for Filipino WWII Veterans to Receive Hard-Earned Benefits.
SACRAMENTO – With the unanimous approval of Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 5, California officially urged Congress to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. Earlier this year, the State Senate voted 34-0 in favor of the legislation authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) and today the Assembly passed the measure 77-0.
The Filipino Veterans Equity Act would reinstitute benefits stripped from Filipino WWII veterans sixty-one years ago by the 1946 Rescission Act. The benefit, which includes healthcare, disability pensions, and burial expenses, is much needed for many of the 24,000 surviving Filipino veterans and their families.
It is our responsibility to continue looking after the well-being of these citizens who fought so hard for our country’s freedom,” said Yee. “We were fortunate when the Filipino veterans came to our aid when we asked. Today’s bipartisan vote urges Congress and the President to return that kindness and support by swiftly enacting the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.”
The House Veterans Affairs Committee is currently considering the Filipino Veterans Act also known as HR 760. A companion bill, S 57, has been introduced in the Senate. With a Democratic controlled House of Representatives and Senate, the bills are considered to have a much better chance of being approved than in past years.
Senator Yee has long advocated for the Filipino veterans. In 2004, then Assemblyman Yee led the effort to prevent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) from eliminating the California Veterans Cash Benefit Program from the State budget. While the Governor proposed cutting the $226 per month benefit, Yee successfully fought to make sure the Veterans Program was reauthorized in the budget approved by the Legislature.
The past three years Yee has also authored legislation with former Assemblyman Jerome Horton (D-Inglewood) to add the role of Filipinos in WWII to the high school social studies curriculum.
200,000 Filipinos were drafted and fought alongside U.S. troops in WWII,” said Yee. “These veterans deserve to be fully recognized and honored for their service.”
SJR 5 will receive a procedural concurrence vote in Senate next week.
SACRAMENTO – With the unanimous approval of Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 5, California officially urged Congress to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. Earlier this year, the State Senate voted 34-0 in favor of the legislation authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) and today the Assembly passed the measure 77-0.
The Filipino Veterans Equity Act would reinstitute benefits stripped from Filipino WWII veterans sixty-one years ago by the 1946 Rescission Act. The benefit, which includes healthcare, disability pensions, and burial expenses, is much needed for many of the 24,000 surviving Filipino veterans and their families.
It is our responsibility to continue looking after the well-being of these citizens who fought so hard for our country’s freedom,” said Yee. “We were fortunate when the Filipino veterans came to our aid when we asked. Today’s bipartisan vote urges Congress and the President to return that kindness and support by swiftly enacting the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.”
The House Veterans Affairs Committee is currently considering the Filipino Veterans Act also known as HR 760. A companion bill, S 57, has been introduced in the Senate. With a Democratic controlled House of Representatives and Senate, the bills are considered to have a much better chance of being approved than in past years.
Senator Yee has long advocated for the Filipino veterans. In 2004, then Assemblyman Yee led the effort to prevent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) from eliminating the California Veterans Cash Benefit Program from the State budget. While the Governor proposed cutting the $226 per month benefit, Yee successfully fought to make sure the Veterans Program was reauthorized in the budget approved by the Legislature.
The past three years Yee has also authored legislation with former Assemblyman Jerome Horton (D-Inglewood) to add the role of Filipinos in WWII to the high school social studies curriculum.
200,000 Filipinos were drafted and fought alongside U.S. troops in WWII,” said Yee. “These veterans deserve to be fully recognized and honored for their service.”
SJR 5 will receive a procedural concurrence vote in Senate next week.
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