Filipino Veterans Benefit Act of 2003
source: American Coalition for Filipino Veterans Inc.
Legislation
HR 2357 - Veterans Health Care Improvement Act
Passed House on voice vote (7/21/2003), and referred to Senate (7/22/2003). Section provisions extending veterans benefits to Filipino World War II veterans residing in the U.S. This includes hospital, nursing home and medical services to about 8,000 Philippine Commonwealth Army and New Scout veterans.
HR 2297 - Veterans Benefit Act
Passed House on voice vote (7/21/2003), and referred to Senate (7/22/2003). Sections provide full dependents indemnity compensation (DIC) for widows of Philippine Commonwealth Army veterans and 100-percent compensation for New Philippine Scouts for their war related injuries.
Press Release - House Committee OK Filipino Vets Bills for $19 M in Benefits
WASHINGTON, DC (June 26, 2003) -- The House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved today two bills providing $19 Million worth of new benefits to Filipino veterans of World War II in the U.S.
During their two-hour "markup" meeting, the full VA committee meeting chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) unanimously approved several bills including House Resolution H.R. 2297, the "Veterans Benefit Act of 2003," with sections providing full dependents indemnity compensation (DIC) for widows of Philippine Commonwealth Army veterans and 100-percent compensation for New Philippine Scouts for their war related injuries.
The Department of Veteran Affairs estimates about 400 dependents and 100 New Scouts will avail of the $2.9 Million annual benefit, in addition to burial benefits.
The full VA committee approved another bill, H.R. 2357 "Standards of access to veterans seeking health care" with provisions providing hospital, nursing home and medical services to about 8,000 Philippine Commonwealth Army and New Scout veterans who reside in the U.S. "in the same manner as provided to U.S. veterans." VA estimates the yearly budget to be $16. 3 Million for the Filipino veterans.
Two days earlier, Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Connecticut), chair of the VA Health subcommittee, passed Filipino veterans health care bill in his subcommittee. This development was a result of the May 19th State Visit of President Arroyo to the White House when President Bush announced his commitment to support legislation for new benefits for Filipino WW2 veterans.
We won a key battle today to restore the honor of our forgotten veterans and widows. We must mobilize our leaders to prevail in the Senate hearing in July to win health care equity," said Pat Ganio, 82, president of the Washington-based advocacy group, the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans and a WWII defender in the battles in Bataan and Corregidor.
Present during the hearing were the Philippine Ambassador and visiting officials of the Philippine Government Joint Legislative-Executive Delegation. Rep. Tomas Dumpit, chair of the Philippine House VA Committee, Col. Emmanuel De Ocampo, Veterans Federation of the Philippines president, former RP Congressman Ed Pilapil, Gen. Ernesto Gidaya of the Generals and Flag Officers Association, and Mr. Romeo Lazo, Jerry Adevoso and Percival Abu of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, and Esperanza De Ocampo. Smith and Simmons congratulated them.
