US lawmakers sympathetic to Pinoy war vets to push full benefits

WASHINGTON (via PLDT) – US lawmakers sympathetic to the plight of Filipino World War II veterans will push for the passage of an amended bill in the House of Representatives that would finally grant full benefits for the veterans before the November presidential and congressional elections here.

This developed as President Arroyo conferred on Monday night the Order of the Golden Heart on some US senators and congressmen who have been at the forefront of promoting in the US Congress Philippine interests, including the interest and welfare of Filipino WWII veterans.

The simple conferment ceremony was held at 7 p.m. Monday (7 a.m. Tuesday Manila time) at the Crystal Ballroom at the Willard Hotel here.

Given the award with the Rank of Grand Cross were Senators Daniel Akaka, Richard Lugar, Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Bob Filner and Darell Issa.

Due to prior commitments, Reid was given the award earlier at the presidential suite of the hotel.

“The order of the Golden Heart represents our nation’s humble way of recognizing those who help build life to the noble aspirations of the Filipino people,” the President said.

“The Golden Heart Award is given to those with a golden heart,” she said.

She added: “In behalf of the 85 million Filipinos and the families and friends who make up the four million members of the Philippine-American community, thank you for your continuing deep friendship. Thank you for your expression of support.”

The President noted that RP-US relations will “always be close as well as special.”

She said the latest BBC survey on the global perceptions towards the US revealed that the Philippines is the nation most supportive of the US.

Mrs. Arroyo pointed out that the RP-US Friendship Caucus is a living example of the two nations’ close bilateral ties.

Last April, the US Senate passed with a vote of 96-1 the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill that would grant WWII Filipino veterans the same benefits that their American counterparts receive. It was estimated that it would cost about $35 million a year for as long as 10 years.

However, the House has not yet passed the bill owing to opposition from American veterans’ groups that do not want budget for them taken away by Filipino-American veterans.

Under the new House thrust, no law would be passed unless there is actual funding for it. One way to fund it is through “offset” where an allocation would be diverted for the new appropriation, US lawmakers explained.

Issa noted that a vast majority of House members are supportive of granting benefits to Filipino veterans but are averse to the “offset.”

“So we will propose alternate offsets,” Issa told reporters. “I think we can convince those who don’t like the first bill to support the second bill.”

“We will use oil revenues because oil revenues to the US treasury have been rising along with others. As you know we have 41 million acres of federal lands that yield oil so there are plenty of revenues that can be taken from the increases,” he said.

Issa said he hopes that the House would be able to vote on the amendments by July.