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April 16, 2007

Filipino Veterans Bill Receives Full Support From Congressman Mike Honda
San Francisco, 16 April 2007 – California Congressman Mike Honda (D-15th District) reiterated last Friday his full support to the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill in the U.S. Congress during a meeting with Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

Also present in the meeting were Consul Wilfredo Santos, Atty. Lou Ann Tancinco and Ms. Luisa Antonio of the San Francisco Veterans Equity Center (VEC), former Commissioner Rudy Asercion of the Veterans
Congressman Mike Honda with consulate officials and Filipino War veterans
Congressman Mike Honda with consulate officials and Filipino War veterans
War Memorial Commission of San Francisco, and Filipino war veterans David Tejada, Lucio Dimaano, and Regalado Baldonado.
“The United States Government asked the Filipino soldiers to fight for our cause during the war. These veterans did their job with unquestionable loyalty. Congress can’t do anything less by not giving full recognition and equity for their war time service,” said Congressman Honda.

A member of the powerful Appropriations Committee in the U.S. Congress, Congressman Honda said that 218 votes from the 435-member House of Representatives would be required to secure passage of this measure.
Congressman Mike Honda discusses the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco
Congressman Mike Honda discusses the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco

Congressman Honda was likewise briefed on the activities undertaken by the Filipino American community in San Francisco and the Bay Area during last year’s celebration of the centennial of Filipino migration to the United States. He expressed appreciation to Consul General Sanchez for providing him with a calendar of events of the consulate and the Bay Area Filipino American community.

“With such a calendar, it would be easier for Congressman Honda and his district office to keep track of our activities and those of the Bay Area Filipino American community and to schedule their attendance in these events,” said Consul General Sanchez.

At the end of the meeting, Congressman Honda praised the Filipino war veterans for their commitment to the U.S. cause during the war.

“The Filipino soldiers never wavered in fighting the enemy during the war. If you have existing documents that contain statements from American leaders in the past who voiced out their objections to the

Consul General Sanchez with Congressman Mike Honda
Consul General Sanchez with Congressman Mike Honda
Rescission Act, please provide me with copies which can serve as a basis for us to push hard for the passage of this measure,” he said.

Congressman Honda added: “Please bear in mind always that Congress is a living organism responsible for its past, present and future actions. Just because an old Congress did an act which was not favorable many years ago doesn’t mean that the present one can not be held accountable. This is an argument which I can to accept at all.”

The proposed Filipino Veterans Equity Bill has two versions pending in the U.S. Congress. The House Committee on Veterans Affairs chaired by Congressman Bob Filner held a hearing on HR 760 on February 16. A recent hearing on the Senate version of the bill, S.57, was held on 11 April by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chaired by Senator Daniel Akaka in Washington D.C.
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