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| June 29, 2007 |
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| Statement of Philippine Ambassador Wily C. Gaa
on US Veterans Committee Approval of Omnibus Benefits Bill for Filipino WWII Veterans
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Today marks a special and historic occasion in our long-standing quest for justice and equity for our brave and courageous Filipino WW II veterans.
In a special hearing held this morning by the U.S. Senate Veterans Committee, the committee voted to approve S. 1315 (Omnibus Veterans Benefits Improvement Act) on omnibus benefits bill providing for a special set of benefits for men and women who have fought with pride and honor under the US flag.
Most significantly, and for the first time ever in history, the important contribution of Filipino veterans of the last World War is now being officially recognized by a US legislative enactment.
With this bill’s eventual passage to law, thousands of surviving Filipino veterans still living in the Philippines are set to receive benefits, and more importantly, the US Government recognition for their courage and valor while heeding the call of President Franklin Roosevelt to join in the war effort.
On behalf of the Philippine Government and people, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to Senator Daniel K. Akaka for sponsoring this bill and for working for its passage with the Veterans Committee which he chairs. The tireless support of such friends of the Philippines as Senator Akaka and Senator Daniel Inouye will always be remembered by the Filipino people.
The search for justice for our veterans forms a very important part of the foreign policy agenda of the Arroyo administration. The Philippine Embassy acknowledges and appreciates the invaluable support and contributions to this effort from countless members of the Filipino community, veterans’ organizations, non-government organizations, and friends and partners of the Filipino people in making this dream a step closer to reality.
The House of Representatives is also close to coming up with its own markup hearing for their own version of this bill, and I am confident that working together, it will not be long before our veterans obtain the recognition and justice that they have long deserved.
Embassy of the Philippines
Washington, D.C.
27 June 2007 |
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