How Filipino veterans could benefit from stimulus By Robert Farley
Published on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 06:51 p.m.

Related rulings:

Stimulus plan includes plan to compensate Filipino vets, but no actual money

Jon Kyl, Sunday, February 1st, 2009. Ruling: Half-True | Details

To hear Jon Kyl tell it, the Democratic-backed economic stimulus package is so full of waste and clutter that legislators ought to scrap it entirely and start fresh. "I mean, there are so many different things that you can make fun of in this bill," Kyl said. "Let me just mention one — millions of dollars to World War II Filipino veterans in the Philippines . Now, that may be a good thing to spend money on, but not in a stimulus bill. It doesn't stimulate anything." Does the Senate version of the stimulus package really include millions for Filipino vets? The answer is yes. And no. We explain here.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/feb/03/jon-kyl/stimulus-plan-includes-plan-compensate-filipino-ve

The Truth-O-Meter Says:

The Senate version of the economic stimulus package includes "millions of dollars to World War II Filipino veterans in the Philippines ."

 Jon Kyl on Sunday, February 1st, 2009 in in a Fox News interview.

Stimulus plan includes plan to compensate Filipino vets, but no actual money

In an interview with FOX News Sunday, U.S Sen. Jon Kyl, the Republican Whip, argued that the Democratic-backed economic stimulus package is so full of waste and clutter that legislators ought to scrap it entirely and start fresh.

"I mean, there are so many different things that you can make fun of in this bill," Kyl said. "Let me just mention one — millions of dollars to World War II Filipino veterans in the Philippines . Now, that may be a good thing to spend money on, but not in a stimulus bill. It doesn't stimulate anything."

Does the Senate version of the stimulus package really include millions for Filipino vets?

The answer is yes. And no.

Let's start at the beginning. During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos fought for the U.S. with the promise that after the war they'd get a path to U.S. citizenship and would also qualify for full veterans’ benefits by reason of their active service with our armed forces. Thousands of Filipinos died in the infamous Bataan Death March. But soon after the war, Congress reneged, and established that Filipino veterans would not be recognized as “active service” for the purpose of any U.S. law conferring "rights, privileges, or benefits." Filipino veterans activists have been fighting it ever since.

Fast forward to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, otherwise known as the economic stimulus bill. In the 735-page version of the bill now before the Senate, there are a full seven pages dedicated to "Payments to eligible persons who served in the United States armed forces in the Far East during World War II." It details a plan to compensate Filipinos who fought for the U.S. during World War II with lump sum payments of $15,000 for those who are U.S. citizens, and $9,000 for those still living in the Philippines . There are an estimated 18,000 Filipino vets still living who might qualify for payments; about 7,000 of them U.S. citizens. The total cost: up to $198 million. In a statement explaining its inclusion in the stimulus plan, Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said the bill would right a wrong. "This nation made a solemn promise, and with hardly a hearing, we revoked it," Inouye stated. "This is not the America I know and love. This episode is a blight upon the character of the United States , and it must be cleansed."

Time is of the essence, Inouye said. "It should be noted that as you read this, many of the Filipinos who would qualify are on their deathbeds.  Today, the average age of these men is about 90."

Whether or not the bill has merit is beside the point, said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense."This has no business being in an economic stimulus bill," Eliis said. "It's just catching a ride on this legislation. It's just cluttering up an already complicated and wordy piece of legislation."

Retired Col. Romy Monteyro, who has testified several times before Congress to lobby for compensation for Filipino World War II vets, said the bill has kicked around Congress for several years and "Inouye wanted to create a shortcut and put it in the stimulus package."This is not a waste of money," Monteyro said. "These people are suffering. They are in the twilight of their lives. They should be rewarded for all they did for the U.S. during the war."

But here's the thing, if passed as currently written, the money for the program wouldn't come out of the stimulus package. It was approved in another bill passed last year, said Rob Blumenthal, Democratic Communications Director for the Senate Committee on Appropriations. If the stimulus legislation passes, it would authorize that money to be released, he said, but "the amount of money for it in the stimulus bill is zero. The money was appropriated last year; it's not coming out of the stimulus bill."

So why is it even in the stimulus plan? Well, it so happens that Inouye is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the very same committee that wrote this part of the stimulus plan. No, Inouye stated, it would not appropriate any money, but "it will close a dark chapter in the history of this country." Compensation for Filipino vets was not in the version of the stimulus plan passed by the House.

The original legislation has another high-profile backer, President Barack Obama. Back in the campaign, in a May 2, 2008 "open letter to the people of Guam," Obama noted that he co-sponsored the Filipino Veterans Equity Act in the Senate "because I believe deeply that we must honor the heroic sacrifices of Filipinos who fought side by side with Americans on behalf of freedom…This bill finally provides Filipino veterans and their survivors with the benefits that they were promised, and that they bravely earned in battle." However, we could not find any statements by Obama on whether he supports its inclusion in the stimulus package.

So back to Kyl's statement that the stimulus plan includes "millions of dollars to World War II Filipino veterans in the Philippines ." The Senate version of the bill does include provisions for a program to compensate Filipino vets; and most of those who would be eligible for payments live in the Philippines . And, yes, the program is "authorized" for up to $198 million. But that wouldn't actually be part of the stimulus spending. That brings us to a Half True.

Re: Pres. Obama Promise Equity for WW11 Filipino U.S. Veterans

Sunday, January 25, 2009 10:29 AM

From:

"m e" <pinay_492001@yahoo.com>

To:

"The Obameter" <obameter@politifact.com>

An Open Letter to Honorable Jon Kyl, U.S. Senator of Arizona

Dear Senator Kyl,

Sir, please consider this as an opposing viewpoint to your position that the current “(stimulus) bill wastes millions on WWII Filipino Veterans who live in the Philippines”.

First of all, the WW11 Filipino Veterans you had specifically mentioned are Filipino WW11 U.S. veterans who maybe holding U.S, Filipino, other foreign or dual citizenships, which incidentally is not unique to these veterans, but may also be applied to many Americans, including elected public officials in various states & even in Washington D.C. for all we know.  Now, in regards to their foreign domiciles, allow me to say this, that if you can show me a roll call attesting that all retired U.S. military personnel reside in the territorial boundaries of the United States, you could send me back this letter and I promise that I will eat it, including my words.

Furthermore, Sir, let me respectfully ask you this- is it wasteful to compensate any U.S. military personnel for their services, especially in a situation when it is long overdue?  Undeniably, we owe to all the veterans in the U.S. military, including the Filipino WW11 U.S. veterans, fondly called the Filvets, the very existence of this free nation.  True, that currently we are in the midst of a financial crisis, but then, bear in mind that when the Filvets were drafted to the U.S. military, the United States then was in a greater wartime crisis than what we are experiencing today. To argue that the defense of the Philippines during WW11 is not a duty that falls to the United States is to deny the historical fact that a colonial country like United States is responsible for the defense of all its territorial possessions.

I believe that I need not explain all the particulars of this issue, since I am aware that you had voted for S-1315 with the much examined and debated Filvets provision intact.  As I believe that you are an honorable public official who does not seem to take his vote lightly, then allow me to assume that at least, you found the cause of the Filvets worthy of your considerations. Please accept my gratitude for your vote in this matter which is more that I could say to the presidential candidates of both Democratic and Republican parties who actually did not show up to vote for S-1315 with the Filvets equity provision called by Senator Inouye as the “Provision of Honor”.

Sir, lastly, I would like to appeal to your sense of justice. To deny equity to these valiant Filipino WW11 U.S. military personnel in their twilight years is to perpetuate not only a historical wrong, but also to continue inflicting moral injury to U.S. soldiers drafted to serve the United States during wartime. I am a woman of Filipino and American descent.  I treasure very much the valuable wartime U.S. military services of my ancestors and my children to the cause of liberty.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Very Respectfully,

Maria Elizabeth Embry

XXXXX

Antioch California 94509

Tel XXXX

February 1, 2009

Copy of this Open Letter was distributed to all interested parties

Enclosure: “Kyl: Start from scratch on stimulus” by VICTORIA MCGRANE 2/1/2009

Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090201/pl_politico/18252_1

Kyl: Start from scratch on stimulus

By VICTORIA MCGRANE | 2/1/09 11:22 AM EST  

 The prospects for bipartisan support for the stimulus package appear dim, according to Jon Kyl

Listening to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), the minority whip, the prospects for bipartisan support for the stimulus package appear dim.

Kyl said he has not started counting votes, but “I see support for this legislation eroding.”

“I think the more people around the country see it, the angrier they get because it’s very wasteful,” Kyl said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Kyl argued that the current bill does little to actually stimulate the economy, and wastes millions on, among other things, World War II Filipino Veterans who live in the Philippines, more than 30 new government programs, and a new $500 tax rebate—despite last year's rebate doing little to stimulate the economy.

“I think you have to start from scratch and reconstruct this,” Kyl said.

Among the changes Republicans will seek is to have the stimulus focus on housing, which is where the crisis started, Kyl said.

Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), also appearing on Fox News Sunday, said he has been speaking with Republicans, telling them, “We’re open about this. Come to us with your ideas… Let’s move forward.”

And, he said, the largest amendment added to the bill in the Senate Finance Committee was a GOP-authored one to prevent the Alternative Minimum Tax from hitting more taxpayers. The $80 billion amendment means that tax cuts now make up 36 percent of the more than $800 billion stimulus package.

Durbin said some Republicans have said they want more spending on infrastructure, and therefore there will be an amendment to do add it.

Democratic leaders are also busy addressing concerns of some members of their own party to prevent defections.

“This is not another bill. This is not another political debate this isn’t something that we can just dismiss at the end of the week and say ‘well let’s move on and do something else,’” Durbin warned. “We’re facing one of the most serious economic crises in our nation’s history. … America is counting on this.”

But Kyl defended his caucus against charges that they’re just playing obstructionists.

“There is a crisis in this country. Republicans full appreciate that. People are hurting and that’s why we don’t want to see this opportunity wasted,” Kyl said.

Monday, January 26, 2009 4:47 PM

RE: Re your news article: Stimulus bill may include benefits for Filipino veterans

Re your news article: Stimulus bill may include benefits for Filipino veterans

Wednesday, February 4, 2009 11:01 AM

From:

"m e" <pinay_492001@yahoo.com>

To:

richard.simon@latimes.com

Again, thank you for your news article.

Sincerely,

Maria Elizabeth Embry

XXXX

Antioch California 94509

tel XXXX

http://filipinos-ww2usmilitaryservice.tripod.com

http://filipinos-ww2usveterans-4equity.tripod.com

Allow me to paste here my open letter to Sen Kyl.

Stimulus bill may include benefits for Filipino veterans

Filipino World War II veterans have struggled for decades to receive U.S. military benefits.

The Senate's proposed version of the economic legislation includes one-time payments for World War II veterans from the Philippines, $15,000 for U.S. citizens and $9,000 for noncitizens.

By Richard Simon

February 4, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- After a decades-long struggle, Filipino veterans of World War II finally may be granted U.S. military benefits thanks to, of all things, the economic stimulus legislation.

A $198-million provision of the proposed Senate stimulus bill would authorize one-time payments of $15,000 to Filipino veterans who are U.S. citizens -- many of whom live in California -- and $9,000 for noncitizens, including those in the Philippines.

The provision is a small part of the overall $885-billion bill, but it has drawn criticism. North Carolina Sen. Richard M. Burr, top Republican on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, "finds it difficult to see how spending money in the Philippines will help stimulate the American economy," a spokesman said.

The veterans, many of whom are in their 80s and 90s, have fought hard for the benefits: In 1997 in Los Angeles' MacArthur Park -- named after Gen. Douglas MacArthur -- a group of protesters chained themselves to a statue of their former commander.

"We think this [stimulus bill] is the best chance for us to get this benefit approved," said Franco Arcebal of Los Angeles, a vice president of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans. "We're only about 15,000 left now. I'm 85, one of the youngest."

The payments were added to the legislation by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), chairman of the appropriations committee and one of three remaining World War II veterans in the Senate.

"It's a matter of honor and the good name of the United States," Inouye said outside the Senate chamber Tuesday. He noted that in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised the benefits, but Congress reneged on the pledge in 1946.

As for whether the veterans' payments belonged in the stimulus package, Inouye said, "I'm looking for any vehicle that will carry this forward."

Congress last year approved appropriation of the Filipino veterans' benefits, but authorization is needed before the money can be paid.

There is no provision for the veterans in the House bill. If the item survives in the Senate, it will be the subject of negotiations to reconcile differences in the two chambers' bills.

The veterans' measure is among a spate of bills aimed at rewarding the sacrifices of World War II veterans -- who are dying at a rate of about 850 a day -- and healing wounds lingering from the war era.

Other bills include the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act to provide payments to members of the merchant marine, sponsored by Rep. Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista), and a measure sponsored by Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) to create a commission to investigate the government's actions in the World War II internment and deportation of Latin Americans of Japanese descent.

Among the critics of including benefits for the Filipino veterans in the stimulus package is Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, the top Republican on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

"I do not question the valor and courage of the Philippine army, which fought alongside U.S. forces to defeat Japan in World War II, and I am not opposed to discussing ways to compensate these veterans. However, to do so and say it under the guise of stimulating the American economy is a complete falsehood and is the lowest form of partisan politics."

Arcebal called the payments a "small token to recognize our service."

Even if the benefits do not make it into the stimulus bill, this could be the year that the veterans achieve victory.

Several of their longtime champions are now in key positions in Congress: Filner and Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) chair the House and Senate veterans affairs committees, respectively, in addition to Inouye chairing the appropriations committee.

And President Obama, during the presidential campaign, expressed support for granting benefits to the Filipino veterans.

"If the Senate decides that this isn't the appropriate time or place, we're optimistic that we'll find the right vehicle in the future," said Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-San Jose), chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Senate puts Filipino vet pensions in stimulus

By Rick Maze- Staff writer Navy Times
Posted : Thursday Jan 29, 2009 18:22:33 EST

Filipino WW11 U.S. veterans

news about Filvets & stimulus bill:

Excerpts

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb… Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine …met separately with Pres. Obama about their ongoing effort to slash a long list of spending programs from a pending $900 billion economic stimulus bill. Nelson said he gave Obama a list of more than $50 billion in spending programs that could be eliminated. He said Obama pledged to have his economic advisors review that list and work with Nelson and other senators…The Nebraskan said many of the spending programs in the bill may be worthy of support but would not stimulate the economy.

Among the items that Nelson and other senators have tentatively agreed could be eliminated from the bill: $198 million in military benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II….Nelson said Obama pledged that Lawrence Summers, director of the National Economic Council, would work with the senator…Earlier in the week, Summers defended some of the programs being targeted by senators, including Pell Grants used to send low-income students to college. (what did Summers say about Filvets???-Notes by M.E. Embry)

Source: http://www.kearneyhub.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20255891&BRD=268&PAG=461&dept_id=577571&rfi=6

Nelson, Collins key in stimulus bill

By: Joseph Morton, WORLD-HERALD BUREAU Contact the writer

202-662-7270, joe.morton@owh.com

Updated 02/05/2009 08:22:26 AM CST

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Ben Nelson and a bipartisan group of senators have struck a tentative deal to strip more than $50 billion in spending from an economic-stimulus bill whose size now tops $900 billion, a spokesman for the Nebraska Democrat said today.

Nelson, along with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and other centrists in the Senate have been working to remove from the bill funds that they say would not stimulate the economy.

Nelson's spokesman, Clay Westrope, declined to list all the items to be struck under the tentative deal. But he mentioned a few highlights:

$198 million in military benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II.....

Nelson and Collins have emerged as key negotiators in the debate. Nelson, though, said he was skeptical that their efforts would reach Collins' target: $200 billion in reductions.

The two have counted up to 20 allies in their effort -- more Democrats than Republicans so far, they said.

Stimulus whittlers see small victory

By: Joseph Morton, WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

Updated 02/04/2009

The group is headed by Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Susan Collins, R-Maine. The two, along with Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, met with Obama Wednesday afternoon as he looks to find ways to salvage the bill by paring it down. Obama has said he wants to sign the stimulus into law by next week.Nelson and Collins want to cut from the bill expenditures that include $198 million for Filipino veterans.

 Source: http://www.dcexaminer.com/politics/39108887.html

GOP charge against stimulus bill gains steam

By Susan Ferrechio sferrechio@dcexaminer.com

Chief Congressional Correspondent 2/4/09

The Senate still plans to take up an amendment by Mrs. Snowe and Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska Democrat, that would cut the bill by as much as $200 billion by eliminating non-stimulus spending.

About a dozen Senate Democrats have either voiced support for their effort or proposed cuts, including $198 million for payments to Filipino veterans of World War II

Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/05/reid-dems-have-votes-stimulus/

Reid: Dems have the votes for stimulus

S.A. Miller (Contact)

Thursday, 2/5/2009

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Democrats have just enough votes to pass President Obama's stimulus bill later Thursday.

As for whether the veterans' payments belonged in the stimulus package, Inouye said, "I'm looking for any vehicle that will carry this forward Source: richard.simon@latimes.com 2/4/2009 Stimulus bill may include benefits for Filipino veterans

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-filipino-veterans4-2009feb04,0,5417769.story?track=rss

The reason the senator insisted on putting it in (the stimulus) bill is because our WWII veterans are passing away in great numbers," said Jennifer Goto Sabas, Inouye's chief of staff in Honolulu. "This is a matter of justice and there is no budgetary impact to the stimulus package because the dollars have already been provided. Source: Veterans' funding tied to stimulus

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090205/NEWS02/902050342/-1/RSS02?source=rss_localnews

By Peter Boylan Staff Writer 2/5/2009

pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com

Senate bill must be reconciled by the joint House & Senate conference committee with the $819 billion version approved by the House known as H.R. 1 & introduced by Rep David R. Obey. Not a single House Republican supported that bill and there are signs of a brewing insurrection by the chamber's conservative Democrats over run-away spending.

Leaders of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 47 conservative House Democrats, put Speaker Nancy Pelosi on notice Thursday that more of the wasteful spending must be cut from the stimulus to win their continued support.

The letter was signed by the seven leaders of the coalition, including Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, Rep. Baron P. Hill of Indiana and Rep. Charlie Melancon of Louisiana.

Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/05/reid-dems-have-votes-stimulus/

Reid: Dems have the votes for stimulus

S.A. Miller (Contact)

Thursday, February 5, 2009

 Dear Ms. Maria Elizabeth Embry,

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Sincerely,

Lamar Alexander

United States Senator, Tennessee

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