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S.1315 Passed 96-1
Sponsor Sen Daniel Akaka (D)
Co-Sponsor Sen Kenneth "Ken" Salazar (D)
Voted Yes (96): Democratic (48) Republican (46) Independent (2)
Voted No (1) Sen David Vitter (R) Louisiana
Did not Vote (3)- Sen. Barack Obama (D) Sen. John Mccain (R),
Sen Jim DeMitt (R)
Voting YES
in S.1315 is FAVORABLE to Filipino WW11 U.S. Veterans (Notes by M.E.
Embry)
In Their Own Words:
(excerpt) 4/28/2008
S.1315 Hon
Akaka: pleased…S. 1315…finally passed in the Senate…
the provisions in S. 1315 would be paid for by an offset that restores the original intent of Congress, which was wrongly
interpreted in a recent court decision, to provide certain VA benefits on the basis of disability and not age. Some of the
opposition to S. 1315 has centered on a misunderstanding of this provision. Aged veterans who are seriously disabled would
not be deprived of special benefits, but would continue to be eligible for them under the same conditions as applied to younger
veterans…The sole point of controversy in S. 1315 is a pension benefit for Filipino veterans who served under U.S. command
during World War II and who live in the Philippines… The
unique relationship between the Philippines and the United States made the Philippine islands particularly susceptible
to Japanese aggression during the war. Historians agree that the Japanese strategy was based upon a plan to destroy or neutralize
the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, and to deprive the United States
of its base in the Philippines. Were it
not for the U.S. presence, the Philippines would not have presented the Japanese with a strategic threat and turned
into a battlefield…Unlike other World War II veterans, these veterans have
been denied pension benefits for over 60 years. It is also important to note that these benefits are not retroactive. The pension proposed for Filipino veterans is less than one-third of the basic amount provided to veterans
living in the United States, in recognition of the lower cost of living in the Philippines … In 1946, President
Truman made a statement concerning provisions in a bill affecting Philippine Army veterans--At issue was a legislative rider
attached to the transfer of $200 million for the pay of the Army of the Philippines. President Truman said, “The effect
of this rider is to bar Philippine Army veterans from all the benefits under the G.I. Bill of Rights with the exception of
disability and death benefits which are made payable on the basis of one peso for every dollar of eligible benefits. I realize,
however, that certain practical difficulties exist in applying the G.I. Bill of Rights to the Philippines.''President Truman went on to state, “the passage and approval
of this legislation does not release the United States
from its moral obligation to provide for the heroic Philippine veterans who sacrificed so much for the common cause during
the war ..... I consider it a moral obligation of the United States
to look after the welfare of the Philippine Army veterans.'' (end of quote)…I thank my colleagues for standing with
me, my World War II colleagues Senators INOUYE and STEVENS, and a majority of the Veterans' Affairs Committee,
and not accepting the amendment of the Senator from North Carolina
Source: http://durbin.senate.gov/showRelease.cfm?releaseId=296646
(excerpt) Sen Durbin “In a letter sent to me earlier this year, Mr. Teleforo Yague, former Commander
of American Legion Post 509 in Chicago, expressed to me the importance of this issue to the World War II Filipino-American
veterans,” Durbin said in a statement to his colleagues on the Senate floor. “This
provision honors the remaining men and women who served America
with loyalty during World War II.”…(Sen. Durbin) also discussed his frustration with the delays that previously
postponed consideration of the bill. More than five months ago, Durbin asked
the Senate for unanimous consent with respect to the legislation. There was an
objection, and the bill was tabled until today (4/22/2008)
(excerpt) 4/13/2008 Sen. Ken Salazar [D-CO]: Re: Pres. Roosevelt 7/26/1941
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD,
as follows:
Military Order Placing Land and Sea Forces of Philippines Under United States Commands,
July 26, 1941
Under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the United States, by
section 2(a)(12) of the Philippine Independence Act of March 24, 1934 (48 Stat. 457), and by the corresponding provision of
the Ordinance appended to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, and as Commander in Chief of the Army and
Navy of the United States, I hereby call and order into the service of the armed forces of the United States for the period
of the existing emergency, and place under the command of a General Officer, United States Army, to be designated by the Secretary
of War from time to time, all of the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines: Provided,
that all naval components thereof shall be placed under the command of the Commandant of the Sixteenth Naval District, United
States Navy.
This order shall take effect with relation to all units and personnel of the organized military
forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, from and after the dates and hours, respectively, indicated
in orders to be issued from time to time by the General Officer, United States Army, designated by the Secretary of War.
(excerpt; support) Sen Daniel K. Akaka 11/13/2007… address a 60-year wrong... since the end of (WWII)…Filipino veterans and
their advocates, esp. Sen. Inouye, have worked tirelessly to secure these veterans the status they were promised when they
agreed to fight under U.S. command in defense of their homeland and to protect U.S. interests in the region.
(excerpt) Sen. Benjamin
Cardin [D-MD]:…support S. 1315…But, for 8 months now, members of the minority party have kept the Senate from even debating S. 1315 because they oppose a provision in the bill that would extend certain VA benefits to elderly Filipino veterans, residing
in the Philippines…Restoration of that status rights a wrong committed decades ago. And it is a correction we don't
have many more years to make. We should grant these former soldiers full status and the limited pension rights contained in
this bill so that they can live out their remaining years in dignity and peace
(excerpt) support by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)..." Republican filibustering
has led to the inactivity ...66 times Republicans have filibustered...I think it’s long overdue that the United States
Senate recognizes the contributions made by so many Filipinos in WWII that led to the success of our war efforts...They fought
so gallantly and courageously by our troops when we needed desperately their help...This bill had a positive vote out of committee...
The Republican minority rejected bringing it up… initiated a filibuster trying to stop us from bringing this bill forward
… There was no need for a filibuster except the fact that this is the strategy of the Republicans… They object
to the idea of giving them $300 a month but won’t come to the floor for a motion to strike [the bill down] but [rather]
drag these out months at a time. It’s not fair to our veterans and especially Filipino veterans.”
http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfDEC07/nf120307-3.htm
Historic Debate on Filvets Bill Up Before Full Senate by Joseph Lariosa (Special to the Asian
Journal) (excerpt) Last Nov.
8, Sen. Dick Durbin (Dem.-IL), Assistant Majority Leader, “propounded unanimous consent agreements”
on two bills reported by the Veterans Affairs Committee -- S. 1233, the proposed “Veterans
Traumatic Brain Injury and other Health Programs Improvement Act of 2007” and S. 1315, the proposed “Veterans
Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007,” the Senate version of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill. The only senator opposed to the passage of “both unanimous consent agreements,”
according to Sen. Akaka, is Idaho Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho.).
He expressed the view that some provisions in the two bills are “controversial enough to merit considerable debate.”
Although, he considers Senator’s Craig’s amendments “relevant,” Sen. Akaka is hopeful the debate on
the bills on the floor will “go forward.” If the Senate passes the bill, it will be sent to a conference committee,
where it awaits the House of Representatives version that will be crafted by Rep. Bob Filner (Dem.-CA), House Veterans Committee Chair. Rep. Filner should also make sure
to calendar the bill and have it passed by the House of Representatives. If Akaka’s and Filner’s bills do not
pass both chambers before this year’s end, the Filipino Veterans Bill will be considered dead in this 110th Congress.
(excerpt) 11/8/2007 Sen Larry Craig
I vigorously oppose…is the sole reason for my unwillingness to support the bill…special
pension benefits for non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. resident Filipino veterans and surviving spouses goes beyond the intent
of veterans benefits…I do not believe such a provision would have the support of the American people…Pension benefits
for veterans in the United States are paid at a maximum annual rate of $10,929 for those with no dependents, $14,313 for those
with dependents, and $7,329 for a surviving spouse. The maximum VA pension represents somewhere between 16 percent and 31
percent of the annual U.S. household income of $46,000. Contrast that with the average
Philippines household income of $2,800.
The special pension for Filipino veterans in S. 1315 would amount to an astounding 86 %- 161% of the Philippines
household income… vast discrepancy between the standard of living (U.S. & Phil).. By refusing to look at the purchasing
power of the benefits being provided here, this legislation would pay veterans in the Philippines far more in benefits and pension than we pay our own veterans. It is
especially ironic that a bill intending to treat Filipino veterans equitably would create such a dramatic inequity for our
U.S. veterans…offset that S. 1315 …reducing pension amounts to elderly, poor, and disabled veterans predominantly residing (U.S.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
S.A. 4572 proposed amendment to S. 1315
(voting NO in S.A. 4572 is FAVORABLE to the Filipino WW11 Veterans-notes by M.E. Embry)
S.A. 4572- (Sponsors- Republican Senators
Burr, Craig, Vitter,Isakson)
Result: Rejected
Source:
http://www.militarytimes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1564127
Voted NO Sen.
Ted Stevens, R-Alaska: “I do not get excited too many times on this floor,” said Stevens, who served in the Army
Air Corps in World War II flying transport aircraft in China. “This bill excites me.” (one of the strongest advocates and one of five World War
II veterans Senators-Sen Akaka, Inouye, Lautenberg & Warner).
Voted Yes Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina,
said he has “profound respect for the World War II service by Filipino veterans” but does not think such payments
are “the right priority in time of war when the needs of our men and women serving in Iraq
and Afghanistan are so great.”
Evan Bayh (D-Ind) Voted YES on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US
Army.
Opponents argument for voting
NO:Sen. INOUYE.
From the Spanish-American War in 1898, until the end of World War II, we exercised jurisdiction over the Philippines
like a colonial power. In July 1941, we called upon the Filipinos to volunteer to serve the US under American command, and 470,000 Filipinos volunteered. An Executive Order
in 1941 promised Filipinos if they fought for us, they could become citizens of the US and get all of the veterans' benefits. But in 1946, the Congress rescinded the
1941 act. Well, this veterans bill has a provision in it--a provision of honor--in which, finally, after six decades, we will restore our honor and tell the Filipinos: It is late, but please forgive
us. Proponents argument for voting (YES):Sen. BURR. This bill is so much more than just a pension for Philippine veterans. It
is $332 million in Philippine benefits, of which $221 million is devoted to a new special pension that does not exist [previously.
Only that $221M would be cut]. Regardless of the outcome of my amendment, I support final passage of this bill. But we do
have a difference as it relates to the pensions. I believe that there was not a promise made.
We did not imply it.*Those who made the decision on the 1946 Rescissions Act,
they looked at the history very well.
(YES) Sen. CORNYN. The problem I have with this
bill is that the US Treasury is not bottomless, and the funding that is being provided to create this new pension would literally
be at the expense of US veterans. The $221 million that is addressed by Sen. Burr's amendment would actually go back in to
supplement benefits for US veterans. And while we appreciate and honor all of our allies who fought alongside of us in WWII,
certainly that doesn't mean we are going to grant pension benefits to all of our allies, [like] the British or the Australians.
Vote for the Burr Amendment because certainly our American veterans should be our priority.**
* It is more than a promise. It is the RESPONSIBILITY of the United States
to defend Philippines, her colonial possession.
**Unlike Filipinos, the British & Australians were not drafted by
President Roosevelt.
With all due respect to Senators Burr & Cornyn, they really need to go back
& study U.S. History (101), then perhaps they will understand the difference between responsibility, promise, allies &
subjects, etc.-Notes by Maria Elizabeth Embry
Voted No 56= Democratic 47 Republican 7 Independent
2
Voted Yes 41= Democratic 1 Republican 40
Did not Vote 3 = Democratic 1 Republican 2
Date/time: April 24, 2008, 12:16 p.m.
Democratic Party
Barack Obama-DID NOT VOTE
Evan Bayh-Voted Yes
The ff. Senators
Voted No:
Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Joseph Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Sherrod Brown, Robert Byrd, Maria
Cantwell, Ben Cardin, Thomas Carper, Bob Casey, Hillary Clinton, Kent Conrad, Christopher Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin,
Russell Feingold, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Daniel Inouye, Tim Johnson, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Amy Klobuchar, Herb
Kohl, Mary Landrieu, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Blanche Lincoln, Claire McCaskill, Robert Menendez, Barbara
Mikulski, Patty Murray, Ben Nelson, Bill Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Chuck
Schumer, Debbie Stabenow, Jon Tester, Jim Webb, Sheldon Whitehouse, Ron Wyden
Republican
Party
Voted No- Chuck Hagel, Richard Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, George Voinovich,
John Warner
John McCain-DID NOT VOTE-Jim DeMint
Voted
Yes
Lamar
Alexander, Wayne Allard, John Barrasso, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr,
Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, Bob Corker, John Cornyn, Larry Craig,
Michael Crapo, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Orrin
Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Mel Martinez, Mitch McConnell,
Pat Roberts, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, John Sununu, John Thune, David Vitter,
Roger Wicker
Independent Joseph Lieberman Bernard Sanders
Voted No
S.1315 (sponsored by Senator Akaka); passed 96-1 in the Senate
S. 1315 was passed by the House of Representatives on 9/22/2008 after removal of the Filipino WW2 U.S.
Veterans provision.
Pls. click @
H.R. 6897 sponsored by Rep. Bob
Filner on 9/15/2008 & PASSED 9/23/2008 by the U.S. House of Representatives
More on S-1315 in the House of Representatives:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not include the Filvets provision in the
S.1315 since it met resistance from The American Legion & the following representatives
* 162 Republicans
(like Rep. Steve Buyer R-Indiana allied w/ the
American Legion, Wash D.C.)
* 93 Democrats
(like members facing re-elections & some "Blue Dogs" )
Useful websites for additional info:
“Where’s
Pelosi” by Johnny M. Pecayo, Manila-U.S. Times 8/4-8/10/2008 issue, an insightful article
about S-1315.
Mr
Pelayo, the publisher described the meeting that took place in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Wash D.C. office that Mr. Pelayo
had attended in his capacity as the Co-Chair for Public Relation of the Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCON) with
other Filipino political leaders & activists, as well as four of our WW11 Filipino U.S. veterans on 7/17/2008. Source: http://manilaustimes.blogspot.com
other website: www.manilaustimes.org
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