Four thousand Filipino veterans who feel they’ve been denied the benefits promised to them for fighting for the U.S. in World War II have won a long fought battle, but the war is far from over.
The Inquirer reports the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee on Wednesday passed a bill calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in effect to review its denial of these benefits.
The Bill by Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) would require to re-evaluate the process in which these claims are verified.
“Filipino veterans who served the United States during World War II deserve to know whether they are eligible for benefits promised to them,” said Heller. “No doubt, they are entitled to a fair and complete examination of their records.”
The bill is expected to go before the full Senate after the August recess.
“For over six decades, the resilience of the remaining few thousand Filipino WWII veterans who continue to appeal their claims is no less inspirational than their pursuit for recognition of their wartime service,” said Retired Major Gen. Antonio Taguba. Taguba’s father is a Filipino World War II veteran.
You can read a lot more about this bill in the Inquirer.
