Resolution to Exclusively Endorse and Support the Restoration of Full Military Status for WWII Filipino Veterans.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Whereas before July 4th, 1946 the Philippines was officially a territory of the United States.
Whereas on July 26, 1941 United States President Franklin Roosevelt invoked his power under the Philippine Independence Act, Public Law No. 73-127, Section 2(a)(12), 48 Stat. 456, 457 (1934), to call various Philippine military organizations “into the service of American armed forces.”
Whereas this Executive Order resulted in the induction of over 200,000 Filipino soldiers into the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE).
Whereas on March 1942, Congress amended the Nationality Act of 1940 to provide for immediate eligibility for citizenship for all non-citizens who served honorably in the United States armed forces.
Whereas Filipino soldiers fought courageously and honorably side by side American soldiers in several battles including that of Bataan and Corregidor.
Whereas on April 9, 1942 General King surrendered the Bataan Peninsula forcing 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers to experience the horror of the Bataan Death March.
Whereas after the surrender, Filipino soldiers remained loyal to America continuing to fight inducting tens of thousands more Filipino soldiers into guerilla units that gathered intelligence and carried out military operations in coordination with United States command.
Whereas on October 1945, following the American recapture of the Philippines, several thousands more Filipino soldiers where inducted into the New Philippine Scouts, a branch of United States Military given the task of securing the Pacific region after American recapture.
Whereas on November 1945, adjudications of applications for naturalization of the Filipino WWII Veterans were stopped per order of the U.S. State Department and the INS commissioner.
Whereas in December 1945, U.S. Congress passed legislation amending the immigration and naturalization law for war veterans and set a deadline of December 1946 for filing of applications.
Whereas only a few months before the December 1946 deadline, amidst post war chaos and minimal capacity to effectively inform the large Filipino WWII Veteran population, were immigration officials allowed to accept applications for naturalization in the Philippines.
Whereas on February 18, 1946, the First Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act was passed by Congress with a rider which specifically provided that the service under President’s Executive Order of 1941 “shall not be deemed to be or have been military or naval forces of the United States” for purposes of determining eligibility under most veterans benefit programs.
Whereas on May 27, 1946 U.S. Congress passed the Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act rendering Commonwealth Army and New Philippine Scouts personnel ineligible for all U.S. veterans benefits except for certain service connected disability and death benefits.
Whereas these Congressional acts were unjust and discriminated against Filipino WWII Veterans whom served courageously and honorably under American command and deserve full and equitable treatment, recognition and benefits for their services to the American government.
Whereas current attempts by the American Government to resolve this issue attempt to divide the Filipino community by offering some compensation to certain Filipino WWII Veterans but not all Filipino WWII Veterans.
Whereas any Congressional law that does not offer all Filipino WWII Veterans full and equitable recognition and benefits is in contradiction with the “equal protection under the law” clause of the fourteenth amendment of the constitution and is blatant continuance of injustice and discrimination.
Whereas thousands of Filipino WWII Veterans residing in the U.S. live off supplemental social security income, other wise known as welfare, distant from their place of birth, their families and their loved ones.
Whereas thousands more reside in the poverty stricken conditions of the Philippines with out even minimal health care facilities and needed medical treatments.
Whereas the number of Filipino Veterans is diminishing from over 200,000 in 1946 to less than 30,000 in 2005.
Whereas this injustice needs immediate resolve, for Filipino WWII Veterans have reached the twilight of their lives and are passing away at a higher rate each day.
Be it resolved that this organization exclusively endorses and supports, in any manner consistent with our capacity, advocacy efforts that are working toward changes in American law that restore full military status for WWII Filipino Veterans.
Whereas on July 26, 1941 United States President Franklin Roosevelt invoked his power under the Philippine Independence Act, Public Law No. 73-127, Section 2(a)(12), 48 Stat. 456, 457 (1934), to call various Philippine military organizations “into the service of American armed forces.”
Whereas this Executive Order resulted in the induction of over 200,000 Filipino soldiers into the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE).
Whereas on March 1942, Congress amended the Nationality Act of 1940 to provide for immediate eligibility for citizenship for all non-citizens who served honorably in the United States armed forces.
Whereas Filipino soldiers fought courageously and honorably side by side American soldiers in several battles including that of Bataan and Corregidor.
Whereas on April 9, 1942 General King surrendered the Bataan Peninsula forcing 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers to experience the horror of the Bataan Death March.
Whereas after the surrender, Filipino soldiers remained loyal to America continuing to fight inducting tens of thousands more Filipino soldiers into guerilla units that gathered intelligence and carried out military operations in coordination with United States command.
Whereas on October 1945, following the American recapture of the Philippines, several thousands more Filipino soldiers where inducted into the New Philippine Scouts, a branch of United States Military given the task of securing the Pacific region after American recapture.
Whereas on November 1945, adjudications of applications for naturalization of the Filipino WWII Veterans were stopped per order of the U.S. State Department and the INS commissioner.
Whereas in December 1945, U.S. Congress passed legislation amending the immigration and naturalization law for war veterans and set a deadline of December 1946 for filing of applications.
Whereas only a few months before the December 1946 deadline, amidst post war chaos and minimal capacity to effectively inform the large Filipino WWII Veteran population, were immigration officials allowed to accept applications for naturalization in the Philippines.
Whereas on February 18, 1946, the First Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act was passed by Congress with a rider which specifically provided that the service under President’s Executive Order of 1941 “shall not be deemed to be or have been military or naval forces of the United States” for purposes of determining eligibility under most veterans benefit programs.
Whereas on May 27, 1946 U.S. Congress passed the Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act rendering Commonwealth Army and New Philippine Scouts personnel ineligible for all U.S. veterans benefits except for certain service connected disability and death benefits.
Whereas these Congressional acts were unjust and discriminated against Filipino WWII Veterans whom served courageously and honorably under American command and deserve full and equitable treatment, recognition and benefits for their services to the American government.
Whereas current attempts by the American Government to resolve this issue attempt to divide the Filipino community by offering some compensation to certain Filipino WWII Veterans but not all Filipino WWII Veterans.
Whereas any Congressional law that does not offer all Filipino WWII Veterans full and equitable recognition and benefits is in contradiction with the “equal protection under the law” clause of the fourteenth amendment of the constitution and is blatant continuance of injustice and discrimination.
Whereas thousands of Filipino WWII Veterans residing in the U.S. live off supplemental social security income, other wise known as welfare, distant from their place of birth, their families and their loved ones.
Whereas thousands more reside in the poverty stricken conditions of the Philippines with out even minimal health care facilities and needed medical treatments.
Whereas the number of Filipino Veterans is diminishing from over 200,000 in 1946 to less than 30,000 in 2005.
Whereas this injustice needs immediate resolve, for Filipino WWII Veterans have reached the twilight of their lives and are passing away at a higher rate each day.
Be it resolved that this organization exclusively endorses and supports, in any manner consistent with our capacity, advocacy efforts that are working toward changes in American law that restore full military status for WWII Filipino Veterans.