How to help???
It doesn't matter if you are a US citizen or not. What matter is we Filipinos in North America will unite--lets all join forces to help our manongs. YOU need to call or write to your congressperson. If you don't know who is your congressperson go to this site
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
just select your state & zip code.
Send this letter to him/her
check this site to see an example letter http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2008/06/filipino-vetera.html
When you're done with those steps you can send it by mail or by email to your congressperson.
One mail from us can make a big impact. Let's also pray na sana ma pass na ang bill na ito para sa ating Filipino Veterans. So they can be happy now. Thank You for your taking your time to do this... Malaking tulong ito sa ang mga Veterans.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Last Hurrah
article from Asian Journal
weekend edition/ August 23-26, 2008
by Joseph Pimentel
"Right now, we are gearing up for the fall," said Ben De Guzman, the coordinator of the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equality (NAFVE) to the Asian Journal from Washington DC. "We're trying to prepare a national action week to mobilize the community before congress comes back. This is really it. We have three legislative weeks left before they [members of the House Representatives] campaign."
Executive Director of the American Coalition of Filipino Veterans Eric Lachica seemed more optimistic. "We're hoping that our champions will life up to their pledge. We are within reach," said Lachica. House Resolution 760 is a bill that would allow Filipino WWII veterans to receive equity veterans affairs (VA) pention. There are 18,000 surviving Filipino WWII soldiers, 13,000 of which still reside in the Philippines.
A version of the bill has already passed by the Senate floors under S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007. According to the Senate bill, Filipino WWII veterans residing in the Philippines would be eligible for an annual payment of $3,600 ($300 a month) and married veterans would be eligible for $4,500. The annual payment for surviving spouses would be $2,400, according to the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate of the S. 1315 bill.
However, since its overwhelming favorable vote in the Senate earlier this year, the House version earlier this year, the House version has version has received less fanfare amongst Republicans and blue dog Democrats and is currently at an impasse in the appropriations committee.
With only a few months left in the congressional calendar, Filipino WWII groups and advocates are feeling a sense of urgency. Though technically they have until the end of the year to get the bill passed, Republicans and Democrats in the House are preparing for the re-election campaign
and focusing on the upcoming Presidential elections.
It's the reason why September is the month to get anything done.
"If we don't get this bill passed by September," said De Guzman. " Realistically we are done for this congressional session and would have to start over again next year."
Jump start
Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), who has championed the bill for several years, has tried to jumps start talks before the House left for recess. De Guzman said Filner set off "fireworks" proposing an amendment for a lump sum payment to the veterans as opposed to the proposed annual payment.
"What he really wanted to do was to jump start talks again," said De Guzman. "It worked. Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi (D-CA) spoke on the Filipinos WWII veterans' behalf. Of course, Steve Buyer (R-IN) [ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs] opposed it. Chet Edwards (D-TX) [Head of the Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee] gave his support. So in that sense it was positive."
"Filner's feeling the same frustration we're feeling," added De Guzman. "We're at an impasses. Nothing is happening."
The reason for the impasse is simple - money. Creating spending to any veterans groups such as for the Filipino veterans would mean taking away money form another source. To fund the Filipino veterans equity bill would mean to eliminate special monthly pensions for severely disabled veterans over 65 who are also receiving pensions for wartime service.
Giving money to veterans in the Philippines rather than US disabled veterans is a hard pill to swallow for some Republicans according to De Guzman.
"We are very disappointed how it is being characterized," explains De Guzman. " In reality, teh money set aside for the Filipino WWII veterans would not really take away form disabled veterans. The disability pension was not being distributed correctly so really it's restoring the original intent.
"The problem is that our champions and Democratic supporters have allowed the Republicans to set the debate terms and standards," said De Guzman.
Veterans fatgue
While De Guzman on NAFVE and Lachica are working behind the scenes in Washington, many members of the community nationwide are feeling the veterans' fatigue.
This past year, it has been a roller coaster ride for the Filipino WWII veterans, grassroots groups and their supporters. It's been full of ups and downs with many members of the community screaming for joy but some feeling woozy from the ride.
The momentum from the Senate passage earlier this year seemed to have waned during these past few months.
Lachica said it's time for the community to make a last push effort.
In fact he is on his way to Denver for the Democratic Ntional convention to rally support.
"During this recess time, community members should make an appointment to see their congressperson just to remind them about the Filipino WWII veterans equity bill," said Lachica.
Lachica added that the ACFV is hosting a number of community forums in the West Coast to update veterans and supporters of what's going on in Capitol Hill.
"We are very close to our goal," he said. "I think we have enough members of the House to support this bill."
De Guzman is asking for community supporters, grassroots groups and more importantly the WWII veterans not to give up.
"We are a community that has never engaged in a campaign like this before," said De Guzman. "I know it's hard to deal with this veteran's fatigue but the veterans have been marching 60 years. We're asking the community to continue their support for the next month. We have fought the fight but we need to do another week, another month of making phone calls to our veterans, the manongs, in the eye and say we did everything we can for you. If we win, great. If we lose, we go back to the drawing board to focus on the 111th but we did what we could.
"Our manongs marched for more than 62 years, we're asking the community to march with them for the next 62 days."
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