BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AJR 6
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 26, 2011

                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
                                 Paul J. Cook, Chair
               AJR 6 (Ma, et. al.) - As Introduced:  February 23, 2011
           
          SUBJECT  :   Filipino Veterans

           SUMMARY  :   This measure would request that the Congress and the 
          President of the United States enact the Filipino Veterans 
          Fairness Act of 2011 (H.R. 210).

           EXISTING LAW:  Under United States Code Title 38, Chapter 1, 
          section 107, service before July 1, 1946, in the organized 
          military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the 
          Philippines, ? including among such military forces organized 
          guerrilla forces under ? competent authority in the Army of the 
          United States  , is not deemed to have been active military, 
          naval, or air service for the purposes of any law of the United 
          States conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon any 
          person by reason of the service of such person or the service of 
          any other person in the Armed Forces.  �Emphasis added.]

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown, however, this bill is a resolution and 
          is not keyed fiscal.

           COMMENTS  :   According to the author:

             1.   At the time of World War II, Filipinos, who volunteered 
               to fight in the war, were promised full veterans' benefits 
               by the United States Government;

             2.   More than 250,000 Filipinos signed up to serve in the 
               war in response to this promise; and 

             3.   In 1946, President Truman signed the first Supplemental 
               Surplus Appropriation Rescission ? and the second 
               Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act ? known 
               as the Rescission Acts of 1946, �which]? denied almost 
               250,000 Filipino soldiers the benefits they earned serving 
               to protect the United States; and

             4.   The "Old" or Regular Filipino Scouts were entitled to 
               all benefits administered by the Department of Veterans 
               Affairs, while the military forces of the Government of the 








                                                                  AJR 6
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               Commonwealth of the Philippines, recognized guerilla 
               forces, and the New Philippine Scouts were all denied the 
               same benefits, even though they fought alongside the 
               Regular Filipino Scouts; and

             5.   Congresswoman Jackie Speier introduced the "Filipino 
               Veterans Fairness Act of 2011" (H.R. 210) to reverse the 
               Rescission Acts of 1946; and

             6.   H.R. 210 restores the average monthly pension of $1,500, 
               medical care, burial services, and all other benefits that 
               are as of now deemed available only to United States 
               citizens; and

             7.   H.R. 210 would allow the widows and widowers of the 
               Filipino veterans, who are deceased, to receive the 
               benefits that their spouses earned; and 

             8.   In 2007, the Legislature unanimously approved Senate 
               Joint Resolution 5 requesting the Congress and the 
               President of the United States to enact the Filipino 
               Veterans Equity Act of 2007; and 

             9.   There is a sense of urgency to pass H.R. 210 because 
               approximately 50,000 Filipino veterans are still alive, and 
               with the passing of each day, more of these brave soldiers 
               will become deceased.

          Related Legislation:  AB 199 (Ma, Cook) Encourages academic 
          curriculum to include instruction on World War II and the role 
          of Filipinos in that war.  

          There have been numerous, approximately 15, successful 
          resolutions adopted by the California Legislature, going back 
          over a decade, similar to AJR 6.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.








                                                                  AJR 6
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          Analysis Prepared by  :    John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550