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Updated at 12:50 p.m., Wednesday, April 11, 2007
VA opposes giving WWII Filipino veterans full benefits
By DENNIS CAMIRE Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — Legislation that would give full veterans benefits to many Filipinos who fought in the U.S. Army against the Japanese during World War II would cost too much, the Bush administration said today.
Ronald R. Aument, deputy under secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee paying even a portion of those benefits would cost at least $4 billion over a decade. In addition, veterans who live in the Philippines and receive full benefits would have a much higher standard of living compared with the rest of country's population, Aument said.
"VA benefits paid to beneficiaries living in the United States, such as U.S. veterans, do not enable those beneficiaries to live higher than the general U.S. population," he said. "We do not support the bill because it would disproportionately favor Filipino veterans over U.S. veterans."
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said providing full benefits for Filipino veterans would cost about $1 billion over 10 years.
Filipino veterans, who laid a wreath Tuesday at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, told the VA committee about their wartime experiences and struggle to get benefits they believe they are owed. "We served with honor and loyalty," said Benito Valdez, 83, of Seattle. "Today — 63 years later — that loyalty and sense of duty has not faded away. Many of us aging Filipino war veterans believe that it is our American allies who have forgotten us."
Sen. Dan Akaka, the Hawai'i Democrat who chairs the Senate panel, said the Filipinos deserve the benefits they were promised when they fought alongside U.S. soldiers. Denial "means they are not officially acknowledged by the United States government as true veterans," Akaka said.
Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, the top Republican on the committee, said he supports giving Filipinos full benefits but added he's worried about the cost and the standard-of-living issues. "The same benefit paid to veterans in the Philippines would provide income that is almost four times the average household income in that country," he said. (Snipped)
Thanks for your posting.
That opinion by that hired hack, VA bureaucrat was expected by Reps: Filner, M Honda, Senators Akaka and Inouye, and by our growng bi-partisan legislator supporters. Let's wait until what the pro-HR-760 (legislators) say and do before fully judging the issue.
We heard that opinion before, however, there still would be a lot of political compromises involved. There's so much at stake -- that could not be overlooked. A well-embellished opinion presented with a negative intent beats all speculations and lies that have been invented. Truth buried undergound will grow and not die, likewise gather for itself with explosive power that would burst its way up towards verity.
They are prepared in the Senate to counter the VA's bureaucratic position presented and against the Kababayan disguised Quislings ( a.k.a. Makapilis of today) against full-equity benefits for veterans. Not to leave out credit-grabbers and publicity hungry kabayans who pay no heed for unity.
The pro-HR-760 can handle the begrimed opinion during the compromises and secure as much of the amended provisions contained in HR-760. Existing statutes and what are abhorred by the Constitution can not be put aside for convenience.
Albeit, there has been enough money available earmarked on the budget for HR-760 by the Appropiations Committees, reported by Rep Honda,etc. Unless unlawfully purloined into pork by the minority party, nevertheless far-fetched to happen.
Speculations however, may sound or look negative for satisfaction of those who operate under fear. Let's leave alone the matter to the Senate, and wait patiently.
Blogs and suit-sayers have their privilege, and senses to what they speculate on, albeit, are independent of political realities. They may appear convincing, but are not the best shot that gets through the mark.
This Fil-Am veteran's issue could make or break entirely he current Admnistration -- comes next election. If it comes to rough and tumble, the obtaining party's tyranny of numbers would prevail in favor of full equity. So, sit back and relax and watch your blood pressure .The sky will not come crashing down .Politics is all apple sauce.
Col. Frank Quesada (Ret.).
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