STAND. COM. REP. NO.708-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.R. No. 18

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 18 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO REPEAL THE RESCISSION ACT OF 1946 AND THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL SURPLUS APPROPRIATION RESCISSION ACT (1946), AND TO RESTORE FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS' TO FULL UNITED STATES VETERANS' STATUS AND BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request the Congress and President of the United States to support legislation to repeal the Rescission Act of 1946 and the Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act (1946), and to restore Filipino World War II veterans' to full United States veterans' status and benefits.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the WW II Fil-Am Veterans, Hawaii Chapter, Philippine Scouts Composite Veterans, and several concerned veterans and individuals. Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was received from the Office of Veterans Services.

Your Committee finds that as the veterans of World War II grow older, time is running out to take the proper action to provide the benefits that were promised by the United States and earned by those Filipino troops who fought as members of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East under General Douglas MacArthur.

 

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 18 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

 

____________________________

NESTOR GARCIA, Chair