VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.






Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases
 

Download your
free copy of the
2008 VA benefits
handbook here...
 

Printer-Friendly Version

REPUBLICAN PRESS RELEASE

September 17, 2008

-------------------------

World War II Filipino Veterans’ Benefits Bill Ordered Referred

For more information, contact: Brian Lawrence, (202) 225-3527

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs approved a controversial measure, H.R. 6892, that would provide limited compensation to Filipino Veterans of World War II. The bill was ordered reported by a voice vote.

The Committee has been at loggerheads over the issue for well over a year, primarily because previously reported legislation, H.R. 760, would have obtained funding by overturning the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims decision in Hartness vs. Nicholson to pay for the new benefit. Committee Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) unleashed a full-scale effort to block the measure because overturning the decision would have eliminated a benefit for elderly, severely disabled, impoverished, wartime veterans. Buyer also fought against a Senate passed bill, S. 1315, which contains the same provision, on the principle that it is wrong to take benefits from one group of veterans to give to another.

Buyer expressed appreciation that H.R. 6892 does not utilize the same funding mechanism. The bill would establish a general Treasury fund known as the ‘Filipino Veterans’ Equity Compensation Fund.’ Subject to availability of appropriations, the $198 million fund would make a one-time payment in the amount of $9,000 for an eligible person who is not a citizen of the , and a $15,000 for an eligible person who is a citizen of the . Though Buyer was relieved that the bill would not eliminate benefits from American veterans, he voiced concern that it was not vetted through the normal legislative process.

“I am very pleased that the Hartness funding has been taken off the table as a means to pay for these benefits,” Buyer said. “And while I understand the Chairman’s desire to move quickly on this, I would like to remind him and the members of the Committee, that we have not held a hearing on this particular bill to learn the position of the Administration, or the views of veterans’ organizations.”

Buyer offered two amendments during the markup. The first amendment, which was unanimously approved by voice vote, inserted language into the bill to provide a standard release for the proposed payments. World War II Filipino veterans, by accepting the payments, would release all further service-related claims against the . The other amendment would utilize the $198 million to fund a veterans’ small business loan program that was terminated in 1986. After a point of order was raised on the germaneness of the amendment, Buyer withdrew it and explained that while the point of order was correct, his intent was to illustrate that $198 million could be better spent on veterans here at home.

“Mr. Chairman, during discussion of the previously mentioned Filipino Veterans Equity bills, my staff contacted the various veteran organizations regarding the use of these funds,” Buyer said. “I agree with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and the Gold Star Wives of America (GSW) that there are higher priorities for the use of these funds. These priorities include, but are not limited to, improvements to: Specially Adapted Housing and Specially Adaptive Automobile grants for severely disabled veterans; increases to veterans’ mileage reimbursement rates travelling to VA for compensation exams; increases in supplemental insurance coverage for disabled veterans; and increases to benefits for American surviving spouses.”

Buyer also thanked The American Legion for its strong support of disabled war-time veterans receiving pensions, and opposing the diminishing of earned benefits for one group of veterans in order to fund earned benefits for another group of veterans.

“I commend you for standing by them, even while some others have not,” Buyer said. “The American Legion has stood on principle in its support for disabled veterans, and I thank you. Mr. Chairman, we are a nation at war. We should be devoting our available resources to meeting the needs of our veterans and returning warriors.”

-------------------------

posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org

Don't forget to read all of today's VA News Flashes (click here)

Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage

email Larry

(go back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page)

       
Military Medical Malpractice 
Legal Network               

VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.