It may or may not be an aspect of the fact that Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is cosidering running for Sen. Brian Schatz’s seat, but Filipino veterans are getting a lot of love from the two. Or it could be a reflection the two currently serve in different chambers.

But shortly after Schatz held a conference call with the press about sponsoring a bill to give the World War II veterans full military benefits, Hanabusa sent out her own release saying she also supports the veterans — and she sponsored two of her own bills to help the veterans months ago. 

As Civil Beat reported yesterday, Fiipinos who fought with the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II have been denied veterans benefits. The Philippines are the only country who fought wth the U.S. who havent been recognized, said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif, who is sponsoring the bill in the House.

Schatz  said of the Filipino veterans during the press call, “These indiviudals fought along Amercian soldiers and they deserve to be treated as american soldiers.” Noting the veterans are getting older as the bill has in the past failed to pass Congress, Schatz said, “We are running out of time.” Schatz’s release mentions that Sen. Mazie Hirono is a co-sponsor of his bill but doesn’t mention Hanabusa.

The bills were introduced on a day commemorating the Fall of Bataan. Hanabusa in her release said, “Today should be a reminder that the U.S was not alone in fighting the war in the Pacific, Fighting in the Philippines was long, brutal, and costly, but many brave men stood with our troops and paid the price. In return, we made a promise. They earned the same treatment and benefits as their American counterparts, and our debt remains unpaid.”

Hanabusa said she introduced two bills on Jan. 3. One directs the Secretary of the Army to issue certificates of service to Filipino veterans who have valid claims, which could help them get benefits. Another would  award the veterans with a Congressional Gold Medal.

In March, Hanabusa also introduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, which seeks to reunite these veterans with their families by expediting the immigration process for their children, many of whom have been on immigration waiting list for decades.

Photo courtesy TexasGOPVote.com.

—Kery Murakami