U.S. Rep. Mark Takai’s first bill as a congressman aims to help Filipino veterans united with their families.

The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.), would “lift limitations on immigrant visas and restrictions for children of certain Filipino World War II veterans,” according to a press release from Takai’s office.

Heck and Takai serve on the House Armed Services Committee, and Takai made the bill the topic of his first House floor speech earlier this week.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth endorses state Rep. Mark Takai’s 2014 campaign for Congress at the Veterans Hall in Honolulu.

Chad Blair/Civil Beat

“I chose this bill as my first to introduce in the new Congress for two reasons,” Takai said in a statement. “First, to make good on our obligation to take care of our Filipino veterans of World War II by helping them to reunite with their children. And second, to make good on my promise to work in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues across the aisle on issues where we find common ground.”

Takai is a member of the Hawaii National Guard who received the backing of veterans groups in his 2014 run for Congress.

In 2013, U.S. Sen Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, whose seat Takai now holds, introduced similar Filipino veterans reunification legislation. The respective measures were co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

An aide to Takai said Hawaii’s delegation has been working on the issue for a long time and that Takai “is determined to get it resolved.” The matter is all the more pressing because surviving World War II veterans are at an advanced age.