U.S. senators Mazie Hirono, the Democrat from Hawaii, and Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Friday introduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act.

According to Hirono’s office, the bill would expedite the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans.

Hirono said in a press release, “These brave soldiers didn’t flinch when the United States called them to battle in the Pacific Theater. The few surviving veterans are in their 80s and 90s and have been waiting for more than a half century to be reunited with loved ones and we owe them this benefit to them.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid at a Capitol Hill press conference Feb. 26.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

“Over 260,000 brave Filipino veterans made a great sacrifice and answered America’s call to serve in World War I,” Reid, the minority leader, said in the same press release.

The co-sponsors of the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act are Sen. Brian Schatz, the other Democrat from Hawaii, and senators Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

Hirono’s office says that Filipino veterans were granted citizenship in recognition of their service to the United States in World War II, but their children were not.

“Because of an antiquated immigration system, it can take more than 20 years for these applications to be reviewed,” a press release explains.