Speech #1010106249

H.R. 525 was redrafted carefully in accordance with the Department of Justices recommendations to extend the filing deadline to 2 years and include veterans who are currently residing outside the United States. These provisions would effectively include all Filipinos who bravely fought against the Japanese under United States command. I am pleased to note that this bill. as amended by the distinguished chairman of Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees. and International Law. applies to all members of the recognized guerrilla units. who continued the fight against the Japanese invaders until the liberation of the Philippines. as well as the Filipino Scouts whose assistance was invaluable for our forces during the war. District courts have ruled In favor of Filipino claims. but were overturned by the Supreme Court on the premise that only Congress had the authority to remedy the situation. . Mr. Speaker. the continuing plight of the Filipino veterans. now over four decades old. needs to be resolved. These veterans fought bravely against the Japanese during World War II. and were promised United States citizenship in return. However. this promise was never kept. effectively denying thousands of Filipinos their guaranteed right to naturalize. Mr. Speaker. we are legally and morally obligated to return to the promise of the Congress of 1942. As a nation that promotes November 14. 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 28967 equality. fairness. and justice globally. we once stated. "Loyalty is a matter of the heart [can] do for them in return for their heroic must keep our promise to the Filipinos. and mind. not of race. creed. or color." It is service during the war would be to provide the Mr. Speaker. fulfilling our promise to these time we repay the loyalty of these Filipino war opportunity for naturalization which Congress Filipino veterans is a simple matter of justice. veterans by reestablishing their right to natu. originally provided in March of 1942." For as Judge Renfrew of the U.S. District ralization. In the words of one of the counsels Court for the Northern District of California in the Pangilinan case. "the least our country