WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bills signed into law by President Clinton aid certain Filipino veterans residing in the United States who fought alongside American troops during World War II.
The bills expand access to health care and burial services and increase the rates of compensation paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to certain service-disabled Filipino veterans.
"My signature on this legislation makes long-awaited equity a reality for many aging Filipinos whose bravery in World War II was important to achieving the democracy we treasure today," said the President.
Until now, only Filipinos who served in the U.S. armed forces and Old Philippine Scouts have been receiving VA compensation and medical benefits equal to those of U.S. veterans.
Two new laws will enable VA to improve benefits and services to certain World War II veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and recognized guerilla groups with service-connected conditions who reside permanently in the United States today.
The Philippine Islands achieved independence from the United States in 1946. It was still a commonwealth of the United States when America entered World War II, and many Filipinos were ordered into service by President Roosevelt. In the years that followed, a variety of VA benefits emerged for different types of Filipino military service. One long-standing provision gave some Filipino veterans certain VA benefits at half the normal rate.
Although the laws make no additional Filipino veterans eligible for VA disability compensation, those Filipino veterans living in the United States who are U.S. citizens or permanent aliens and who have an existing service-connected disability will now be paid at a full, rather than half, rate.
Currently, these veterans may receive care at VA facilities in the United States only for their service-connected conditions. Under the change in law, these service-disabled Filipino veterans will be provided hospital and nursing home care and outpatient medical services regardless of cause, service-related or not, under the same rules as for U.S. veterans. The new law also allows VA to treat non-service-related conditions of U.S. veterans and Old Philippine Scouts at its Manila Outpatient Clinic.
The "Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000" contains provisions extending eligibility for future burial in VA national cemeteries to certain World War II veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and recognized guerilla groups living in the United States. Eligible will be those who, at the time of death, either were citizens of the United States or had permanent residence status.
Monetary burial benefits, funeral expenses and plot allowances will be payable at an increased rate for certain disabled World War II veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and recognized guerilla groups residing in the United States. They must have been either U.S. citizens or admitted for permanent residence.
