LOS ANGELES, California--Filipino-American groups on Friday lauded the US Senate approval of legislation giving pension benefits to about 18,000 Filipino veterans who fought alongside American soldiers during World War II.

"Finally, the honor is restored to the gallant Filipino men and women who fought under the US flag during World War II," said Armando Heredia, national executive director for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

In Manila, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye welcomed the news Friday, thanking US senators for "the favorable action on a long-pending bill," expecting the passage of the counterpart bill in the lower House to also follow suit.

On Thursday (Friday in Manila), the US Senate approved the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act, S. 1315 on a vote of 96-1 after defeating a bid by some Republicans to strip the bill of provisions for veterans living in the Philippines.

NaFFAA is confident that the legislation will also pass in the lower house. "We expect to win (in the House), too," said Heredia.

NaFFAA and the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE) have called on the Filipino-American community to contact their congressmen and ask them to support the bill.

"We have to see this campaign through to the finish," said NaFFAA national chair Alma Kern, in a statement. "It's up to us to make this happen."

60-year-old stain in US honor

"This legislation would correct an injustice," said Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka, who sponsored the bill.

Commending colleagues who supported the Filipinos' cause, Akaka said the Filipinos "fought bravely under US military command, helping us win the war only to lose their veteran status by an Act of Congress."

Sen. Daniel Inouye, a Democrat, said the act would finally allow the US to fulfill the commitment it made to Filipino soldiers who fought alongside the Americans.

"Senate approval of the benefits for the surviving Filipino veterans is the first step in removing a more than 60-year-old stain on our national honor," Inouye said.

He said if the US delayed in "rectifying this injustice," very few of the aging veterans would receive the benefits they are entitled.

Of some 470,000 Filipinos who were inducted into the US forces to fight the Japanese, some 18,000 are still living.

Who deserves US aid

Opposing federal aid to veterans, especially in an election year, is anathema to lawmakers. Senators on both sides bandied that accusation and sparred over which veterans are most deserving of US aid at this time in history.

Republican Sen. Richard Burr noted that there was never a promise of compensation made to the Filipinos ordered to serve with Americans during World War II. His amendment would have spent the money instead on new housing, education and burial assistance for American veterans.

His amendment failed, 56-41, Burr ended up voting for the bill even with the controversial pensions.

The legislation is part of a broader bill that would expand health, education, housing and pension benefits for US veterans.

$300-a-month pension

The 96-1 vote sends the bill to the House of Representatives, despite objections from some Republicans and from President George W. Bush. Bush has not said he would veto the bill, but the White House and some Republicans wanted to strip out the pension for Filipino veterans because they said the money was better spent on soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Supporters of the controversial provision said it would overturn a 60-year-old law and give 18,000 Filipino veterans of World War II who live abroad a roughly US$300-a-month pension.

It would apply to Filipino veterans now living in the United States and provide a smaller pension for those residing in the Philippines to account for differences in the cost of living.

The White House and Republican opponents of the bill point out that such a pension would be added to one already given to these veterans by the Philippine government.

Filipino supporters

Among those who voted to pass the legislation was Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is in a grueling contest with Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Obama, who earlier released a statement supporting the bill, was one of three senators who abstained from voting. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain also did not vote.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for a debate and a floor vote. If it passes, it will then go to Bush for his signature.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a known supporter of Filipino veterans, recently honored the Filipino veterans of World War II saying "their heroic efforts played a critical role in the outcome of the war and helped lead our nation to victory."

"We remember the sacrifices they have made and are thankful for their service to our country," Pelosi said.

"We hope this will be signed as soon as possible. If you can recall in Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit), it's one of the subject matters discussed by the President (Arroyo) with Bush," said Bunye.

Sen. Richard Gordon, on behalf of the veterans and their families, also thanked the US senators, in particular, Akaka and Inouye and US Rep. Bob Filner.

"The US Senate's passage of the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 finally settles a 60-year-old question of honor and justice long denied our veterans who are mostly now in their 80s. Certainly, the expected benefits will provide comfort in their waning years, but what matters really is the American government's recognition of their heroism, valor and sacrifice," Gordon said in a statement sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Friday.

Confident

Retired Justice Manuel Pamaran, vice president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), said they were confident the bill would sail through the House of Representatives and eventually be signed by Bush.

"Definitely, he (Bush) will sign it. He has committed that to President Arroyo," Pamaran told the Inquirer.

"We are very happy with the new development. It has been a long wait, for more than half a century ... It is time for the veterans to savor the benefits due them and enjoy the benefits of their US counterparts who they fought with side-by-side bravely and courageously," he added.