The US House of Representatives was unanimous in passing a bill that recognizes the contributions of Filipino soldiers that served under US command in the Second World War.
Hawaiian Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Tulsi Gabbard sponsored the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act (S.1555).
The Senate also unanimously passed the bill in July. The bill will now go to the President for his approval.
Hirono said that time is running out to recognize the service of Filipino World War II veterans. She said that the bill’s passage represented decades of work by veterans and their families to gain recognition for their contributions and to receive the benefits they were promised, KHON2 reported.
Gabbard called the passage a historic step in honoring more than 200,000 Filipino and Filipino-American veterans. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest US honor for civilians. Only 18,000 Filipino veterans are alive today making it a pressing issue to get them the honor they deserve while there are any still alive.
Gabbard urged the President to sign the bill into law before year’s end.
President Roosevelt called for Filipinos to come to the aid of the US And fight under US command in World War II. More than 260,000 answered the call and are honored collectively under this bill.