'Fight for full benefits for Filvets not over yet'

CHICAGO – Although he did not sign up on The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the only first generation Filipino-American congressman in the United States Congress vowed to continue the fight for “full benefits" of Filipino World War II veterans. Rep. Steve Austria (R-7th) of Ohio said he believes the Filipino veterans deserve better than what was granted under the measure. Signed by President Barack Obama last February, the law contains a provision appropriating $198 million as one-time benefit for an estimated 18,000 surviving Filipino WWII veterans. It grants $15,000 lump sum pay to each Filipino veteran who is a US citizen, and $9,000 to each non-US citizen. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (Hawaii-D), chairman of the US Senate Appropriations Committee, who introduced the insertion of the Filipino veterans benefit into Stimulus Bill, later admitted that the $198 million appropriation was a “token" amount. In a video interview with this reporter last Saturday, Austria said he did not sign Obama’s Stimulus Bill because he didn’t know it contained a rider very close to his heart. Austria’s later father, Dr. Clement Austria, was a Filipino guerilla during World War II. “No one talked to me about (the inclusion of the Filipino veterans benefits in the Stimulus Bill)," he said shortly after delivering his speech at the three-day 4th Regional Conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Association (NaFFAA) for the Midwest Region (R3) at the Wyndham O’Hare Hotel in suburban Rosemont, Illinois. “The Filipino veterans bill was an amendment bill that was put on the Stimulus bill, a spending bill, that they (Democrats) knew that we, Republicans, in my side of the aisle, could not support." [See: 'Fil-Am photographer pays tribute to 'America’s second-class veterans'] The Stimulus Bill provided for a $748-billion amount to help keep small businesses afloat amid a financial crisis that have been largely blamed on the failed economic policies of former President George W. Bush. Austria said he supports suggestions that President Obama write a letter of apology to each of the Filipino veterans to compliment the token benefits to “our partners" during World War II. In 1988, then President George HW. Bush Sr. signed a letter of apology to each of the 82,210 Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants, who received a token $20,000 each for their internment during World War II in various concentration camps around the US to prevent them from supporting their homeland during the war. Tribute to NaFFAA leaders During his speech, Austria paid tribute to the officers and members of NaFFAA for helping their fellow Filipino-Americans. He challenged Filipinos and Filipino-Americans to get involved in political processes and civic works. “It’s time, panahon na! Members (of NaFFAA) should work with me. Long standing relationship between the US and the Philippines (should be preserved); they should ask questions, (and) leave (the conference) with one united voice," he said. Austria was asked during the forum to support the re-enlistment of Filipinos in the US military and for the right of the Amerasian children to immigrate to America. Greg B. Macabenta, NaFFAA national chair, told his fellow officers and members of the 12-year old umbrella Filipino ethnic organization to be active in club activities, adding, “we have much work to do." Among those present during the conference were Philippine Consul General Blesila Cabrera; Illinois NaFFAA chair Dr. Evelyn D. Natividad and vice chair Rozita Lee; Region 3 chair Ed Navarra and Region 3 vice chair Princess Emraida Kiram. - GMANews.TV