JFAV Updates

January 20, 2012



JFAV NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION, January 18-20, 2012



Los Angeles --More than 100 combined vets, widows, and advocates trooped to Senator Dianne Feinstein local offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco last January 18, 2012 to air public demand for equity that was denied for the last 65 years.



This is a part of the three day national day of actions from January 18-20, 2012 in form of legislative visits, emails, fax and letter writing campaign to legislators to gather support for HR 210 in the US Congress.



In Los Angeles, a delegation led by JFAV veteran leader John Aspiras and national Coordinator Arturo Garcia delivered more than 300 signed petitions and letters to Feinstein office in Santa Monica, west side Los Angeles. Feinstein is expected to introduce a companion bill in the US Senate for HR 210.



In San Francisco, scores of Veterans and widows led by Regalado Baldonado, SF Commissiner for Veterans and Flor De Los Santos of AWARE-SF met with a representative of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office.



“Widows were denied of any benefits in 2008. Our deceased husbands deserve the recognition and due benefits accorded to all American veterans and widows,” says Flor Delos Santos whose husband received Purple Heart medal.



Campaign for Senate Companion Bill



Rep. Jerry McNerney co-sponsored the bill last December making him the 86th solon outside of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi who promised to vote for HR 210, “The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011,” introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier. The city councils of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Carson, and Daly City Councils have approved resolutions in support of HR 210. The California Senate is currently debating similar resolution to support HR 210.



During WW II, 250,000 Filipinos fought side by side with Americans to defend the Philippines, an American territory before and during the war. In 1946, the US Congress reneged from the promise of President Roosevelt to honor the Filipinos as American veterans, thus, taking away right for full recognition and full benefits.



In 2008, the US Congress granted one-time lump sum compensation to Filipino veterans. Of the 41,000 who applied, 27, 000 were denied. Two veterans groups filed separately lawsuits versus the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The Court of Appeals in California promised to hear the case soon.



For more information on the campign please call (213)241-0995 or email at jfav_us@yahoo.com