JFAV Asks De Venecia to Stop Raising False Hopes on Equity Bill



Los Angeles-- The Justice For Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) scored Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. announcement last January 6, 2008 ” that the United States House of Representatives, headed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has assured that a bill that would provide $90 million a year to Filipino World War II veterans is being prioritized in Capitol Hill."



The Speaker quoted Pelosi as telling him during a telephone conversation in California, that they “will try to organize a financial package” for Filipino war veterans. JFAV claimed that Speaker Pelosi did nothing to get the equity bill pass this year. "



How can De Venecia assure us she will move this bill this year? Is De Venecia doing this it only for paguapo effect? JFAV Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia asked.



JFAV co-coordianotr Peping Baclig believes that De Venecia , as a politician or a traditional trapo is only raising false hopes when he said “the bill, Filipino Veterans Equity Bill, may be scheduled for a floor vote following its approval last July in a markup hearing by this year, 2008. “



The US House of Representatives veterans affairs committee headed by by Bob Filner also promised the equity bill will be passed last year 2007.. The bill was reported out by the Congressional Budget Office for Budget Estimates last September. “As of 2007, there are an estimated 18,155 surviving Filipino World War II veterans who have yet to receive any kind of benefit from the US government.



JFAV reported that the Office of the Veterans Affairs at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, in a report, described the veterans as in their mid 80s with “very poor access to healthcare and dying at the rate of 10 percent.” By 2015, all the veterans would have passed away, it said.



JFAV data shows that of more than 11,000 veterans in the U.S in 1993 about 4,000 more Filipino veterans are based in the US and given service-connected medical and burial benefits.



Under HR 760, Filipino World War II veterans benefits will include $700 a month for married veterans, $500 a month for single veterans, $300 a month for the widows of veterans and th$142 a month in medical allowance for all.



For more information please call JFAVat (213)241-0906 or email@jfav_causa@yahoo.com