NCAPA Celebrates Senate Passage of Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino World War II Veterans

NCAPA commends the Senate for passing legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino World War II Veterans and urges the House of Representatives to pass this bill without delay.

The Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act (S.1555), introduced by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dean Heller (R-NV) and Harry Reid (D-NV), recognizes the 260,000 Filipino men and women who served the United States.

Leaders who have advocated for Filipino veterans issued the following statements:

JT Mallonga, National Chairman, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA): “We are extremely encouraged by the action of the U.S. Senate to bring us closer to fulfilling a very important mission that means a lot to our Filipino World War II veterans and their families. We thank our community supporters and veterans advocates who worked hard to secure enough Senate co-sponsors in the last 13 months. We will continue with the same zeal to ensure that the U.S. House of Representatives does the right thing by finally granting this long-awaited recognition. It’s a matter of honor and justice that America closes this dark chapter in its history by affirming the uncommon valor and courage of the thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who served under the U.S. flag.”

Major General (Retired) Antonio Taguba: "Filipino World War II veterans answered the call to duty in defending our country. They served honorably and courageously. They suffered humiliation and indignation when the Rescission Act of 1946 deprived them of their benefits and U.S. citizenship under the Commonwealth status of the Philippines. Today, some 15,000 to 16,000 remain from the approximately 260,000 who served. They have waited for over 70 years for this time to be recognized. We as a nation owe them a debt of gratitude for safeguarding our freedom and preserving our future. They have earned the honor to be recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal. The cost is the insurmountable amount of lives lost  in wartime and thereafter. We must forever dignify their legacy in American history.  We are deeply grateful to Senators Hirono and Heller, and Representatives Gabbard and Heck for their steadfast leadership in sponsoring the Congressional Gold Medal Act for our veterans.”

NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang: “Hundreds of thousands of Filipino veterans fought bravely for our country, and it is past time that they receive this highest honor. We thank Senators Hirono and Heller for their leadership in ensuring our Filipino veterans are recognized, and we are very grateful to Senators Hirono, Reid, and Kaine for their advocacy on behalf of reuniting Filipino veterans with their families. We now urge the House of Representatives to pass this Congressional Gold Medal legislation and send it to the President.”

Additionally, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently opened the application period for the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program, which allows certain family members of these veterans to come to the United States while they wait for their immigrant visas. More information is available at uscis.gov/fwvp.

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 35 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.