GMA pleads for passage of veterans bill in US Congress

WASHINGTON  (via PLDT) – President Arroyo appealed to US President George W. Bush and key US legislators for the immediate passage of the veterans’ equity bill that would grant full benefits to Filipino World War II veterans.

Mrs. Arroyo met on Monday night US congressional leaders at the Crystal Ballroom at the Willard Hotel and thanked them for the efforts to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill that was approved in the Senate but is meeting stiff opposition in the House of Representatives.

She also held talks with Bush at the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday where they took up various issues of mutual concern, and she also urged him to help in the passage of the measure.

She told reporters over lunch Tuesday that she “made a strong case for why the Philippine veterans of WWII deserve equity and I’ve asked for the understanding and support of the leaders of America.

“This is consistent with one major aim of this trip, to help fight for passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill. That’s part of a larger bill pending in Congress so I’ve spoken with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, President Bush on the issue not to mention the authors and sponsors to thank them for what they did,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

She conferred on them the Order of the Golden Heart for being at the forefront of promoting in the US Congress Philippine interests, including the interest and welfare of the veterans.

Given the award, with the Rank of Grand Cross, were Senators Daniel Akaka, Reid, Pelosi, and Representatives Bob Filner, and Darell Issa.

Due to prior commitments, Reid was given the award earlier at the presidential suite at the hotel.

“The Order of the Golden Heart represents our nation’s humble way of recognizing those who help build life to the noble aspirations of the Filipino people,” the President said.

“The Golden Heart Award is given to those with a golden heart,” she said.

She said: “In behalf of the 85 million Filipinos and the families and friends who make up the four million members of the Philippine-American community, thank you for your continuing deep friendship. Thank you for your expression of support.”

She noted that RP-US relations will “always be close as well as special.”

She said the latest BBC survey on the global perceptions towards the US revealed that the Philippines is the most supportive nation to the US.

She said the RP-US Friendship Caucus is a living example of the two nations’ close bilateral ties.

US lawmakers sympathetic to the plight of Filipino veterans earlier said they will push for the passage of an amended bill in the House before the November presidential and congressional elections here.

Under the new House initiative, no law would be passed unless there is actual funding for it. One way to fund it is through “offset” where an allocation would be diverted for the new appropriation, US lawmakers explained.

Issa noted that a vast majority of House members are supportive of granting benefits to Filipino veterans but are averse to the “offset.”

“So we will propose alternate offsets,” Issa told reporters. “I think we can convince those who don’t like the first bill to support the second bill.

“We will use oil revenues because oil revenues to the US treasury have been rising along with others. As you know we have 41 million acres of federal lands that yield oil so there are plenty of revenues that can be taken from the increases,” he said.

He said he hopes that the House would be able to vote on the amendments by July.