THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	21
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the president of the united states and congress to reinstate the filipino world war ii veterans parole program.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Filipino soldiers fought bravely beside American troops to restore liberty and democracy to their homeland by volunteering as spies, serving as guerrillas in the jungles, and fighting in American units during World War II; and

 

     WHEREAS, Filipino soldiers exhibited great courage at the battles of Corregidor and Bataan, and their bravery and self-sacrifice contributed to the Allied victory that ended World War II; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1941, by executive order, Filipinos who volunteered for the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Scouts were made eligible for full United States veterans' benefits for their active service during the War; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1946, by congressional act and upon the independence of the Philippines, these same Filipino veterans were denied eligibility for United States veterans' benefits; and

 

     WHEREAS, almost 50 years later, the 1990 Immigration Act gave Filipino World War II veterans the option to pursue United States citizenship; and

 

     WHEREAS, since passage of the 1990 Immigration Act, thousands of Filipino veterans immigrated to the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, many of these Filipino veterans had been separated from their children and families in the Philippines who are awaiting the day when their visas are granted and their families can be reunited in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, many of the Filipino veterans in the United States are very elderly and in poor health, and have no family to care for them; and

 

     WHEREAS, on June 8, 2016, the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) program was implemented to reunite aging Filipino World War II veterans with their children and families; and

 

     WHEREAS, under the FWVP program, Filipino veterans whose service has been recognized by the United States Department of Defense, or their surviving spouses, may apply to bring children and certain family members to the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, under the FWVP program, families, some of who have been waiting for decades, can be together in the United States while they wait for a green card; and

 

     WHEREAS, in April 2017, United States Senator Mazie Hirono encouraged the Trump administration to continue the FWVP program; and

 

     WHEREAS, in August 2019, the Trump administration announced that it was terminating the FWVP program; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the President of the United States and all members of Congress are urged to reinstate the FWVP program; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Majority Leader of the United States Senate; Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and members of the Hawaii congressional delegation.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Filipino World War II Veterans; Parole Program